Engagement In Social Activities Research Articles

Assessing the ability of self-directed learning as a prerequisite for active aging among middle-aged and older adult learners: cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT This study provides insights into the self-directed learning (SDL) abilities of middle-aged and older adult learners engaged in senior adult education. The study aims to explore both the levels of SDL abilities and the factors associated with these abilities. Additionally, this study delves into the demographic variations in SDL abilities, considering factors such as gender, age, and educational attainment. While active aging encourages middle-aged and older individuals’ engagement in social, physical, and intellectual activities, existing SDL scales mainly focus on healthcare, neglecting the learning needs of middle-aged and older adult learners in fostering active aging. A cross-sectional study approach was adopted. A purposive sample of 866 middle-aged and older adult learners (80.4% female) enrolled in senior learning centers. The data collected from the participants revealed an average SRSSDL score of 3.36 out of 5, indicating a moderate to high level of SDL proficiency. Furthermore, the results indicate significant differences between age groups and educational attainment levels. The study can help educators identify middle-aged and older adult learners enrolled in senior learning centers who lack SDL ability and design tailor-made educational interventions to promote self‐learning management and/or enable active aging.

Exploring the relationship between perceived social support and quality of life among Indian elderly population: A cross-sectional study

The function of society is vital in influencing the quality of life (QOL) for the elderly population. With this context, the influence of perceived social support on enhancing the QOL among the geriatric population is substantial. This study sought to explore the relationship between perceived social support and QOL, employing a descriptive correlational study method. A multi-stage random sampling method was employed, involving 476 elderly persons. Data collection was conducted utilizing three organized interview schedules: The World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale (BREF version), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and a sociodemographic questionnaire. Data were tabulated and subsequently analyzed using STATA version 16.0, with categorical data presented as percentages (%) and quantitative data as mean ± standard deviation. The ages of the respondents ranged from 60 to 96 years. Pearson correlation analysis assessed the associations among numerical variables, with statistical significance set at a p ≤ 0.05. The findings revealed that physical health-related QOL was lower among the elderly participants, while social relationship QOL was the highest. More importantly, the family emerged as the primary source of social support. Significant positive correlations were identified between total QOL and total social support, emphasizing the pivotal role of social support in enhancing the well-being of the elderly. The study highlighted that active social engagement is instrumental in mitigating age-related health issues. Through the sharing of experiences, elderly individuals can support each other, derive meaning in life, and collectively improve their QOL. By fostering social connections and encouraging open communication, these strategies can contribute to a more fulfilling and healthier life for the elderly population.

The Roles of Emotion Regulation and Alexithymia in the Relationship Between Sleep and Social Functioning.

Poor sleep quality has been tied to worse social functioning outcomes, including greater loneliness, fewer social interactions, and lower social integration. Other factors likely play a role in the relationship between sleep quality and social functioning. Specifically, alexithymia and emotion regulation may serve as moderators in these relationships. Data for this study came from the Pittsburgh Cold Study 3, a publicly available dataset (N = 213). Participants completed self-report measures including the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Emotional Regulation Questionnaire, Toronto Alexithymia Scale, and four measures of social functioning: Social Network Index, Social Participation Measure, Short Loneliness Scale, and Interpersonal Support Evaluation List for providing support to others. Sleep quality was significantly related to the social functioning variables. Further, the use of the emotion regulation strategy reappraisal significantly moderated the relationship between sleep quality and social participation. Worse sleep quality was related to lower engagement in social activities, only for participants high in use of reappraisal. Additionally, the use of reappraisal significantly moderated the relationship between sleep quality and giving of support. Worse sleep quality was related to less self-reported giving of support to others only for participants high in the use of reappraisal. Results suggest that the use of reappraisal may be an important factor to consider in the relationship between sleep and social functioning. Future work should extend these findings to the general population and a sample of individuals with relevant diagnoses, such as borderline personality or schizophrenia-spectrum disorders.

