The Social Context of Disablement among Older Adults

Abstract

Prior research has not adequately considered that disablement occurs within a web of relationships that provides socioemotional resources to and/or places demands on older adults. Drawing on the stress process and life course perspectives, we considered the social context of disablement by examining the influence of marital quality on the association between disability and loneliness among married older adults. Using data from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project, we found (1) functional limitations were associated with higher levels of loneliness; (2) neither positive nor negative marital quality mediated this association, contrary to the stress-deterioration hypothesis; and (3) positive (but not negative) marital quality moderated this association, consistent with the stress-buffering hypothesis. These associations were similar for women and men. Our findings indicate the importance of the social context of disablement, as interpersonal resources offer protection from the deleterious socioemotional consequences of disability.

Social change and birth cohort increase in loneliness among Chinese older adults: a cross-temporal meta-analysis, 1995–2011

“…Urbanization levels may have been a good predictor due to the migration of young people away from their parents' homes (Yang et al, 2013), but this migration likely caused an increase in the number of older adults who live alone. Urbanization is also associated with the migration of some older adults to reside with their children in urban settings, meaning that older people leave their hometowns and therefore their existing social supports (Li et al, 2005;Yang and Victor, 2008), perhaps causing further loneliness Warner and Kelley-Moore, 2012).…”

Loneliness in a day: Activity engagement, time alone, and experienced emotions.

“…Respondents indicated the amount of time they experienced each item (1 = Hardly ever or never; 2 = Some of the time; 3 = Often). We focused our analyses on the first three items of the scale, given that this is the most widely used and well-validated shortened form of the scale and allows for a more transparent comparison to previous research (Hughes, Waite, Hawkley, & Cacioppo, 2004; Perissinotto, Cenzer, & Covinsky, 2012; Shankar, McMunn, Banks, & Steptoe, 2011; Steptoe, Leigh, & Kumari, 2011; Steptoe, Shankar, Demakakos, & Wardle, 2013; Warner & Kelley-Moore, 2012; α = .79). Items included “How much of the time do you feel you lack companionship/ do you feel left out/ do you feel isolated from others?” A loneliness index was created by averaging across items, producing scores ranging from 1–3, with higher scores indicating higher levels of loneliness.…”

“…The relationships between gender and race on loneliness have also been investigated, with somewhat mixed findings. There are some data suggesting that women and racial minorities tend to be more likely to report loneliness and poorer social connectedness (Cornwell, Laumann, & Schrumm, 2008; Perlman & Peplau, 1981; Warner & Kelley-Moore, 2012). Health status, especially functional limitations, may put constraints on the ability to engage with social contacts.…”

“…Health status, especially functional limitations, may put constraints on the ability to engage with social contacts. Indeed, several studies have found increases in functional limitations to be positively associated with loneliness and social connectedness (Bowling, Edelmann, Leaver, & Hoekel, 1989; Cornwell, Laumann, & Schrumm, 2008; Warner & Kelley-Moore, 2012). Additionally, several studies have focused on the relationships between loneliness and depression, reporting that they are related but distinct constructs (e.g., Cacioppo, Hawkley, & Thisted, 2010).…”

The Study of Psychological Aspects of Iranian Mothers’ Lullabies

“…Moreover, the findings of the new experimental studies prove the fact that music training fosters self-control and verbal intelligence in children (Moreno et al, 2011). Also, whishing children marriage murmured as lullabies by mothers, the results of research (Uecker, 2012;Idler et al, 2012;Warner & Kelley, 2012) and many other researches show the importance and role of marriage in people's social growth and fulfilling and improving psycho-hygienic and proves Iranian mothers' logical and philosophical points of view in rearing healthy children.…”