Examined Age Differences Research Articles

Substance Use and Mental Health in Emerging Adult Vs Older Adult Men and Women With Opioid Use Disorder.

We examined age differences across genders in clinical characteristics in emerging adult (≤25 years) vs older adult patients (26+ years) with opioid use disorder (OUD). Participants (N = 570; 30% female) entering a comparative effectiveness medication trial of buprenorphine vs extended-release naltrexone. Differences in clinical characteristics in emerging adult vs older participants were similar across genders. However, women 26+ years reported more mental health problems compared with women ≤25, while men ≤25 years reported more mental health problems compared with men 26+ years. Different strategies for emerging adult and older patients seeking OUD treatment may be necessary to address psychiatric comorbidities that differ across genders in this population. Comprehensive psychiatric assessment should be systematically included in OUD treatment for all genders. Treatment should focus on the emerging adult developmental phase when appropriate, with psychiatric treatment tailored for women and men, separately, across the lifespan. (Am J Addict 2020;29:536-542).

Age differences in the relationship between frailty and depression among community-dwelling older adults

ObjectiveThis study aims to examine age differences in the relationship between frailty and depression among older adults MethodsA total of 1789 community-dwelling older adults were recruited from eastern China. Physical frailty and depressive symptoms were assessed using the Frailty Phenotype and the 5-item Geriatric Depression Scale, respectively. ResultsThe hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis revealed that frailty was significantly related to depressive symptoms (β = 0.272, P < 0.001) and there was a significant interaction between age and frailty (β = −0.703, P < 0.001). The Johnson–Neyman plot revealed that the relationship between frailty and depressive symptoms became weaker as people aged. ConclusionsFrailty is more likely to cause depressive symptoms among the young-old than among the old-old, reflecting the age-related positivity effect. This highlights that interventions on emotional regulation should particularly target the young-old to reduce the effect of frailty on depression.

Age Differences and Similarities in Associated Stressors and Outcomes Among Young, Midlife, and Older Adult Family Caregivers.

Few studies have simultaneously compared caregivers in all stages of the adult life course. This study examined age differences in associations among primary stressors (caregiver burden which includes hours of provided care and number of activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living performed), secondary stressors (financial and employment strains), and caregiver outcomes (emotional strain and physical strain). Using Pearlin's Stress Process Model (1990) and the Caregiving in the United States 2015 dataset, 1,156 caregivers were identified (including 278 young adults aged 18-39 years, 464 midlife adults aged 40-59 years, and 414 older adults aged 60-80 years). Post hoc analyses revealed that compared to older adults, young adults reported less caregiver burden, less physical strain, and greater financial strain. Linear regression analyses revealed associations between caregiver burden and financial strain with emotional and physical strain for all respondents. Findings emphasize the need for age-specific interventions.

Age and gender differences in financial distress among hematopoietic cell transplant survivors.

Cancer has long-term financial consequences. Adolescent and young adult (AYA) and middle-aged cancer survivors may experience more financial toxicity than older adults. This study examined age differences in financial distress in hematopoietic cell transplant survivors and whether these differences result from measurement bias, more financial barriers to care, or an overall higher level of distress. Hematologic malignancy survivors (n = 1135, 2-10years post-transplant) completed the Cancer and Treatment Distress Scale (CTXD) and demographics as part of the baseline assessment for a randomized clinical trial. The CTXD has seven subscales, but for this study, we examined the financial distress subscale and the overall score. Item response theory analyses tested for bias by age and gender. Multivariate linear regression tested the association of age and gender with the CTXD scores while controlling for financial barriers to care. No bias was found on the CTXD. AYA (p < 0.01) and middle-aged adults (p < 0.001) reported more financial and overall distress than older (age 65+) adults. The same association of age and financial distress was observed in women (p < 0.01). However, only middle-aged men (p < 0.01) reported more financial and overall distress than older men; AYA men did not (p > 0.18). Financial barriers to care were not associated with financial or overall distress. Part of the increase in financial distress with younger age may be due to a higher risk of general distress. Policy initiatives to control cancer costs should consider life stage and the unique financial challenges at different ages for men and women.