Participation in Physical, Cognitive, and Social Activities and the Association with Mobility Disability Transitions in Older Adults.

Development of late-life mobility disability is a dynamic process of transitions between worsening and improving. We tested associations between participation in physical, social, and cognitive activity with mobility disability transitions. Participants (N=2,758, age 78.1 years [SD: 7.7]) from two Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center cohorts completed annual mobility disability questionnaires for 7.6 (SD: 4.4) years. First-order Markov transition models tested associations between baseline self-reported physical, social, and cognitive activity with bidirectional transitions in mobility disability score increases (worsening) and decreases (improving) between consecutive visits. Overall, 75.5% of participants experienced ≥1 transition among 18,318 pairs of consecutive visits-4,174 of which were worsening and 2,606 were improving transitions. Adjusting for covariates, higher participation in each activity type was associated with lower odds of worsening (physical OR=0.71, 95% CI: 0.67-0.75; social OR=0.64, 95% CI: 0.58-0.70; and cognitive OR=0.79, 95% CI: 0.74-0.85), and higher odds of improving (physical OR=1.20, 95% CI: 1.11-1.28; social OR=1.45, 95% CI: 1.30-1.61; and cognitive OR=1.12, 95% CI: 1.03-1.22) in separate models. In combined models, physical and social activity remained associated with worsening and improving; cognitive activity was only associated with worsening. Physical, social, and cognitive activity engagement contributes to lower odds of worsening mobility disability and may promote recovery.

The impact of preventive behaviors on self-rated health, depression symptoms, and daily functioning among middle-aged and elderly Chinese: An empirical study.

With the intensifying issue of an aging population, the health of middle-aged and elderly individuals garners increased attention. Preventive behaviors are pivotal in enhancing life quality and extending healthy living. This study examines the effects of preventive behaviors on self-rated health, depression, and daily functioning among these populations. Drawing on data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), this research applies a panel ordered probability model to scrutinize the influence of preventive behaviors on health outcomes among middle-aged and elderly populations. It utilizes self-rated health, depression, and daily functioning as pivotal health indicators to assess the effects. Preventive behaviors exert a significant impact on self-assessed health and daily functioning among middle-aged and elderly populations. Engagement in social activities effectively reduces depression symptoms. Primary preventive measures, including physical and social activities, enhance health outcomes through medical consultations. Conversely, secondary preventive actions, such as undergoing physical examinations, facilitate early detection of diseases, enabling timely intervention and health advisories. It is noteworthy that individuals with higher incomes derive lesser benefits from these physical or social endeavors. Sociodemographic determinants such as age, income, and educational attainment significantly modulate the efficacy of preventive behaviors on the health outcomes of middle-aged and elderly populations. This research underscores the pivotal role of physical examination services within primary healthcare frameworks and advocates for the tailoring of health promotion strategies to the accessible social needs and engagements of economically and educationally disadvantaged seniors.

Exploring the Role of Social Factors in Cognitive Frailty among South Korean Older Adults.

Cognitive frailty, which is characterized by the co-occurrence of physical frailty and cognitive impairment, poses significant risks to the well-being and independence of elderly individuals. Previous research has established that demographic, health-related, and social factors contribute to both physical frailty and cognitive decline. However, the role of social factors in influencing cognitive frailty remains unclear. This study aims to identify the relationship between social factors and cognitive frailty among Korean older adults living in the community. We performed secondary analyses of data from the 2020 Survey on Older Adults. After entering demographic factors and health-related factors into the logistic model as covariates, this study explored the association between cognitive frailty and social factors, including living arrangements, social support, the frequency of engagement in social activities per week, and satisfaction with friends and community. Among participants, approximately 2.9% had cognitive frailty, 3.2% had only physical frailty, and 21.9% had only cognitive decline. Lower levels of satisfaction with friends and the community and infrequent participation in social activities were strongly correlated with cognitive frailty. These findings emphasize the necessity of public health programs that encourage older individuals' social involvement. A supportive social environment can be fostered through initiatives that promote community events, group activities, and volunteerism. Public health policies should prioritize the development and maintenance of social activity centers that offer various programs to prevent progression to cognitive frailty in older adults.

