Mental Well-being In Later Life Research Articles

Exercise, physical activity and mental well-being in later life

SummaryExercise and physical activity are thought to be among the most important lifestyle factors for the maintenance of health and prevention of premature disease and mortality. Yet sedentary lifestyles are common. Many people avoid exercise, and have done so across their lifespan. Exercise and physical activity are also considered important for positive psychological functioning; however, this has received limited research attention. This mini-review discusses the effects of exercise and physical activity on mental health and well-being in later life. It draws on international peer reviewed research, summarized in systematic reviews and/or meta-anlaysis, and presents the key findings. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses generally confirm the importance of exercise for mental well-being; however, there is a lack of good quality research. The review discusses some of the barriers to exercise, and identifies strategies that may facilitate uptake and adherence in later life. Limitations in the current evidence are discussed. Based on the current evidence, it is recommended that health practitioners should encourage exercise or physical activity of low to moderate intensity, and leisure time activity such as walking, especially at retirement. Future intervention research would benefit by focusing on people who have not self-selected into studies so as to understand the causal direction, and include theory driven approaches to behaviour change.

How do retirement dynamics influence mental well-being in later life? A 10-year panel study.

Empirical studies have consistently shown the negative impact of involuntary retirement on mental well-being. However, few studies have thus far investigated the degree to which post-retirement work affects late-life outcomes. The present study improves our understanding of the impact of retirement on the self-efficacy and life satisfaction among older adults by focusing on the combined impact of retirement voluntariness and participation in post-retirement work. By using panel data on retirement behavior in the Netherlands, we estimate fixed effects and multilevel models to explain (intra-)individual changes in self-efficacy and life satisfaction over a 10-year period in which most participants made the transition to retirement. The results indicate that involuntary retirement is associated with decreases in both self-efficacy and life satisfaction in later life. Whereas involuntary retirees who participate in bridge jobs show no changes in life satisfaction, those involuntary retirees without bridge jobs experience a decline in life satisfaction. In addition, we found enhanced levels of life satisfaction for voluntary retirees in bridge employment. The association with self-efficacy was less pronounced. These results suggest that the characteristics of the retirement process influence changes in mental well-being in later life. Specifically, bridge employment alleviates the negative consequences of involuntary retirement and even seems to enhance post-retirement well-being for voluntary retirees.

Coming together and pulling apart: Exploring the influence of functional status on co-resident relationships in assisted living

Social relationships can have considerable influence on physical and mental well-being in later life, particularly for those in long-term care settings such as assisted living (AL). Research set in AL suggests that other residents are among the most available social contacts and that co-resident relationships can affect life satisfaction, quality of life, and well-being. Functional status is a major factor influencing relationships, yet AL research has not studied in-depth or systematically considered the role it plays in residents' relationships. This study examines the influences of physical and mental function on co-resident relationships in AL and identifies the factors shaping the influence of functional status. We present an analysis of qualitative data collected over a one-year period in two distinct AL settings. Data collection included: participant observation, informal interviews, and formal in-depth interviews with staff, residents, administrators and visitors, as well as surveys with residents. Grounded theory methods guided our data collection and analysis. Our analysis identified the core category, “coming together and pulling apart”, which signifies that functional status is multi-directional, fluid, and operates in different ways in various situations and across time. Key facility- (e.g., admission and retention practices, staff intervention) and resident-level (e.g., personal and situational characteristics) factors shape the influence of functional status on co-resident relationships. Based on our findings, we suggest strategies for promoting positive relationships among residents in AL, including the need to educate staff, families, and residents.

Improving mental health through learning

Learning can contribute to mental wellbeing in later life. Melissa March, Director of L4A, explains how volunteers, care homes, coordinators, friends and family can facilitate learning.

Is exercise effective in promoting mental well-being in older age? A systematic review

Background: Promoting the mental well-being of older people has been neglected. Aim: To examine the clinical and cost-effectiveness of exercise and physical activity interventions on mental well-being in people aged 65+. Design: Systematic review, meta-analysis, economic model. Methods: Reports published in English, identified by searching 25 databases, 11 websites and references lists of systematic reviews. Eligible studies were those with a comparison or control group or offering qualitative evidence; exercise and physical activity interventions for people aged 65 and above living at home, in the community, in supported housing or in residential care homes; including outcome measures of mental well-being, not simply measures of depression or anxiety. Low-quality studies were excluded from the data synthesis. Results: An overall effect of exercise on mental well-being was found (standardised effect size = 0.27; CI = 0.14–0.40). The included interventions were designed for older people, targeted those who are sedentary and delivered in a community setting, primarily through a group-based approach led by trained leaders. As a minimum, the evidence would suggest two exercise sessions per week, each of 45 min duration. There is some indication that exercise can also improve the mental well-being of frail elders. Economic evidence indicated incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (compared with minimal intervention) of £7300 and £12,100 per quality adjusted life year gained for community-based walking and exercise programmes, respectively. Conclusions: Mental well-being in later life is modifiable through exercise and physical activity. To generalise the findings, there is a need for more evidence of effectiveness from older people in the UK.

Maternal stress-induced reduction in birth weight as a marker for adult affective state

It is known that adverse events experienced by a pregnant woman may be reflected upon the developing fetus and adversely affect its mental wellbeing in later life. In a recent study by our group, prenatal stress was associated with a clear increase in anxiety- and depression-related behavior in male, but not female Sprague-Dawley offspring. Since birth weight data were recorded we were able to determine whether birth weight, as an important outcome measure of fetal distress, may be used as a predictive indicator for adult performance. For this purpose, a correlation analysis was performed, aimed at studying the possible link between stress-induced fetal growth restriction and adult affective state. Male birth weight correlated positively to depression-related behavior in the forced swim test. Furthermore, it weight was correlated negatively to basal, and positively to stress-induced, plasma corticosterone levels in adulthood. Female birth weight did not correlate to any of the studied outcome measures. These data suggest that male birth weight may represent a valuable indicative marker for variations in adult affective state with a developmental origin.

Activity as a predictor of mental well-being among older adults

This eight-year follow-up study examines the roles of physical and leisure activity as predictors of mental well-being among older adults born in 1904–1923. As part of the Evergreen project, 1224 (80%) persons aged 65–84 years were interviewed at baseline (1988), and 663 (90%) persons in the follow-up (1996). Mental well-being factors including depressive symptoms, anxiety, loneliness, self-rated mental vigour and meaning in life were constructed using factor analysis. The predictors of mental well-being included physical and leisure activity, mobility status and number of chronic illnesses. We used a path analysis model to examine the predictors of mental well-being. At baseline, low number of chronic illnesses, better mobility status and leisure activity were associated with mental well-being. Baseline mental well-being, better mobility status and younger age predicted mental well-being in the follow-up. Explanatory power of the path analysis model for the mental well-being factor at baseline was 19% and 35% in the follow-up. These findings suggest that mental well-being in later life is associated with activity, better health and mobility status, which should become targets for preventive measures.

Promoting mental well-being in later life

Promoting mental well-being in later life

Social Contexts of Mental Well-Being in Later Life

Social Contexts of Mental Well-Being in Later Life

Social Contexts of Mental Well-Being in Later Life.

Extending the preceding review, this commentary argues for serious attention to the social contexts of mental health of older adults in research and practice. Social gerontology research focuses primarily on summative or aggregate variables with little focus on mechanism, despite growing evidence that mechanisms as diverse as immunosuppression and expressed emotion influence mental health. Increased linkages between the macro-level and microlevel data are required to provide the theoretical models needed to shape practice. Current evidence is deemed sufficient, however, to alter the frameworks we use for both diagnosis and treatment.