Dynamic intergenerational support and anxiety-depression in aging: Insights from latent transitions to symptom networks.

BackgroundWhile depressive symptoms are recognized as major mental health problems in later life, there is a lack of study in examining potential moderators in the association between intergenerational support and depressive symptoms, especially in social contexts with low socioeconomic status and inadequate formal public support. This study set out to examine the association between intergenerational support and depressive symptoms among older adults in rural Northeast China, and the potential moderating roles of age, living alone, and number of chronic diseases on this link.MethodsA quota sampling approach was used to recruit 448 respondents aged 60 and above from rural Chinese communities. Depressive symptoms were the dependent variable. Intergenerational emotional, instrumental, and financial support were the main independent variables. Age, living alone, and number of chronic diseases were the moderators. Multiple linear regression models with interaction terms were conducted to test the proposed model.ResultsThe results showed that intergenerational emotional support was significantly associated with depressive symptoms in older adults when instrumental and financial support and covariates were controlled (β = -0.196, p < .001). Age was found to have a significant moderating effect on the relationship between intergenerational instrumental support and depressive symptoms (β = -0.118, p < .05). Among older respondents aged 74.51 years and older, instrumental support was positively associated with depressive symptoms, but this association was not significant for younger respondents. Furthermore, living alone and number of chronic diseases suffered moderated the association between intergenerational financial support and depressive symptoms, which was statistically significant only for those living alone and with more chronic diseases (interaction term between living alone and intergenerational financial support: β = -0.082, p < .05; interaction term between number of chronic diseases and intergenerational financial support: β = -0.088, p < .05.ConclusionsThe findings not only highlight the important role of intergenerational support in promoting mental health in later life in rural Chinese contexts, but also identify within-population heterogeneity in the identified associations. Policy and intervention implications are discussed.

BackgroundWith the acceleration of population aging, increasing attention has been directed toward mental health issues in later life. Among these, depressive symptoms represent one of the most prevalent psychological concerns and have been consistently associated with lower quality of life and impaired social functioning in older adults. As a primary source of social support for older adults, intergenerational support plays a crucial role in shaping their psychological well-being. This study aims to examine the potential mediating mechanisms linking intergenerational support to depressive symptoms among older adults, within the context of China's traditional culture of filial piety. The findings are intended to provide a theoretical basis for optimizing intergenerational support strategies and promoting mental health in later life.MethodsThis study employed data from the 2020 wave of the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS), focusing on variables related to intergenerational support from children, life satisfaction, well-being, and depressive symptoms. Analysis methods included analysis of variance (ANOVA), Pearson correlation analysis, and bootstrap procedures to examine the chain mediation effects involving intergenerational support, life satisfaction, well-being, and depressive symptoms.ResultsEmotional support (β = −0.431, P ≤ 0.001), life satisfaction (βemotional support = −0.727, P ≤ 0.001; βeconomic support = −0.757, P ≤ 0.001; βcare support = −0.756, P ≤ 0.001), and well-being (βemotional support = −0.468, P ≤ 0.001; βeconomic support = −0.518, P ≤ 0.001; βcare support = −0.504, P ≤ 0.001) were significantly associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms. Economic support (β =0.956, P ≤ 0.001) and care support (β =0.433, P ≤ 0.001) were positively associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms. Life satisfaction and well-being were found to exert a chain mediating effect in the association between intergenerational support and depressive symptoms [emotional support: total effect = −0.825, 95% CI (−0.990, −0.662); direct effect = −0.431, 95% CI (−0.5896, −0.2713); indirect effect = −0.0710, 95% CI (−0.0935, −0.0506); economic support: total effect = 0.7138, 95% CI (0.4609, 0.9667); direct effect = 0.9560, 95% CI (0.7185, 1.1936); indirect effect = −0.0373, 95% CI (−0.0664, −0.0106); care support: total effect = 0.2719, 95% CI (0.0061, 0.5377); direct effect = 0.4334, 95% CI (0.1836, 0.6832); indirect effect = −0.0289, 95% CI (−0.0587, −0.0016)].ConclusionThe findings reveal a chain mediation effect involving life satisfaction and well-being in the association between intergenerational support and depressive symptoms among older adults. Emotional support is positively associated with higher life satisfaction and greater well-being, which in turn are linked to lower levels of depressive symptoms. In contrast, life satisfaction and well-being appear to suppress the positive associations between economic support or care support and depressive symptoms. These results enhance our understanding of the psychosocial pathways through which intergenerational support is related to mental health in later life and provide empirical evidence to inform the design of targeted psychological interventions and social support policies.