Dari Toleransi ke Koeksistensi: Eksplorasi Konseptual Pendidikan Islam dan Multikulturalisme dalam Menghadapi Radikalisme

This research aims to conceptually explore the integration of multicultural values ​​in Islamic education and its potential to overcome radicalism and promote a more inclusive and peaceful society. The researcher used a library research approach. This research examined various scientific books, journals, research results, and academic discussions relevant to Islamic education and multiculturalism. Hermeneutic analysis techniques deepen understanding of how Islamic education can be enriched with a multicultural approach. Findings show that the current Islamic education curriculum often lacks comprehensive integration of multicultural aspects that can encourage active coexistence. Therefore, this research proposes curriculum reform that educates about tolerance and actively promotes coexistence through a more inclusive and transformative approach. It includes developing teaching materials to encourage a deep understanding of other religions and active social engagement among students from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds. Islamic education integrated with multicultural values ​​has significant potential to reduce radicalism and strengthen the foundations of a tolerant and harmonious society. Implementation requires collaboration between policymakers, educators, and community stakeholders to develop and implement curricula supporting coexistence and diversity. This research provides new insights into the strategic role of Islamic education in the current global context and offers practical recommendations for educational reform oriented towards coexistence and inclusivity.

Successful ageing is associated with falls among older adults in India: a large population based across-sectional study based on LASI

BackgroundFalls are common in the elderly and can lead to adverse consequences, like injuries, hospitalization, disability even mortality. Successful ageing emerged in sight to assess physical, psychological and social status of older adults. This study is conducted to explore the association between them in a large Indian community-dwelling population.MethodsData were based on the wave 1 survey of the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI). People aged 60 and above with complete information were included. The elderly met five standards including absence of chronic diseases, freedom from disability, high cognitive ability, free from depressive symptoms and active social engagement, were classified into successful agers. The assessment of falls, fall-related injuries and multiple falls depended on interview. Multivariate logistic regression was conducted to find the associations between falls, fall-injury, multiple falls and successful ageing after adjusting both socio-demographic and biological covariates. The log-likelihood ratio test was calculated interactions in subgroups.Results31,345 participants in LASI were finally included in our study. Of them, 20.25% reported fall, and 25% were classified into successful agers. After full adjustment, successful ageing was negatively associated with falls (OR 0.70; 95%CI 0.65–0.76) and multiple falls (OR 0.70; 95%CI 0.63–0.78). And the association did not show the significance in older adults with fall-related injuries (OR 0.86; 95%CI 0.72–1.04).ConclusionsSuccessful ageing was negatively associated with falls and multiple falls, but not fall-related injuries in older people in India. Future studies are demanded to explore the causal relationship and to reveal the underlying mechanism.

The twisted path to sacredness: a grounded theory study of irrational religious orientation and its psycho-sociological implications

This research delves into the nuances, origins, and societal effects of irrational religious orientations within China’s Generation Z, employing grounded theory methodology for a comprehensive analysis. The focus is on those born between 1995 and 2010, a demographic raised amidst rapid information technology growth and significantly influenced by digitalization and globalization. The study identifies three primary dimensions of irrational religious orientations in Generation Z: religious spiritual dependence, religious instrumental tendency, and religious uniqueness identity. These are shaped by factors such as the overwhelming influx of information via digital media, societal pressures and psychological dilemmas, conflicts in values and identity crises, as well as feelings of social isolation and the need for group belonging. To address these trends, the study suggests several interventions: enhancing multicultural and values education, implementing stricter online information regulation and literacy programs, boosting mental health awareness and support, and fostering engagement in social and cultural activities. These recommendations are essential for comprehensively understanding and effectively responding to the irrational religious orientations of Generation Z, ultimately contributing to their overall well-being and healthy development.