EHealth literacy in older adults with cancer

ObjectiveRecent advances in health monitoring technology have coincided with increases in the number of older adults with cancer, many of whom report difficulty using health information technology (HIT). Previous studies have identified lower electronic health (eHealth) literacy among older adults (≥65 years) compared to younger adults (<65), but studies in older adults with cancer are limited. The goal of this study was to examine age differences in eHealth literacy and use of technology devices/HIT in patients with cancer, and characterize receptivity towards using home-based HIT to communicate with the oncology care team. Materials and MethodsPatients (n = 198) in a Radiation Oncology clinic were offered an anonymous written questionnaire assessing demographics, eHealth literacy (eHealth Literacy Scale), current use of HIT, and interest in using home-based HIT. Results and ConclusionCompared to younger patients, older patients had significantly lower eHealth literacy (p < .01), and were less likely to feel confident evaluating health resources on the Internet (p < .01) or knowing how to use the health information found on the Internet to help them (p < .01) or answer health questions (p = .01). Older patients were also less likely than younger patients to have an email address (p = .04), own a smartphone (p < .01), or use the online patient portal (p = .03). Regardless of age, most patients were not opposed to using home-based HIT to communicate with their oncology care team. Future studies on HIT use in older adults with cancer should further evaluate barriers to using HIT and ways to maximize implementation and accessibility.

Younger and Older Adults' Mood and Expectations Regarding Aging During COVID-19.

The 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has broadly impacted our daily lives. Here, we used a longitudinal approach to investigate older adults’ mood and expectations regarding aging before and during the global pandemic (Study 1). We also examined age differences in mood, expectations regarding aging, COVID-19 attitudes, and loneliness using a cross-sectional approach (Study 2). In Study 1, older adults completed a mood and expectations regarding aging survey up to 2 years prior to the pandemic and again in April, 2020 (during the pandemic). Participants also completed surveys regarding COVID-19 attitudes and loneliness. In Study 2, a United States sample of younger and older adults completed these surveys during the pandemic. Older adults’ mood and expectations regarding aging remained fairly constant, and younger adults showed lower mood and expectations regarding aging than did older adults, despite older adults showing greater concern about COVID-19. Overall, we find that some older adults seem to be resilient with respect to their mood and expectations regarding aging. These findings reveal important preliminary implications for how older adults may be impacted as a result of lifestyle changes necessary for well-being and the well-being of society.

AGING AND FEELING CURIOUS: A TIME-SAMPLING STUDY

Curiosity is commonly defined as “the desire for new information and experience.” While curiosity has been associated with numerous positive outcomes (e.g., improved well-being, better cognitive performance and longer life expectancy, some studies suggested that curiosity declined with age. However, very few studies actually attempt to examine why curiosity may be lower among older adults. Moreover, scholars disagreed on “why” people feel curious. According to the dual process theory (Spielberger & Starr, 1994), curiosity is induced by optimal level of uncertainty and anxiety with the desire to reduce these aversive feelings. However, the personal growth facilitation model (Kashdan, Rose, & Fincham, 2002) posits that people are curious intrinsically for one’s own growth, which is associated with positive affects. Therefore, the present study aims to examine age differences in the affective profile of feeling curious by comparing the momentary affective experience of curiosity between younger and older adults. In this study, we conducted a 2-week time-sampling study with 78 younger adults (age 19-29) and 79 older adults (age 60-85) from Hong Kong. Multilevel modeling analyses demonstrated a positive relationship between curiosity and positive emotions for both younger (β=.29, p<.01) and older adults (β=.70, p<.01). Interestingly, anxiousness was positively associated with younger adults’ curiosity (β=.09, p=.01) but not for older adults (β=.06, p=.29). Our study supported both theories, but suggested that one may be more dominant among older adults. These findings have important implications for future interventions to reduce anxiousness to encourage older adults to keep an open-minded attitude towards novelties.

The role of family civic context in character development across childhood and adolescence

Parents promote character development in many ways: by cultivating a supportive relationship, modeling the strengths they hope to cultivate, and through the ideas they communicate to their children. Given the need for developmentally sensitive assessments of contexts that facilitate character development, this study examined the role of a family civic context by examining associations between psychological needs support, parental modeling, and communication and character across elementary-, middle-, and high school ages. Using a diverse, cross-sectional sample of 2,467 youth ages 9–19, bifactor models were estimated across age groups to examine age differences in associations between parenting practices and character. Psychological needs support and communication predicted global character across age groups. At older ages, parenting practices evidenced greater specificity in promoting character strengths. Results provide insights into the distinct ways parenting strategies are associated with the development of general and specific character strengths and how these associations vary with age.

Age similarities and differences in spontaneous use of emotion regulation tactics across five laboratory tasks.