Explore pastoral strategies for dealing with mental health problems! Mental health is increasingly being recognized as an important issue in later life. This valuable book will help you examine this dimension of aging in the context of pastoral, spiritual, and cultural issues. It explores the relationship between mental health, spirituality, and religion in later life, including the search for meaning, cultural issues, spiritual issues, depression, dementia, and issues of suicide in older people. The first part of Mental Health and Spirituality in Later Life focuses on theology, ethics, and cultural issues in mental health and aging. The second part addresses issues of multidisciplinary practice, including a challenging chapter written by a woman with early onset dementia (Alzheimer's) and other chapters that present perspectives on the uses and meanings of ritual and symbolism in mental health and pastoral approaches to care. Part one of Mental Health and Spirituality in Later Life deals with issues of theology, culture, and mental health in later life, focusing on: the importance of a richly textured understanding of personhood as a prerequisite for constructing a picture of late-life mental health in the context of theology the relationship between culture, spirituality, and meaning for older immigrants&#0151;and their effects on mental health the adverse effects of a mental health system that reflects only the dominant culture of a society, leaving minority cultures vulnerable to misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatments that can do more harm than good a wholistic picture of aging that moves beyond the biomedical paradigm and demonstrates the power and potential of the human spirit in adjusting to and moving beyond suffering Part two of this valuable book addresses issues of concern to practitioners in mental health and spirituality for the aging, including: disruptive behavior among nursing home residents and common practices that fail to identify its causes or address the problem how some staff/resident interactions can produce suffering for all concerned&#0151;with case study outlines that illustrate the point memory loss and its effect on spirituality, self-worth, and the faith community pastoral care for people suffering with dementia&#0151;with practical information on helping them to make use of the power of prayer and to deal with loneliness, fear, and disempowerment an insightful look at a recent major study of residents in aged care facilities in Australia that explores the link between depression and spirituality risk and protective factors associated with suicide in later life and the treatment of depression pastoral interventions for depression and dementia

Intergenerational support and depressive symptoms: Moderating effects of community services and smart health devices.

As health challenging rural elderly in an aging population, more attention is being paid on impact of family intergenerational support on the health of the elderly. This paper investigates the effects of children’s intergenerational economic support and non-economic support on physical, mental, and functional health of rural elderly in China in the mean while. This paper applies the 2014 Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS), in particular, applying exploratory factor analysis to ascertain latent variables and Structural Equation Model (SEM), and analyzes the impacts of "Upward" intergenerational support on health of rural elderly. As resulted, after controlling the socioeconomic status of the rural elderly, the family “upward” intergenerational support influences the elderly’s physical health at a percentage of 11.7%, mental health 29.8%, and physiological function 12.6%. Moreover, "Upward" economic support has a positive effect on physiological function (P<0.05). "Upward" non-economic support has negative effects on physiological function and mental health (P<0.05), while it has a positive effect on physical health. In addition, economically independent rural elderly are more likely to benefit from the health of "upward" intergenerational support, especially mental health. In particular, those results are robust. "Upward" intergenerational support plays an important role for the health of rural elderly. For the rural elderly of economic independence, to improve the quality of care and spiritual support, it is important to solve the health problems. In addition, it is necessary to build a comprehensive old-age security and support system for family, community, and society jointly to improve the health of the rural elderly.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe service user involvement, explain some of the key issues that define, affect or protect mental health in later life and show how involvement may contribute to better mental health in later life. Design/methodology/approach The paper reviews existing definitions of involvement and mental health in later life; provides a more detailed review of some examples of involvement at a range of levels and illustrates how these could have a positive impact on mental health. Findings Active involvement and engagement at all levels offers significant opportunities for older people to protect and improve their own mental health and the mental health of society as a whole. Research limitations/implications This research does not set out to promote any particular intervention or involvement technique. The examples given have been evaluated in a variety of ways. Practical implications Service user involvement should be considered as an important potential contributor to mental health in later life. Social implications The paper encourages people in later life to be considered as a community resource rather than a problem that needs to be solved. Originality/value This paper brings together existing research with a focus on the relationship between involvement and individual and collective mental health.