Exploring resource-providing vacation activities and recovery experiences: a study in the context of Goa

ABSTRACT In our fast-paced world, work-related stress takes a toll on health and well-being. To address this, individuals seek respite through vacations. Employing a mixed-methods approach, data were collected from 422 participants through on-site and online surveys, analyzing engagement in activities and their influence on psychological detachment, relaxation, control, and mastery. Factor analysis revealed seven distinct vacation dimensions – outdoor activities, cultural activities, entertainment, social activity, nature recreation, shopping and light recreation. Findings revealed that engagement in entertainment, light recreation, social, and cultural activities positively affect psychological detachment. Outdoor activities, nature recreation, and entertainment enhance relaxation. Light recreation and shopping boost visitors’ sense of control, while social activities promote mastery. This research highlights the importance of tailored vacation activities for enhancing recovery and overall well-being. It offers insights for researchers and practitioners alike, emphasizing the need to meet tourists’ recovery needs for enriched vacation experiences and enhanced well-being.

Participation for learners with cognitive disabilities in class activities during the pandemic in UAE: issues and barriers

The study examines issues related to achieving meaningful participation in class activities as an element of social inclusion of learners with cognitive disabilities aged 14–19 years that are enrolled in educational institutions (schools/centres) during COVID-19 in United Arab Emirates. The paper relied on a qualitative approach with 5 sessions of virtual observation and 18 semi-structured virtual interviews with learners themselves and their care givers/parents as the main methodological tool given lack of access to physical means at the time of data collection during the global pandemic (2021–22). The analysis was thematic, focusing on explored and extracted main issues that impact one important aspect of the social inclusion of such learners, which is their active participation during a difficult time. The results showed that learners with cognitive disabilities faced additional several issues in addition to what members of the surrounding community dealt with during the disaster. Data revealed that they were immensely affected by the pandemic, with another layer of social isolation, lack of peer interaction as well as family restriction that is directed at them with additional measures than everyone in the household. It also showed that despite the efforts and programmes designed by schools/institutes that were in place to support their engagement in academic and social activities, participation as an important social aspect of their school lives was badly impacted. Despite calls for prioritizing such learners, the study revealed that learners with cognitive disability were constructed as ‘last on the list’ among class community members in terms of their participation and active engagement in different class activities. The data were purposefully collected at a time that is unlikely to be replicated for many years to come (a global pandemic), the purpose was to give a reflection on the status allocated to such individuals during hard, unusual and/or difficult times for any future practice. The paper forwards recommendations to support educational institutions to promote active participation of learners with cognitive disabilities.

The effects of musical practice on the well-being, mental health and social support of student, amateur, and professional musicians in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This pan-Canadian study investigates the effects of musical practice on the well-being, mental health, and social support of Canadian musicians during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a survey questionnaire, data was collected from 1,618 participants aged 14 and above during the first wave of the pandemic up to the first half of 2022. The survey included standardized questionnaires to self-assess well-being (WHO-5), mental health (MHC-SF), and social support (SPS-10 measures social support). Results show that increased musical practice frequency correlates with improved well-being and mental health, particularly among amateurs. Professional musicians and those at a post-secondary level exhibit lower well-being scores, likely due to pandemic-related challenges. Factors such as age, gender, sports engagement, and participation in social clubs or volunteer work significantly influenced outcomes. While sports engagement was associated with higher scores on well-being, mental health and social support, no significant differences were found among participants engaged in artistic hobbies. As for involvement in social clubs or volunteer work, benefits were reported on two of the three outcomes. Overall, the findings suggest that regular amateur musical practice, especially in group settings, alongside engagement in sports and social activities, may have promoted well-being, mental health, and social support among musicians during the challenging period of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Staging of psychiatric disorders in patients with limited and advanced/metastatic solid cancer: A pilot study.