Theories of emotional aging have proposed that age differences in emotion regulation may partly explain why older adults report high levels of emotional well-being despite declines in other domains. The current research examined age differences and similarities in emotion regulatory tactic preferences across 5 laboratory tasks designed to measure the strategies within the process model of emotion regulation (situation selection, situation modification, attentional deployment, cognitive change, and response modulation). An adult life span sample (ages 20-78, N = 225) completed tasks offering opportunities to use tactics that decrease negative, increase positive, or engage with negative aspects of the situation. Overall, age similarity in tactic preferences (supported by Bayes factors) was much more common than age differences. Across the sample, participants favored avoiding negative aspects in situation selection and modification and seeking or introducing positive aspects in attentional deployment and cognitive change. Self-reports of affect suggest that older adults were more responsive to positive aspects of the situation, although they did not seek them out more than other age groups. These results cast some doubt on the assumption that spontaneous emotion regulation is more likely in older age, but rather show that both younger and older adults show similar preferences in the absence of other strong goals. This novel approach of examining strategies across the process model highlights benefits of comparing multiple tactics within strategies not only when examining possible age differences, but also when studying patterns of emotion regulation in general. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Peripheral threat detection in facial expressions by younger and older adults

Everyday threat detection includes recognizing threat cues in facial expressions found in our peripheral visual field. The current study examined age differences in the detection of emotion in low and high intensity angry and fearful facial expressions presented in younger and older adults’ parafoveal (±5°) and peripheral visual field (±10°, ±15°). For both age groups, detection performance was better for higher than for lower intensity stimuli, and detection performance declined with greater peripheral distance. Although younger and older adults displayed a similar pattern of findings for angry facial expressions, younger adults appeared to be more sensitive to lower intensity fearful expressions across all viewing positions. These findings demonstrate that, although threat detection may be partly maintained into older age, neurophysiological changes may accompany aging that selectively reduce older adults’ sensitivity to peripheral facial cues of fear.

Adult Age Differences in the Use of Conceptual Combination as an Associative Encoding Strategy.

It is well-established that aging impairs memory for associations more than it does memory for single items. Aging also impacts processes involved in online language comprehension, including the ability to form integrated, message-level representations. These changes in comprehension processes could impact older adults’ associative memory performance, perhaps by reducing or altering the effectiveness of encoding strategies that encourage semantic integration. The present study examined age differences in the use of a strategy termed conceptual combination, which involves integrating two words (e.g., “winter” and “salad”) into a single concept (“a salad for winter”). We recorded ERPs while participants studied unrelated noun pairs using a strategy that either did or did not encourage conceptual combination. We also varied the concreteness of the first noun in each pair in order to measure compositional concreteness effects, or ERP differences at the second noun due to the concreteness of the first noun. At the first nouns, older adults showed word-level concreteness effects that were similar to those of younger adults. However, compositional concreteness effects were diminished in older adults, consistent with reduced semantic integration. Older adults’ associative memory performance was better for word pairs studied during the conceptual combination task versus the non-combinatory encoding task; however, the magnitude of the age-related associative memory deficit did not differ between tasks. Finally, analyses of both memory accuracy and trial-by-trial ratings of perceived combination success suggested that older adults had disproportionate difficulty applying the conceptual combination strategy to word pairs that began with abstract nouns. Overall, these results indicate that changes to integrative language processing that occur with age are not independent of – and may sometimes exacerbate – age-related memory decline.

A trouble shared is a trouble halved: Age differences in emotional experience and expression during couples' conversations.

Although emotional experience and expression are strongly tied to social contexts, most age-comparative studies have used an individualistic approach. The few dyadic laboratory studies that exist have focused on discussions about conflicts and have suggested that older couples experience and express less negative emotion than younger couples. However, recent studies have emphasized the context dependency of age differences in emotional reactivity. More concretely, in situations such as conversations in which the experience and expression of negative emotion might be beneficial for the relationship because it can initiate support and indicate togetherness, older adults should experience and express similar or even higher levels of negative emotion than younger couples. To test this hypothesis, 37 younger (Mage = 24.33) and 41 older couples (Mage = 70.27) were instructed to talk about an ongoing problem experienced by one member of the couple. The main dependent variables were the intensity of negative emotion as manifested in subjective feelings as well as facial and verbal expressions during the conversation. Additionally, we examined age differences in couples' emphasis on togetherness. In contrast to past work but consistent with our prediction, there were not many age differences in both partners' emotional experience and expression. Moreover, in line with previous studies, older couples perceived and expressed more togetherness during the conversation than younger couples. These findings suggest that age differences in negative emotion may be context dependent and less evident if negative emotion does not harm the relationship and serves potentially adaptive functions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Age-related deficits in speech production: From phonological planning to motor implementation.

