Health Behaviors Of Older Adults Research Articles

Regional and racial/ethnic variations in alcohol consumption among older adults

Objectives: This paper sought to examine the role of region and race/ethnicity in alcohol consumption among older adults.Methods: Data were obtained from the 2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). Participants aged 60 and older were included (n = 185, 190). Analyses of covariance (ANCOVAs) were conducted to examine the effects of region and race/ethnicity on alcohol consumption among older adults.Results: Results indicate that region and race/ethnicity are significantly related to the alcohol consumption of older adults. More specifically, results suggest that White older adults consume significantly more alcohol than other racial/ethnic groups among older adults. Regarding regional effects, results suggest that older adults in the West consume significantly more alcohol than older adults in the Midwest and South. Additionally, results suggest regional variation in alcohol consumption patterns by race/ethnicity.Conclusion: Findings provide additional insight into how and where alcohol is being used among older adults in the United States. Further, findings highlight the importance of taking race/ethnicity and geography into consideration when investigating the health behaviors of older adults.

A Study on Longitudinal Associations between Health Screening and Health Behaviors among Older Adults

Objectives Despite the increasing importance of older adults’ own health behaviors in achieving healthy aging, there has been lack of research on associations between health screening and other health behaviors of older adults. The present study aims to examine longitudinal associations between health screening and smoking, drinking, and practice of regular exercise among older adults. Methods Analyse were based on 2,458 individuals aged 65 and over who participated in the 1-4 waves of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing (KLoSA). Generalized Estimating Equations were performed to investigate associations between health screening and health behaviors when effects of demographic characteristics and health-related variables were controlled. Results Findings suggested that older adults who participated in private health screening showed a lower odds of drinking over the 6-year-period. Both public screening and private screening were associated with greater odds practice of regular exercise. Conclusions Results from the present analyses emphasized health screening, as a preventive health behavior, could promote healthier lifestyle of older adults and suggest potential needs for follow-up after health screening. Key words: Health screening, Health behaviors, Older adults, Generalized estimating equations

A Novel Communication Value Task Demonstrates Evidence of Response Bias in Cases with Presbyacusis

Decision-making about the expected value of an experience or behavior can explain hearing health behaviors in older adults with hearing loss. Forty-four middle-aged to older adults (68.45 ± 7.73 years) performed a task in which they were asked to decide whether information from a surgeon or an administrative assistant would be important to their health in hypothetical communication scenarios across visual signal-to-noise ratios (SNR). Participants also could choose to view the briefly presented sentences multiple times. The number of these effortful attempts to read the stimuli served as a measure of demand for information to make a health importance decision. Participants with poorer high frequency hearing more frequently decided that information was important to their health compared to participants with better high frequency hearing. This appeared to reflect a response bias because participants with high frequency hearing loss demonstrated shorter response latencies when they rated the sentences as important to their health. However, elevated high frequency hearing thresholds did not predict demand for information to make a health importance decision. The results highlight the utility of a performance-based measure to characterize effort and expected value from performing tasks in older adults with hearing loss.

A First-year Cohort Study based on Health Behaviors of Older Adults in an Urban City: Gender and Age Differences

A First-year Cohort Study based on Health Behaviors of Older Adults in an Urban City: Gender and Age Differences

Health behaviors in older adults: Considering age, affect, and attitudes.

Identifying psychological factors associated with engagement in healthy behaviors in later life is a key to effective behavior interventions. In all, 204 adults ( Mage = 80) took a questionnaire assessing objective and perceived health, positive affect and negative affect, aging attitudes, and three classes of health behaviors: eating/nutrition, exercise, and general health behavior. Regression models found better eating behavior was best explained by older age, more exercise was best explained by more positive affect, and better general lifestyle behavior was best explained by worse perceived health. Programs promoting health behaviors in older adults can utilize the findings to tailor interventions to the health behavior of interest.

Health Status and Factors related to Health Behaviors of Older Adults Using a Senior Center

Health Status and Factors related to Health Behaviors of Older Adults Using a Senior Center

Effectiveness of Community Intervention in Improving Bone Health Behaviors in Older Adults

An 8-week, bone-health community program addressed risks/lifestyle changes within the Health Belief Model and Theory of Reasoned Action frameworks in a randomized format (treatment group n = 35; control group n = 34). Median week 1 values for calcium (control, 963 mg; treatment, 1023 mg) and vitamin D (81 IU both groups) were below recommendations, increasing throughout the program for both control (1023 mg calcium, 128 IU vitamin D) and treatment (1005 mg calcium, 122 IU vitamin D) groups. There was limited response to the exercise outcome variables, with many not participating in that section of the program. Psychosocial variables were positive for both control and treatment groups at week 1, with no significant difference at postintervention. Regression analysis indicated that those with a positive attitude about calcium intake and belief that they could choose calcium-fortified foods were more likely to have higher calcium intake. Intention to exercise was modified by peer and family support. Community-based programs can translate and use clinical trial key topics and outcomes, but participation bias makes impact results difficult to interpret the effectiveness of the program.