e22545 Background: 38% of cancer patients (pts) receive diagnosis of major depressive disorder. According with the clinimetric approach of the staging of psychiatric disease, the 5-step model of unipolar depression allows for the evaluation of the extent of the disorder, its severity, and characteristics at a specific time in the course of the disease. This study was aimed: a) to assess mental health and quality of life of cancer patients with limited (LS) and advanced/metastatic (AS) solid cancer through the join evaluation of the staging of psychiatric disorders; b) to explore the potential role of severity of oncological disease in anxious/depressive disease development. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Oncology Unit of Luigi Sacco Hospital of Milan during the first session of a psychological support path. Patients’ cancer diagnosis and stage, as well as regular engagement in work, leisure and social activities were explored. Hospital and Depression Anxiety Scale (HADS), the Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ-R) and Mental Health Continuum Short-Form (MHC-SF) were also administered. Results: 104 pts were included: F 86, M 18, median age 57,5 (27-84), 30% AS, and 70% LS. Pts’ anxious/depressive symptoms were assessed by HADS scoring and they were divided into 3 groups according to the model of unipolar depression: Group 1a (prodromal phase – no symptoms), Group 1b (prodromal phase – mood symptoms) and Group 2 (anxious/depressive disorder). Pts in group 2 were significantly more frequently AS pts, while in group 1a pts in LS stage (χ² = 7.78, p < .05). Based on MHC-SF scores, flourishing and languishing were significantly more frequently reported by pts in group 1a (55,5% and 46% of pts, respectively), and moderate mental health in group 2 (45,9% of pts, χ² = 18.1, p < .001). Regression analysis highlighted non-hobbyist vs. hobbyists, AS vs. LS cancer pts, asthenic vs. non asthenic pts, and moderate vs flourishing metal health were more likely to receive a provisional anxious depressive disorder diagnosis (Stage 2). No association emerged for other physical symptoms, work, and socialization. Conclusions: AS pts with asthenia, no engagement in structured activities and moderate mental health had a higher risk of developing anxious/depressive disorders. Screening psychiatric disorders in cancer pts may improve the physician's ability to recognize earlier phase of psychopathological disease and guide pts to tailored treatment. These may prevent progression of psychiatric disease and promote mental health and positive quality of life.

Determinants of Health Status and Life Satisfaction among Older South Koreans.

South Korea is a rapidly aging society with the lowest fertility rates among the OECD economies. It is projected to become a super-aged society in 2025, with the share of individuals older than 65 reaching twenty percent. These developments make it important to analyze the determinants of health outcomes in older individuals. In this study, we identified the determinants of subjective and objective health outcomes among senior individuals in South Korea. We used self-rated health and life satisfaction scores as the two subjective health status indicators, while the number of chronic diseases was the objective one. We ran Tobit multivariate regressions of all three indicators on a set of factors related to the older citizens' physical, economic, and social characteristics. Active employment status and willingness to work in the future were positively related to self-rated health level but were not statistically related to life satisfaction, while income positively affected both subjective health status indicators. Age did not appear to affect satisfaction with life. Active leisure activities were positively related to both self-rated health and life satisfaction. In contrast, passive leisure, such as watching TV, was negatively related to both health status indicators while being associated with an increased number of chronic diseases. Our findings suggest that older South Koreans view employment primarily as a means of financial support rather than as an opportunity for active social engagement.

Social activities in multidomain dementia prevention interventions: insights from practice and a blueprint for the future.