Focusing on mental health rather than mental illness, this book adopts a life course approach to understanding mental health and wellbeing in later life. Drawing together material from the fields of sociology, psychology, critical social gerontology, the mental health field, and life course studies, it analyses the meaning and determinants of mental health amongst older populations and offers a critical review of existing discourse. The book explores the intersecting influences of lifecourse experiences, social and structural inequalities, socio-political context, history, gender and age-related factors and demands an approach to prevention and resolution that appreciates the embedded, complex and multi-faceted nature of threats to mental health and ways to protect it. It foregrounds engagement with the perspectives and lived experiences of older people, including people living with dementia, and makes the case for a paradigmatic shift in conceptualising, exploring and researching mental health issues and supporting older people with mental health problems. The book is essential reading for policy makers, health and social care professionals and students, third sector agencies, researchers and all of those concerned to more effectively and collaboratively address mental health issues in later life.

Mind the glass ceiling: The gender gap in how depressive symptoms after age 55 relate to earlier career mobility in CONSTANCES

Challenges in Aging, Dementia, and Mental Health: New Knowledge and Energy to Inform Solutions.

Background:Mental disorders such as anxiety and depression are leading contributors to disability worldwide, with growing concern in older adults—particularly in Scotland—where poor diet and mental health challenges are common. While the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study has identified dietary risk factors for physical health, their associations with mental health in later life remain underexplored.Methods:We used data from 880 participants (mean age 70y) of the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 in Scotland to examine cross-sectional associations between 11 GBD-defined dietary exposures (fruit, vegetables, legumes, wholegrains, milk, fibre, calcium, polyunsaturated fatty acids, red meat, processed meat, sugar-sweetened beverages) and symptoms of anxiety and depression. Analyses followed harmonised protocols from the Global burden of disease Lifestyle And mental Disorders (GLAD) project (DERR2-10.2196/65576). Dietary exposures were standardised (g/day or % kcal/day), and mental health symptoms dichotomised using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS ≥8 vs <8). Logistic regression models estimated odds ratios per one standard deviation increase, unadjusted and adjusted for age, sex, and education. Sensitivity analyses used energy-adjusted dietary intakes.Results:Higher milk and calcium intakes were associated with greater odds of anxiety (milk adjusted OR = 1.194, 95% CI 1.018–1.400; calcium adjusted OR = 1.210, 95% CI 1.027–1.426), and higher sugar-sweetened beverage intake with greater odds of depression (adjusted OR = 1.243, 95% CI 1.007–1.535). After energy-adjustment, higher milk intake remained associated with anxiety (adjusted OR = 1.196, 95% CI = 1.020–1.403), higher fruit intake was associated with lower odds of anxiety (adjusted OR = 0.792, 95% CI 0.640–0.981), and sugar-sweetened beverages remained associated with depression (adjusted OR = 1.249, 95% CI 1.013–1.541). No other associations were significant.Conclusions:In older Scottish adults, we observed only modest evidence that certain GBD-defined dietary exposures are associated with anxiety and depression symptoms.

Background Mental disorders such as anxiety and depression are leading contributors to disability worldwide, with growing concern in older adults—particularly in Scotland—where poor diet and mental health challenges are common. While the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study has identified dietary risk factors for physical health, their associations with mental health in later life remain underexplored. Methods We used data from 880 participants (mean age 70y) of the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 in Scotland to examine cross-sectional associations between 11 GBD-defined dietary exposures (fruit, vegetables, legumes, wholegrains, milk, fibre, calcium, polyunsaturated fatty acids, red meat, processed meat, sugar-sweetened beverages) and symptoms of anxiety and depression. Analyses followed harmonised protocols from the Global burden of disease Lifestyle And mental Disorders (GLAD) project (DERR2-10.2196/65576). Dietary exposures were standardised (g/day or % kcal/day), and mental health symptoms dichotomised using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS ≥8 vs &lt;8). Logistic regression models estimated odds ratios per one standard deviation increase, unadjusted and adjusted for age, sex, and education. Sensitivity analyses used energy-adjusted dietary intakes. Results Higher milk and calcium intakes were associated with greater odds of anxiety (milk adjusted OR = 1.194, 95% CI 1.018–1.400; calcium adjusted OR = 1.210, 95% CI 1.027–1.426), and higher sugar-sweetened beverage intake with greater odds of depression (adjusted OR = 1.243, 95% CI 1.007–1.535). After energy-adjustment, higher milk intake remained associated with anxiety (adjusted OR = 1.196, 95% CI = 1.020–1.403), higher fruit intake was associated with lower odds of anxiety (adjusted OR = 0.792, 95% CI 0.640–0.981), and sugar-sweetened beverages remained associated with depression (adjusted OR = 1.249, 95% CI 1.013–1.541). No other associations were significant. Conclusions In older Scottish adults, we observed only modest evidence that certain GBD-defined dietary exposures are associated with anxiety and depression symptoms.