Self-reported Oral Health and Oral Health Behaviors in Older Adults in the Last Year of Life

The complex physiological, psychological, and functional changes at the end of life may dramatically affect oral health. However, evidence regarding oral health changes at the end of life is scarce. This study's objective was to examine self-rated oral health and oral health behaviors among community-dwelling elders in the last year of life. This study was a retrospective longitudinal study including 810 dentate community-dwelling older adults aged 65 and older. Based on death certificate data, the participants were retrospectively classified into two groups: died within 1 year after the last interview (end-of-life group) and survived more than 1 year after the last interview (comparison group). Participants were interviewed at baseline, 18, 36, 60, and 84 months regarding their sociodemographics, self-reported oral health, oral conditions, use of oral health services, and preventive behaviors. Generalized estimating equations were used to compare self-reported oral health and oral health behaviors between two groups. After adjusting for sociodemographics, the end-of-life group was more likely to rate their oral health (odds ratio [OR] = 2.94, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.32, 6.54) and overall health (OR = 2.35, 95% CI: 1.12, 4.91) as bad than the comparison group. End-of-life participants were also more likely to dislike their mouth appearance (OR = 2.27, 95% CI: 1.07, 4.83) and rate their ability to taste (OR = 7.24, 95% CI: 2.64, 19.77) and smell (OR = 2.98, 95% CI: 1.09, 8.15) as bad. There was no difference in self-reported oral conditions, use of oral health services, and preventive behaviors. Self-rated oral health significantly declines in the last year of life.

Self-reported Oral Health and Oral Health Behaviors in Older Adults in the Last Year of Life

Self-reported Oral Health and Oral Health Behaviors in Older Adults in the Last Year of Life

Inheritances, health and death

We examine how wealth shocks, in the form of inheritances, affect the mortality rates, health status and health behaviors of older adults, using data from eight waves of the Health and Retirement Survey. Our main finding is that bequests do not have substantial effects on health, although improvements in quality-of-life are possible. This absence occurs despite increases in out-of-pocket spending on healthcare and in the utilization of medical services, especially discretionary and non-lifesaving types such as dental care. Nor can we find a convincing indication of changes in lifestyles that offset the benefits of increased medical care. Inheritances are associated with higher alcohol consumption, but with no change in smoking or exercise and a possible decrease in obesity.

The Contribution of Health Literacy to Disparities in Self-Rated Health Status and Preventive Health Behaviors in Older Adults

Health literacy is associated with a range of poor health-related outcomes. Evidence that health literacy contributes to disparities in health is minimal and based on brief screening instruments that have limited ability to assess health literacy. The purpose of this study was to assess whether health literacy contributes, through mediation, to racial/ethnic and education-related disparities in self-rated health status and preventive health behaviors among older adults. We undertook a cross-sectional study of a nationally representative sample of 2,668 US adults aged 65 years and older from the 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy. Multiple regression analysis was used to assess for evidence of mediation. Of older adults in the United States, 29% reported fair or poor health status, and 27% to 39% reported not utilizing 3 recommended preventive health care services in the year preceding the assessment (influenza vaccination 27%, mammography 34%, dental checkup 39%). Health literacy and the 4 health outcomes (self-rated health status and utilization of the 3 preventive health care services) varied by race/ethnicity and educational attainment. Regression analyses indicated that, after controlling for potential confounders, health literacy significantly mediated both racial/ethnic and education-related disparities in self-rated health status and receipt of influenza vaccination, but only education-related disparities in receipt of mammography and dental care. Health literacy contributes to disparities associated with race/ethnicity and educational attainment in self-rated health and some preventive health behaviors among older adults. Interventions addressing low health literacy may reduce these disparities.

Health behaviors in older adults with pain and depression

Health behaviors in older adults with pain and depression

Grounded Theory Approach to Health Care of Older Adults at a Doctorless Farm Village

The purpose of this study was to explore how older adults kept their health good at a doctorless farm village. Data was collected through in-depth interviews with 32 participants who were over 65 years old and analyzed in terms of Strauss and Corbin's (1990) grounded theory methodology. The Core Category of health care of older adults was identified as "enduring physical changes by themselves". The process of this could be divided into 4 stages : the stage of bearing, the stage of managing daily living activities, the stage of passively collecting information and the stage of minimally utilizing health care services. Older adults accepted the aging process positively but health sources limitation passively, so they managed daily living activities and used natural food for health. In addition, they collected information related to health care and used health care services minimally. We found that participants managed their health passively because of negative attitudes toward active health behaviors of older adults by themselves and the difficulty of access to health care services. Therefore, various community health services for older adults need to be developed to empower older adults in the community.

Race, religion, and abstinence from alcohol in late life.