Speaking is one of the most complex motor actions that humans can perform, requiring the coordination between linguistic, cognitive, affective and sensorimotor systems. Perhaps counter-intuitively, it is also one of the easiest acts that humans perform, on a daily basis, from a very early age till the end of life, without even thinking about it. With age, however, spoken language production undergoes significant changes, with potential impacts on interpersonal communication and social participation. Unfortunately, the neurobiological mechanisms involved are unclear, which impedes efforts towards the development of clinical interventions, differential diagnosis strategies and even prevention strategies for this population. In the present study, we examined age differences in speech production using a simple diadochokinetic rates task in which phonological and sequential complexity were manipulated. 85 cognitively healthy adults (20-93 years) were recruited from the general population. Cognitive level, hearing and depression symptoms were measured. Participants produced short and long sequences of simple and complex syllables aloud as quickly, steadily and accurately as possible. Performance was assessed in terms of articulation rate, articulation rate stability and accuracy. Results show that, controlling for cognition, hearing and depression, articulation rate stability and accuracy declined significantly with age. The phonological manipulation had more impact on performance than the sequential manipulation. These findings were interpreted as reflecting age-related central disruptions at the level of phonological and motor planning, which provides important new cues into underlying neurobiological mechanisms.

One-year stability in life story chapters and memories among emerging, middle-aged, and older adults

We examined 1-year stability of life story chapters and memories. In addition, we examined age differences in stability. At baseline and 1 year later, 70 emerging, 60 middle-aged, and 59 older participants described up to 10 chapters and 10 memories (in counterbalanced order). Participants self-rated chapters/memories on emotional tone, self-change connections, and self-stability connections. Chapters/memories were content coded for stability between time 1 and 2 and for emotional tone. Chapters were significantly more stable than memories. However, there were no significant differences between chapters and memories regarding stability of associated emotional tone, self-change connections, and self-stability connections. We found few age differences in stability. The results suggest that chapters may play a central role in the stability of narrative identity.

Reading Motivation in Kindergartners and 1st-Graders

ABSTRACTThe current research examined age differences and developmental aspects associated with children’s early motivation to read at the beginning and the end of the school year for 119 Hebrew speakers in kindergarten and 1st grade. Analyses showed that overall motivation to read was higher among 1st-graders than among kindergartners. In addition, motivation to read increased during the school year for kindergartners, but not for 1st-graders. After comparing the three motivational subscales, results revealed that self-concept as a reader appeared to be the highest subscale among 1st-graders and remained unchanged, whereas in kindergarten it was the lowest and improved during the school year. It is possible that both anticipation to enter 1st grade and to learn to read as well as learning in an encouraging educational environment might be positive motives that contribute to reading motivation. Children’s motivation to read seems to develop and change during the kindergarten school year and consolidate in 1st grade. Motivational aspects should be assimilated as early as kindergarten before formal reading instruction begins in 1st grade to increase reading motivation and reading practice, due to their reciprocal relationship.

Age differences in public stigma, self-stigma, and attitudes toward seeking help: A moderated mediation model.

Stigma is commonly identified as a key reason that older adults are especially unlikely to seek mental health services, although few studies have tested this assumption. Our objectives were to: (a) examine age differences in public and self-stigma of seeking help, and attitudes toward seeking help, and (b) see whether age moderates an internalized stigma of seeking help model. A total of 5,712 Canadians ranging in age from 18 to 101 completed self-report measures of public stigma of seeking help, self-stigma of seeking help, and help-seeking attitudes. Older participants had the lowest levels of stigma and the most positive help-seeking attitudes. Age also moderated the mediation model, such that the indirect effect of public stigma on help-seeking attitudes through self-stigma was strongest for older participants. Our findings have implications for the influence of stigma and attitudes as barriers to treatment across the adult lifespan, and for stigma reduction interventions.

