This study examined the extent to which dimensions of social connectedness and perceived social support have distinct associations with the physical and mental health of older adults. This study utilized data from the Utah Fertility, Longevity, and Aging (FLAG) study. Participants included 259 older adults, aged 60 or older (mean age: 67.75 ± 4.8). Connectedness (networks and satisfaction with networks) was measured with the Duke Social Support Index. Social support (affective, confidant, instrumental) was measured with the Duke–UNC Functional Support Scale. Physical and mental health were measured with the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). The results showed significant differences in the mean physical and mental health scores between participants with high scores on satisfaction with networks, affective, confidant, and instrumental support, and those with low scores on these dimensions. After controlling for covariates, affective support significantly predicted physical health, while satisfaction with networks, and affective and instrumental support significantly predicted mental health. The findings suggest that social support may be relatively more important to the health and wellbeing of older adults than social connectedness. This underscores the relative importance older adults attach to the quality rather than quantity of social ties.
Background: Incidents of vector-borne disease have recently tripled in the United States. Chikungunya disease is a particularly common disease in the Caribbean, posing a threat to international tourists. However, the relationship between psychological variables derived from the protection motivation theory (PMT), and adoption of protective behaviors against the disease, is uncertain. This study sought to identify the psychological predictors of travelers’ protective health behaviors, specifically (1) appropriate clothing use, and (2) indoor spatial repellent use. Methods: An online, retrospective survey of U.S. international travelers to Caribbean destinations measured the five constructs of the PMT in the context of Chikungunya disease: Perceived severity, perceived vulnerability, perceived response efficacy, perceived self-efficacy, and knowledge. Hierarchical logistic regression analyzed whether these five theoretical constructs predicted the two protective behaviors in respondents who met study criteria (n = 184). Results: Results suggest that the interaction between chikungunya knowledge and perceived chikungunya severity predicts both appropriate clothing use (odds ratio [OR]: 1.95, CI: 1.18-3.25, P=0.010) and indoor spatial repellent use (OR: 1.55, CI: 1.05-2.29, P=0.029). In the cases of appropriate clothing use, the interaction between perceived chikungunya severity and perceived vulnerability was also a significant predictor (OR: 9.67, CI:1.23-75.80, P=0.031). Additionally, indoor spatial repellent use was also predicted by the interaction of chikungunya knowledge and perceived vulnerability (OR: 1.88, CI:1.18-3.02, P=0.009). Conclusion: Two-pronged educational approaches may be most efficacious in increasing protective health behaviors. Such efforts could reduce incidents of chikungunya disease and other vectorborne diseases in travel destinations featuring high exposure risks.
Purpose: Differences in attitudes between graduating medical and nursing students toward older persons in Ghana were compared. Additionally, the association between the overall quality of students’ experiences with older persons and their attitudes was examined. Materials and Methods: A sample of 135 final year medical and nursing students from a public institution in Ghana participated in a cross-sectional study by completing a web-based self-administered questionnaire consisting of the 14-item University of California at Los Angeles Geriatric Attitudes (UCLA-GA) scale, and demographic questions. Data analysis involved a two-sample t-test and a one-way ANOVA. Results: Most participants (82.2%) held positive attitudes towards older persons. The mean score for the UCLA-GA scale that assessed attitudes of students towards older persons was 3.41 ± 0.41 (min: 2.29, max: 4.64); differences in attitudes between the two groups was significant (p = 0.001). Medical students had more positive attitudes toward older persons than nursing students. The association between students’ attitudes and the overall quality of their experiences with older persons was significant (p = .001). Students whose experiences with older persons were negative had the least positive attitudes. Conclusion: Considering the impact negative experiences with older persons may have on students’ attitudes, attention should be given to creating positive experiences through clinical and community-based exposures. Direct interactions with older persons who are active and living independently may challenge some common stereotypes such as older persons are infirm and senile, and foster positive attitude development.
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