Social activities are important for health and act as a driver of cognitive reserve during aging. In this perspective paper, we describe challenges and outline future (research) endeavors to establish better operationalization of social activities in multidomain interventions to prevent dementia. We first address the lack of conceptual clarity, which makes it difficult to measure engagement in social activities. Second, drawing from our experience with the Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability (FINGER), we discuss social activities in multidomain dementia prevention interventions. Using qualitative data from the Multimodal Preventive Trial for Alzheimer's Disease (MIND-ADmini), we reflect on participant experiences with social activities. Third, we address the potential and challenges of digital solutions in promoting social activities in interventions for dementia prevention. Finally, we share insights from a workshop on digital technology, where we consulted with individuals with and without cognitive impairment who have been involved in three European projects (i.e., EU-FINGERS, Multi-MeMo, and LETHE). Based on these insights, we advocate for research that strengthens and accelerates the integration of social activities into multidomain interventions for dementia prevention. We propose several ways to achieve this: (a) by conducting mixed methods research to formulate a broadly accepted definition and instructions to measure social activities; (b) by focusing on promoting engagement in social activities beyond the intervention setting; and (c) by exploring the needs and preferences of older adults towards digitally-supported interventions and co-design of new technologies that enrich in-person social activities.

Makeup as a postfeminist masquerade: understanding the impact of beauty tutorial engagement on young Chinese women’s appearance satisfaction

ABSTRACT Beauty tutorials, one of the most popular media genres among young Chinese women, promote makeup as a self-beautifying ‘masquerade’ for women to cope with societal lookism. This genre celebrates postfeminist self-empowerment by providing young women with role models (i.e. beauty influencers) who successfully transform themselves with makeup. Drawing upon the theoretical frameworks of social media engagement, social comparison, and postfeminism, this study investigates the psychological mechanism through which active beauty tutorial engagement influences young Chinese women’s appearance satisfaction. Results of an online cross-sectional survey (N = 473) indicated that (a) cognitive-affective, behavioural, and relational engagement with beauty tutorials positively predicted women’s appearance satisfaction. (b) Perceived similarity to beauty influencers mediated the relationship between beauty tutorial engagement and appearance satisfaction. (c) The moderating effect was more pronounced in predicting appearance satisfaction against perceived similarity when female audiences held stronger postfeminist beliefs. This study contributes to our understanding of the impact of active social media engagement on female well-being and broadens the applicability of postfeminism by quantitatively validating it in the understudied Chinese context.

Association between perceived value of adopting new behaviors and incident disability among Japanese community-dwelling older adults

ObjectivesThis longitudinal observational cohort study aimed to clarify the relationship between perceived value (PV) to adopt new behaviors and incident disability in community-dwelling older adults. MethodParticipants were 5073 community-dwelling older adults aged ≥65 years in Japan (Mage = 74.0 ± 5.6 years; female = 55.1%). The mean follow-up time was 34.5 months. Baseline data were collected during health checkups in a prospective cohort study. Measurements included engagement in physical activity (PA), cognitive activity (CA), and social activity (SA), PV, health and physical conditions, and demographic characteristics. PV was assessed by asking whether participants thought it was valuable to adopt new behaviors related to PA, CA, and SA. Participants were classified as having higher/lower PV, PA, CA, and SA. Cox proportional hazard models were used to analyze the association between PV and incident disability. PV was examined both as an independent variable and in combination as follows: higher PV and higher PA/CA/SA (high/high); lower PV and higher PA/CA/SA (low/high); higher PV and lower PA/CA/SA (high/low); and lower PV and lower PA/CA/SA (low/low). ResultsHigher PV was significantly associated with a lower hazard ratio (HR) for incident disability. The low/high, high/low, and low/low significantly increased the HR compared to high/high in the analyses of PV & PA and CA. The analysis of PV & SA showed that only low/low increased the HR compared to high/high. ConclusionHaving both higher PV and higher activity engagement may contribute to preventing disability development. Both support for activities and value education in older adults may be needed.