Age and sex differences of pediatric overuse injuries presenting to outpatient sports medicine clinic.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate pediatric overuse injuries in children presenting to outpatient sports medicine clinic and to examine age and sex differences affecting clinical presentation of these injuries. METHODS: IRB approval was received from Nationwide Children's Hospital for this study. A retrospective chart review was performed on patients between 5 and 18 years-of-age, presenting with musculoskeletal complaints from January 2012 to December 2017. Data on age, sex, injury diagnosis, mechanism of …

Social Exclusion and Mental Wellbeing in Older Romanians

In Romania, inequalities in health and wellbeing between younger and older Romanians are substantial, and an important reason for inequalities may be the higher risk of social exclusion among older adults. After the fall of Communism in 1989, the many transformations in economic structures and welfare regimes contributed to enhanced levels of social exclusion, in particular among the older generations. Social exclusion is a multidimensional problem with substantial effects on the mental wellbeing of people. The present study examines age differences in mental wellbeing and evaluates to what extent differences can be explained by age and social exclusion, while controlling for a number of potential confounders. Data are from the fourth wave (2016) of the European Quality of Life Survey. Data for Romania include 1004 people aged between 18 and 85 years old, of which 726 are included in the analyses (only complete cases). In the study sample, 259 were 55 years or older. Mental wellbeing was measured with The World Health Organization Wellbeing Index (WHO-5 scale), and social exclusion was measured in four domains: social relations, material resources, services and the neighbourhood. The results show that older Romanians have a statistically significant lower mental wellbeing than younger generations in Romania. All domains of social exclusion were associated with lower levels of mental wellbeing. These effects remained statistically significant after controlling for partner status, chronic diseases, having children, and level of education. Improving mental wellbeing of older Romanians would greatly benefit from increasing social inclusion by means of social transfers provided by the government, improving the neighbourhood and access to services, and providing facilities to enhance the social network.

Age differences in electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) usage motivations and behaviors, perceived health benefit, and intention to quit

IntroductionData from comprehensive studies are sparse regarding age differences in issues related to electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) usage. This study examined age differences in usage motivations and behaviors, perceived health benefit, and quit intentions in a large and diverse sample recruited online. MethodsThe sample included 1,432 current ENDS users, ages 18–64, drawn from a national online survey conducted in 2016. Descriptive and multivariable analyses were used. ResultsThe sample included participants in the following age groups: 18–24 (17.5%), 25–34 (38.6%), 35–44 (23.3%), and 45–64 (20.7%). With multiple adjustments, the 18–24 age group was more likely to vape for reasons such as flavors or friends’ use, and to use multiple flavors and products with varying nicotine content. For example, the odds (95% CI) of vaping initiation due to flavor attraction vs. other reasons in the 18–24 age group were 1.40 (1.02–1.92), 2.73 (1.85–3.99), and 2.12 (1.41–3.18) compared to the 25–34, 35–44, and 45–64 age groups, respectively. In contrast, compared to older age groups, the 18–24 age group was less likely to use ENDS as an alternative to cigarettes or as a quitting device; they also used ENDS less frequently and perceived less health benefit of ENDS use. The 18–24 age group, especially those who had only used ENDS, had the lowest odds of likely quitting use of tobacco/nicotine products compared to other groups (lower by 44–73%). ConclusionThere were significant age differences in ENDS usage motivations and behaviors, perceived health benefit, and quit intentions.

Age-related differences in the acute pain facial expression during infancy.

The ontogenetic perspective on the development of emotional expressions in infants holds that infants' facial and vocal expressions evolved to serve crucial communicative functions in infancy and contribute to infants' survival. Infants' facial expressions should be contextualized by their own developmental stage rather than presuppositions from verbal populations. The overall aim of this paper was to examine age differences in the temporal patterning of elucidated facial expressions in the first minute following vaccination injections. One hundred infants were videotaped longitudinally (2, 4, 6 and 12 months) from 2007-2012during their routine vaccination appointment over the first year of life and five major negative facial configurations were identified using BabyFACS. In the current study, facial configurations were graphed in 5-s epochs for 1-min post-vaccination and subsequently analysed for facial expression by time effects using Repeated Measures ANOVAs at each age. Clear differences in temporal patterns were displayed as infants aged. ANOVA analyses indicated significant facial expression by time interactions at each age. Facial expressions illustrating intense/moderate distress and sensory overload were prominent in the first 15s at the 2-, 4- and 6-month vaccination. However, expressions showing regulation of distress occurred progressively earlier over 1min post-needle in older infants, suggesting a significant shift in regulatory capacity of pain-related distress occurs after 6-months of age. An important developmental milestone was identified in infants' ability to regulate distress at 6months. Supporting parents' infant pain management is particularly critical in the first months of life as infants' initial facial expressions appear to be more reflective of an organism overwhelmed by distress.