This study aimed to see whether involvement in religion helps explain why older Blacks are more likely to avoid drinking alcohol than older Whites. Interviews were conducted with a nationwide sample of older Whites and older Blacks. Survey items were administered to assess whether study participants consume alcohol, whether they affiliate with fundamentalist congregations, how often they attend religious services, how often they pray privately, and whether they derive a sense of meaning from their faith. The findings reveal that older people who affiliate with fundamentalist churches and who find meaning in religion are more likely to avoid drinking. However, neither church attendance nor private prayer are related to alcohol use. Race differences in the odds of drinking were no longer statistically significant once the religion measures were added to the model. The findings highlight the importance of religion in shaping the health behaviors of older adults.

The Impact of Information on Health Behaviors of Older Adults with Urinary Incontinence

The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of education about urinary incontinence on the subsequent help-seeking behaviors of older adults. Forty-five community-dwelling seniors were randomized to two groups. One group received individualized instruction supported by written information, the other received written information alone. All participants received a list of local health care professionals specializing in the assessment and treatment of urinary incontinence. Seventeen participants sought professional help following the intervention; however, there was no significant difference in help-seeking behaviors between intervention groups, chi2 = 1.42, alpha = 0.05. The most common reasonfor lack of help-seeking postintervention was a preference for self-care. Eighty-eight percent of those who initiated self-help behaviors reported a subjective improvement in the frequency or volume of their incontinence. Results emphasize the important role registered nurses should play in the dissemination of complete and accurate information about urinary incontinence.

Changing health behaviors of older adults.

1. Changing lifelong unhealthy habits can have a positive effect on health for older adults. 2. The Transtheoretical Model of behavior change proposes people move through a series of five stages and use a variety of processes as they attempt to change a behavior. 3. Research has shown that tailoring interventions to a individual's stage of change is most effective in promoting behavior change. 4. Specific stage-based strategies are recommended for nurses to use with both individuals and groups of older adults.

Perceived health competence and personality factors differentially predict health behaviors in older adults.

Previous studies have shown relationships among personality, perceived efficacy, and proactive health behaviors. Although health behaviors are particularly important among seniors, little is known regarding predictors of health behaviors in older adults. The current study examined the extent to which facets of personality, perceived health competence (PHC), and health status predicted health behaviors among older adults. Ninety-seven older adults responded to questionnaires assessing health status, personality, PHC, and level of engagement in certain health behaviors. Whereas higher levels of Conscientiousness and lower levels of Neuroticism predicted a greater likelihood of engaging in social support/relaxation behaviors, after controlling for health status and education, higher levels of PHC predicted greater exercise and dietary/health information-seeking behaviors. These findings suggest the importance of considering facets of personality and PHC when evaluating health care strategies for the elderly.

Effects of a Health Promotion Program on Sustaining Health Behaviors in Older Adults

Controversy exists regarding the optimal way to provide health promotion education to the elderly. This prospective randomized study evaluated the effectiveness of individualized assessment and counseling coupled with the receipt of a written health plan on client adherence to health behavior recommendations. Two hundred thirty-seven ethnically diverse and predominantly low-income adults 60 and older, participating for the first time in an established statewide public health prevention program delivered in both rural and urban clinics, were recruited and randomly assigned to treatment and control groups. All participants received a standardized assessment that included a health history, nutrition assessment, and limited physical exam from a public health nurse. The treatment group additionally received a written personal health plan and individualized counseling to support implementation of the plan. Both groups were interviewed after one year to determine their adherence to the original recommendations. Seventeen preventive services and health behaviors were evaluated. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups on health care use and previous health behaviors at baseline. Using logistic regression and controlling for socioeconomic and demographic variables, we found that the treatment group that received a personal health plan and counseling completed significantly more preventive referrals and health behavior changes (P < .001). A client-centered planning process with supportive counseling by public health nurses, combined with health plans provided to clients, can significantly increase the prevention measures taken by older adults.

Changes in Health Behaviors of Older Adults: The San Diego Medicare Preventive Health Project

Background. This study presents behavioral outcomes at 1-year follow-up from a preventive services intervention trial with Medicare beneficiaries. Methods. The health promotion package consisted of goal setting and counseling based on a health risk appraisal and a series of eight educational sessions. All subjects completed a health risk appraisal questionnaire immediately prior to the intervention and 1 year later; this served as the dependent measure. Results. Results indicated that there were significant, positive changes in intervention subjects in activity level and selected nutrition behaviors relative to control subjects. The strengths and weaknesses of a broad-based approach to intervention are discussed.

Preventive health practices among older men and women.

The preventive health practices of older men and women were examined from interviews with a community sample of 172 adults aged 64-96. Differences between men and women were found with only 10 of the 37 individual health practices. A mixed pattern was found in the relationship of personal and demographic characteristics, life outlook, self-health perceptions, and social network with health practices. The results suggest caution in interpreting how age and gender interact to influence the preventive health practices and health behaviors of older adults.