Reliability and validity tests of the Chinese version of the Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale (GLFS-25) in tumor survivors

ObjectiveTo evaluate the reliability and validity of the Chinese-translated Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale (GLFS-25) for the assessment of locomotive syndrome (LS) in individuals surviving malignancies. Methods393 tumor survivors at a general hospital in China were recruited. The Chinese version of GLFS-25 was utilized to conduct a cross-sectional survey to ascertain the tool's efficacy in measuring LS in this cohort. The scale's validity was examined through content, structural and discriminant validity assessments, while its reliability was investigated by determining the internal consistency (via Cronbach's α coefficient) and test-retest reliability (via intragroup correlation coefficient, ICC). ResultsThe Chinese-adapted GLFS-25 demonstrated a robust scale-level content validity index of 0.94, while item-level content validity indices ranged from 0.83 to 1.00 across individual items. The suitability of the scale for structural validity assessment was confirmed via exploratory factor analysis, yielding a Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure of 0.930 and a significant Bartlett's test of sphericity (χ2 = 3217.714, df = 300, P < 0.001). Subsequent confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) extracted four distinct factors: Social Activity Engagement, Daily Living Ability, Pain Experience and Physical Mobility. These factors accounted for 72.668 % of the variance, indicating substantial construct validity for measuring LS among this population. CFA supported the model's fit with the following indices: χ2/df = 1.559, RMSEA = 0.077, GFI = 0.924, CFI = 0.941, NFI = 0.919, and TLI = 0.933. The factor loadings for the four factors ranged from 0.771 to 0.931, indicating the items corresponding to the four factors effectively represented the constructs they were designed to measure. The correlation coefficients among the four factors were between 0.306 and 0.469, all lower than the square roots of the respective AVEs (0.838–0.867). This suggests a moderate correlation among the four factors and a distinct differentiation between them, indicating the Chinese version of the GLFS-25 exhibits strong discriminant validity in Chinese tumor survivors. Reliability testing revealed a high Cronbach's α coefficient for the overall scale at 0.961, with the subscales yielding coefficients of 0.751, 0.836, 0.930, and 0.952. The overall ICC was determined to be 0.935, with subscale ICCs ranging from 0.857 to 0.941, reinforcing the scale's reliability in this context. ConclusionsThe Chinese version of the GLFS-25 exhibits strong reliability and validity for the assessment of LS in tumor survivors. It may serve as a diagnostic tool for LS, contributing to the prevention and management of musculoskeletal disorders and enhancing the prognosis for this patient population.

Bi-directional association between outdoor or social activities and cognitive function: do the PM2.5 exposure catalyze the detrimental inactivity-poor cognition cycle?

BackgroundPrevious research has shown that lack of leisure activities, either outdoor or social activities, impedes cognitive function. However, the interrelationship between poor cognition and deficient activities is understudied. In addition, whether exposure to air pollution, such as PM2.5, can accelerate the detrimental ‘inactivity-poor cognition’ cycle, is worthy of investigation. MethodsWe used data from the 2008, 2011, 2014, and 2018 waves of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS). We assessed the frequency of outdoor or social activities at each wave. The cognitive function was examined using a China-Modified Mini-mental State Examination. We estimated the residential exposure to fine particular matter (PM2.5) via a satellite-based model. We applied cross-lagged panel (CLP) model to examine the bi-directional relationship between outdoor or social activities and cognitive function. We then examined the effect of PM2.5 exposure with sequent cognitive function and activities using generalized estimation equation (GEE) model. FindingsOverall, we observed significant bi-directional associations between outdoor or social activities and cognitive function. Participants with better cognitive function in the last wave were more likely to engage in outdoor or social activities in the following wave (outdoor activities: β = 0.37, 95% CI [0.27,0.48], P < 0.01; social activities: β = 0.05, 95% CI [0.02,0.09] P < 0.01). Meanwhile, higher engagement in outdoor or social activities in the last wave was associated with more favorable cognitive function in the following wave (outdoor activities: β = 0.06, 95% CI [0.03,0.09], P < 0.01; social activities: β = 0.10, 95% CI [0.03,0.18], P < 0.01). Notably, an increase in PM2.5 exposure during the preceding year was significantly associated with a declining cognitive function (β = −0.05, 95% CI [−0.08,−0.03], P < 0.01), outdoor activities (β = −0.02, 95% CI [−0.04, −0.01], P < 0.01) and social activities (β = −0.02, 95% CI [−0.02, −0.01], P < 0.01) in the current year; the lagged effects of the PM2.5 exposure in the past year of the last wave on activities and cognitive function of the following wave were also observed. InterpretationOur findings not only indicate the bi-directional links between the frequency of outdoor or social activities and cognitive function, but also report that PM2.5 exposure plays a role in catalyzing the detrimental inactivity-poor cognition cycle. Future research should investigate whether the policy-driven interventions, such as clean air policies, can break the unfavorable activity-cognition cycle, and thereby promoting health from the dual gains in leisure activities and cognition.