Background and Objectives The death of a child may be one of the most stressful events for parents to experience. This study aims to assess how the death of a child prior to midlife is associated with the mental health of parents in later life, and how this association is contingent upon religious belief in a divine plan. Research Design and Methods Using data from aging parents (aged 65 and older) in the six waves (2006-2016) of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), we conducted negative binomial regression analyses to examine the main effects of the death of a child prior to midlife on late-life depressive symptoms, and the buffering effect of religious beliefs on this main effect (N = 8,248). Growth curve modeling was used to analyze the trajectories of depressive symptoms (Obs. = 31,088). Results Experiencing the death of a child prior to midlife is positively associated with depressive symptoms among older adults. Yet, the association is mitigated among respondents who exhibit a high level of belief in a divine plan at baseline. Further, a gradual decline in the number of depressive symptoms over time was observed among the bereaved parents who reported a high level of belief in a divine plan. Discussion and Implications Belief in a divine plan has a protective effect on older adults who cope with the aftermath of child loss. The findings in the study advance our knowledge about the complex interrelationships among stress, religion, and mental health in later life.

Understanding of the mechanisms by which meditation imparts beneficial effects on later-life mental health is limited. The current study assessed the role of compassionate love in mediating the relationship between meditation and mental health in later life. Using data from a nationwide web-based survey (N = 1,861), we examined the indirect effects of meditation on depressive symptoms and anxiety via compassionate love. Participants who practiced meditation (compared to those who did not) had significantly higher feelings of being loved (b = 0.11, p < 0.05); those who experienced more love had lower depressive symptoms (b = -2.10, p < 0.001) and anxiety (b = -0.99, p < 0.001). Meditation also had significant indirect effects (via compassionate love) on depressive symptoms (b = -0.23, p < 0.05) and anxiety (b = -0.11, p < 0.05). This study underscores the need for contemplative interventions that foster compassionate love to improve mental health in later life. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 50(3), 40-50.].

Indoor air pollution has been recognized as a risk factor for mental health, particularly depression and anxiety symptoms. Indoor musty odors are considered a component of indoor air pollution. However, evidence on the associations between indoor musty odors and mental health among older adults is limited. The current study utilized data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS). We employed self-reported data to ascertain indoor musty odors. Depression symptoms were evaluated utilizing the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale-10 (CES-D-10), and anxiety symptoms were measured using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 (GAD-7). This study implemented logistic regression and linear regression to examine the associations of indoor musty odors with depression and anxiety symptoms. A total of 11,950 older adults (mean age = 83.11 ± 11.12 years) were included in this study. The study indicated that indoor musty odors were significantly associated with depression symptoms (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.83, 95% CI 1.58, 2.11) and anxiety symptoms (adjusted OR 2.12, 95% CI 1.78, 2.53). These findings provide valuable insights of indoor musty odors into the potential health risks associated with older adults' depression and anxiety symptoms.

South Korea had the second largest contingent of soldiers in the Vietnam War, but little is known about their adaptation, especially in later life. Previous work in a different sample found very high rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD; 41%) among Korean Vietnam veterans (KVVs; Kang, Kim, & Lee, 2014), compared to 19-31% for American Vietnam veterans. We explored possible reasons for this high rate of PTSD, as well as anxiety and depressive symptoms, utilizing both vulnerability factors (e.g., war stressors) and protective factors (optimism, unit cohesion, and homecoming experiences). The sample included 367 male KVVs surveyed by mail (M age = 72, SD = 2.66). Using hierarchical regressions controlling for demographics, we examined the relative contributions of different types of war stressors and then the protective factors. Combat exposure was significantly associated with the three types of negative psychological symptoms, but their associations became nonsignificant when "subjective" war stressors (malevolent environments, perceived threat, and moral injury) were added. In the final models, malevolent environments were the strongest predictor for all three outcomes. In addition, moral injury was independently associated with PTSD symptoms, while perceived threat was marginally associated with depressive and anxiety symptoms. Among psychosocial factors, only optimism was negatively associated with the mental health outcomes. KVVs had very high rates of combat exposure, but malevolent environments played a more important role in their mental health in later life. These findings suggest the importance of considering adverse environmental factors in understanding PTSD in future studies. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).