Insomnia and Its Association with Successful Aging in the Older Indian Population: A Large Population-Based Study Based on LASI, Wave 1

IntroductionEvidence regarding the link between insomnia and successful aging (SA) in the older generation remains scarce.ObjectivesThe purpose of this study is to explore the relationship of insomnia with SA within a substantial sample of the community-dwelling Indian population.MethodsData were drawn from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI), Wave 1, conducted during 2017-2018. Older participants aged 60 years and above who completed both the insomnia and SA surveys were included. Insomnia was determined by the presence of at least one of three symptoms: 1) difficulty in initiating sleep; 2) difficulty in maintaining sleep; or 3) early morning awakening, occurring 5 or more times per week. SA was assessed by five components: 1) absence of chronic diseases; 2) low probability of disability; 3) high cognitive functionality; 4) low probability of depression; and 5) active social engagement. The association between insomnia and SA was examined through survey-weighted multivariable logistic regression, with adjustments made for potential covariates. Subgroup analyses were carried out to evaluate interactions with age, sex, alcohol use, and smoking status.Results A total of 31362 participants met the eligibility criteria. The overall weighted prevalence was 9.91% for insomnia and 23.94% for SA. In fully adjusted models, insomnia exhibited a negative association with SA (OR 0.70; 95% CI 0.63-0.78, see Table 1) and with each of SA’s components, except for the absence of chronic diseases (OR 0.94; 95% CI 0.85-1.04, see Table 1). Subgroup analyses, stratified by age, sex, alcohol use, or smoking status, did not reveal any significant interactions between insomnia and SA (p for interaction = 0.098, 0.873, 0.704, 0.095, respectively).Table 1.Relationship between insomnia and successful aging.InsomniaORs (95% CIs)Unadjusted modelModel 1Model 2NoReferenceReferenceReferenceYesSuccessful aging0.50 (0.45, 0.55)0.54 (0.49, 0.60)0.70 (0.63, 0.78)Absence of chronic diseases0.66 (0.61, 0.71)0.65 (0.60, 0.70)0.94 (0.85, 1.04) †Low probability of disability0.43 (0.40, 0.46)0.45 (0.42, 0.49)0.51 (0.47, 0.55)High cognitive functionality0.66 (0.61, 0.72)0.75 (0.68, 0.83)0.78 (0.71, 0.87)Low probability of depression0.33 (0.30, 0.36)0.34 (0.31, 0.38)0.38 (0.34, 0.42)Active social engagement0.79 (0.73, 0.86)0.87 (0.80, 0.95)0.86 (0.78, 0.94)† p &gt; 0.05; ORs, odds ratios; 95% CIs, 95% Confidence intervals.Model 1 adjusted for: age, sex, level of education, work status, marital status, place of residence, economic status, caste; Model 2 adjusted for: model 1 plus body mass index (BMI), alcohol use, smoking status.ConclusionsInsomnia was negatively linked with SA within the older Indian population. Future prospective studies are warranted to validate these relationships, investigate underlying mechanisms, and enhance the understanding and promotion of SA.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared