Psychological Well-being Of Older Adults Research Articles

Online Mindful Movement Approach for Older Adults: Two Case Studies

ABSTRACT The COVID-19 pandemic had a devastating impact, especially on many older individuals. Outbreaks significantly affected accessibility and community engagement, making it challenging to maintain social connections with family, friends, and society. Social distancing measures and lockdown restrictions have been linked to challenges in physical and mental health, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive strategies that can alleviate the pandemic’s impact and foster meaningful social connections, particularly for older adults experiencing age-related cognitive changes (ACC). In response, an online mindful movement approach (MMA) targeting loneliness and psychological wellbeing in older adults experiencing ACC (n = 16) was implemented. This paper presents a comparative analysis highlighting two case studies derived from the parent study, examining the impact of the online MMA for older adults experiencing ACC. Thematic analysis was employed to analyze the two cases. The participants reported a decrease in loneliness along with notable improvements in self-awareness, mood, and social connectedness. Additionally, they experienced an enhancement in their mindfulness practice and discovered new ways to use movement to enhance their well-being. The findings suggested that online MMA offered an alternative platform that can provide physical and psychosocial health benefits to older adults experiencing ACC during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Can Creativity and Cognitive Reserve Predict Psychological Well-Being in Older Adults? The Role of Divergent Thinking in Healthy Aging

The maintenance of psychological well-being (PWB) in the older adult population is a pivotal goal for our rapidly aging society. PWB is a multicomponent construct that can be influenced by several factors in the lifespan. The beneficial role of divergent thinking (DT) and cognitive reserve (CR) in sustaining older subjects’ PWB has been scarcely investigated so far. The present study aims to investigate the relationships between DT, CR, and PWB in a sample of 121 healthy older adults (61 females; M age: 73.39 ± 6.66 years; M education: 11.33 ± 4.81 years). The results highlight that better DT performance predicts higher CR, which mediates an indirect positive effect of DT on emotional competence, one of the PWB factors. It follows that DT and CR can be considered protective factors in aging, and their effects go beyond cognitive functioning, revealing a positive effect even on some PWB components. The practical implications regarding targeted health interventions for prevention in the older adult population to support well-being and promote healthy aging are discussed.

Community gardens and psychological well-being among older people in elderly housing with care services: The role of the social environment

With population aging, increasing numbers of elderly people in Japan are expected to enter aged care facilities (ACFs). Although research has shown that access to community gardens (CGs) is generally beneficial to older people's psychological well-being, the mechanisms by which the usage and quality of CGs influence the well-being of older adults in ACFs remain insufficiently studied. Therefore, this study aims to explore the associations between garden factors (i.e., garden visit frequency and perceived garden quality) and older adults' psychological well-being outcomes (i.e., positive well-being and self-rated health) and to investigate the mediating role of neighborhood social environment factors (i.e., outing frequency, social participation, perceived neighborhood social cohesion, and perceived neighborhood attachment) in these associations. We conducted a questionnaire survey with 322 older adults from twelve elderly housing with care services (EHCSs) in the Tokyo metropolitan area (TMA) of Japan. The multiple regression models showed that both garden factors were positively associated with positive well-being and self-rated health. The parallel mediation models showed that higher garden visit frequency and perceived garden quality were associated with higher outing frequency and perceived neighborhood social cohesion and, in turn, with higher positive well-being. Moreover, higher garden visit frequency and perceived garden quality were associated with greater social participation and thereby with better self-rated health; higher perceived garden quality was also associated with higher perceived neighborhood attachment and thus with better self-rated health. Our findings elucidate the potential mechanisms underlying the beneficial associations between CGs and the psychological well-being of older adults in ACFs, emphasizing the important role of cultivating friendly social environments in CGs in enhancing healthy aging.

LIVING ARRANGEMENTS, HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING AMONG OLDER ADULTS IN CHINA

Abstract Objectives Living arrangements is an essential component of social environments for older adults. This study examines the impact of living arrangements and housing characteristics on the psychological well-being of older adults in China. Methods Data were derived from the 2011-2012 wave of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey. The final sample consisted of 4,746 Chinese older adults aged 80–105 years. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds of negative psychological outcomes, predicted by living arrangements, housing characteristics and other covariates. Results Overall, older adults who lived in a three-person household were less likely to feel lonely than their counterparts living in other household sizes. Participants who reported at least one housing problem (e.g., exposure to mold, minor home damage) were more likely to feel anxious and depressed than those who did not report any housing problems. Having a private bedroom was associated with better psychological well-being for both older men and women. Discussion This study demonstrates that both household sizes and housing conditions may influence health and well-being in advanced age. Living with family members and having adequate personal space at home have protective health benefits for older adults. This study has policy implications regarding household sizes and improvement in housing conditions.

TRANSITIONS TO LIVING ALONE AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING OF OLDER ADULTS IN THE U.S: ARE THERE ANY RACE DISPARITIES?

Abstract We extend the existing literature on living alone and psychological well-being in older adults by focusing on the transition process from other living arrangements to living alone. We examine how transitioning to living alone is associated with psychological well-being scores (measured by 21-item Ryff Measures of Psychological Well-being) and how the associations vary across racial and ethnic groups. Using data from 2016 and 2020 Health and Retirement Study, we specify the transitions to living alone from four living arrangements: living with spouse/partner only, living with spouse/partner and older parents, living with a spouse/partner, children, and parents, and living with others. Respondents consistently living alone were the reference group. Our analysis involves adults aged 50 and above (n=3160). After controlling for final psychological well-being scores and adjusting for age, gender, marital status, and education in 2016, results from multiple linear regression models suggest that the transitions from living with spouse/partner only to living alone are associated with significantly lower scores of psychological well-being (β= -1.71, p<.01) than those consistently living alone. However, no statistically significant differences were observed between individuals transitioning from the other three living arrangements to living alone and those consistently living alone. The moderation effect shows that older Blacks experienced increased psychological well-being when transitioning from living with a spouse/partner to living alone (β=2.26) while their White counterparts had decreased psychological well-being during the same transition. This underscores the significance of the transition experience and emphasizes race disparities in its association with psychological health outcomes.

Analysis of the Impact of Interpersonal Interactions on the Mental Health of Older People --Life Satisfaction as a Measure

An essential indicator of the psychological well-being of older adults is their life satisfaction. This paper examines the effect of interpersonal interactions on the psychological well-being of older adults. Life satisfaction is used as a mediator. The following conclusions were drawn life satisfaction was significantly and positively related to psychological well-being, and interacting with children and social interactions were positively associated with older adults life satisfaction. Negative marital status, including being unmarried and widowed, is detrimental to older adults life satisfaction, while the effects of divorce and marriage are not statistically significant. Older adults life satisfaction was negatively associated with the frequency of internet use.

Effects of a mindfulness-based intervention and a health self-management programme on psychological well-being in older adults with subjective cognitive decline: Secondary analyses from the SCD-Well randomised clinical trial

Objectives Older adults with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) recruited from memory clinics have an increased risk of developing dementia and regularly experience reduced psychological well-being related to memory concerns and fear of dementia. Research on improving well-being in SCD is limited and lacks non-pharmacological approaches. We investigated whether mindfulness-based and health education interventions can enhance well-being in SCD. Methods The SCD-Well trial (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03005652) randomised 147 older adults with SCD to an 8-week caring mindfulness-based approach for seniors (CMBAS) or an active comparator (health self-management programme [HSMP]). Well-being was assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and 6-month post-randomisation using the Psychological Well-being Scale (PWBS), the World Health Organisation’s Quality of Life (QoL) Assessment psychological subscale, and composites capturing meditation-based well-being dimensions of awareness, connection, and insight. Mixed effects models were used to assess between- and within-group differences in change. Results CMBAS was superior to HSMP on changes in connection at post-intervention. Within both groups, PWBS total scores, psychological QoL, and composite scores did not increase. Exploratory analyses indicated increases in PWBS autonomy at post-intervention in both groups. Conclusion Two non-pharmacological interventions were associated with only limited effects on psychological well-being in SCD. Longer intervention studies with waitlist/retest control groups are needed to assess if our findings reflect intervention brevity and/or minimal base rate changes in well-being.

An 18-month meditation training selectively improves psychological well-being in older adults: A secondary analysis of a randomised controlled trial.

As the world population is ageing, it is vital to understand how older adults can maintain and deepen their psychological well-being as they are confronted with the unique challenges of ageing in a complex world. Theoretical work has highlighted the promising role of intentional mental training such as meditation practice for enhancing human flourishing. However, meditation-based randomised controlled trials in older adults are lacking. We aimed to investigate the effects of meditation training on psychological well-being in older adults. This study presents a secondary analysis of the Age-Well trial (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02977819), which randomised 137 healthy older adults (age range: 65 to 84 years) to an 18-month meditation training, an active comparator (English language training), or a passive control. Well-being was measured at baseline, mid-intervention, and 18-month post-randomisation using the Psychological Well-being Scale (PWBS), the World Health Organisation's Quality of Life (QoL) Assessment psychological subscale, and composite scores reflecting the meditation-based well-being dimensions of awareness, connection, insight, and a global score comprising the average of these meditation-based dimensions. The 18-month meditation training was superior to English training on changes in the global score (0.54 [95% CI: 0.26, 0.82], p = 0.0002) and the subscales of awareness, connection, insight, and superior to no-intervention only on changes in the global score (0.54 [95% CI: 0.26, 0.82], p = 0.0002) and awareness. Between-group differences in psychological QoL in favour of meditation did not remain significant after adjusting for multiple comparisons. There were no between-group differences in PWBS total score. Within the meditation group, psychological QoL, awareness, insight, and the global score increased significantly from baseline to 18-month post-randomisation. The longest randomised meditation training conducted to date enhanced a global composite score reflecting the meditation-based well-being dimensions of awareness, connection, and insight in older adults. Future research is needed to delineate the cognitive, affective, and behavioural factors that predict responsiveness to meditation and thus help refine the development of tailored meditation training.

P163: Closing the gap: Funded psychology in residential aged care in Australia.

Objective:Historically, older adults in residential aged care facilities (RACF) in Australia had no access to government funded psychology services despite high rates of anxiety and depression. Change Futures is a registered charity that provides funded psychology to more than 220 RACFs in south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales, Australia, and since 2015 has been providing free psychology services to older adults living in aged care, using a predominately provisional psychologist workforce. This presentation will discuss the model of service that is provided, and the findings of a recent outcomes report.Method:Data was collected via clinician entered eHealth records in the 2021/2022 financial year from 01/07/2021 to 30/06/2022. Outcome measures were analysed using six repeated measure t-tests to compare clinical change from first and last assessments.Results:A total of 2865 residents were seen in 17,754 individual sessions and 298 group sessions. Staff education was provided in 94 sessions with 838 participants, who worked in RACFs. The most common presenting issue was difficulties with adjustment (70%), comorbid anxiety and depression (28%), depression (27%), loneliness (18%), and anxiety (17%). Outcomes of the psychology program showed statistically significant improvements on all measures, including the Kessler 5 psychological distress scale, Geriatric anxiety scale, Patient health Questionaire-9, De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale, and Brief Adjustment Scale.Conclusion:The described service model resulted in significant improvements to the psychological wellbeing of older adults, and represents an effective and sustainable training approach for provisional psychologists.

The Effectiveness of Reminiscence Therapy in Improving Cognitive Functions And Psychological Wellbeing in Older Adults With Early Dementia ‐ The Randomized Control Trial

AbstractBackgroundReminiscence therapy (RT) is a trending type of non‐pharmacological intervention in dementia care. RT is using life histories recalling and re‐experiencing the life events in older people in order to improve their psychological well‐being through the volitional or non‐volitional process of recollecting memories from their past.MethodParticipants' selection inclusion criteria are: (a) aged 65 or above, (b) early stage of dementia that was screened by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) with scoring of 17‐19, and (c) can read written instruction and consent. Participants were randomly assigned by block randomization with randomized block procedure. The participants attended eight group sessions, with each session lasting for 60 minutes. Sessions were administered two times a week over a 4‐week period. Participants' depressive symptoms were evaluated by Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Subjective well‐being (the cognitive components) was measured by Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), mood change as measured by Visual Analogue Mood Scale (VAMS). All these evaluation were conducted baseline, mid‐way evaluation and post‐evaluation by a registered Occupational Therapist.ResultForty older people (29 male and 11 female) were eligible for the study. There was significant difference on depressive symptoms (p = .02, t = ‐2.38), mood change (p = .03, t = ‐3.38), but marginally significant in subjective well‐being (p = .05, t = ‐1.03) between intervention and control group. Further analyses were conducted whether depressive symptoms and mood change effect individuals' subjective well‐being. A two‐way ANOVA revealed that there was not a statistically significant interaction between the effects of depressive symptoms and mood change (F(3, 16) = 1.242, p = .311). Simple main effects analysis showed that depressive symptoms did not have a statistically significant effect on subjective well‐being (p = .975). Simple main effects analysis showed that mood change did have a statistically significant effect on subjective well‐being (p < .000).ConclusionThe findings of this study affirmed the benefit of RT to older people with early stage of dementia through improving depressive symptoms, mood and marginally on their subjective well‐being. The research data available support the inclusion of a structured RT as a part of the routine care given to older people. There are some limitations of our study.

Prevalence and factors associated with depression and anxiety among older adults: A large-scale cross-sectional study in China

BackgroundTo determine the prevalence of depression and anxiety among older adults in China, and explore the associated factors. MethodsThis cross-sectional study recruited participants between October 2022 and December 2022. The sample collection utilized a multi-stage stratified equal probability random sampling method. This study included 8436 older adults who underwent interviews utilizing standardized assessment instruments. The assessment of depressive symptoms employed the Patient Health Questionnaire 9, while the evaluation of anxiety utilized the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7. Multivariate logistic regression was conducted to determine the odds ratio and 95 % confidence interval (CI). ResultsThe weighted prevalence rates for depression and anxiety were 2.79 % (95 % CI: 2.38 %–3.28 %) and 1.39 % (95 % CI: 1.12 %–1.74 %), respectively. Older adults who were female, widowed, had irregular dietary habits, spent <1 h per day using electronic devices for socializing and entertainment, engaged in >8 h of sedentary behavior per day, and had chronic diseases (cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, insomnia, and Chronic gastroenteritis) displayed a higher likelihood of encountering symptoms indicative of depression and anxiety. Conversely, older adults living in rural areas and those who walked daily were less prone to experience symptoms of depression and anxiety. ConclusionsThis study suggests that the psychological well-being of older adults should be cared for when treating chronic diseases. Moreover, families, communities, and clinics should recognize that supporting regular diets, providing social engagement and recreational activities, encouraging physical activity, and minimizing sedentary behavior can reduce the risk of depression and anxiety.

47 Mind-Wandering in Older Adults: Implications for Fluid Cognition and Perceived Psychological Quality of Life

Objective:Mind-wandering is defined as a spontaneous shift of attention away from the external environment to inner thoughts. With mind-wandering being a ubiquitous phenomenon, there has been increasing interest in examining the role these spontaneous, and often unintentional, thought processes may have for metrics of cognitive and psychological health. However, much of this literature is mired with inconsistencies, potentially stemming from the use of variegated experimental methods and quantification of mind-wandering through different metrics. For example, mind-wandering has been investigated through endorsement of self-report probes embedded in tasks of sustained attention, with participants asking to endorse whether they were engaging in task-unrelated thoughts or task-related, but evaluative thoughts about the task (task-related interference). Other studies have instead focused on behavioral metrics of task performance, like omission and commission errors, the variability in response time (RTCV), and speeding or slowing prior to errors to quantify mind-wandering. In this study, employing a large sample of older adults, and implementing the novel technique of partial least squares regression, we examined the combined and simultaneous effect of different mind-wandering metrics in explaining variance in fluid cognition and psychological health in older adults.Participants and Methods:One hundred and fifty older adults with normal cognition or mild cognitive impairment were administered a Go/No-Go Task (GNG) with embedded mind-wandering probes, the Conners CPT-3, the NIH Toolbox-Cognition Battery, and the WHO Quality of Life Assessment Brief Version at baseline in a clinical trial examining the impact of two mind-body interventions on aging. Based on previous research, the following variables were considered behavioral measures of mind-wandering: quantity of omission and commission errors, RTCV, pre-error speeding, and post-error slowing. Percentage of self-reported task-related interference (i.e. evaluating current performance) and task-unrelated thoughts were included as self-report measures of mind-wandering. These mind-wandering measures, along with demographic variables (age, sex, and education), were regressed using Partial Least Squares Regression to determine the impact of mind-wandering measures on fluid cognition (NIHT-CB) and perceived psychological well-being (WHOQOL-BBREF). Validation tests were completed to assess model fit.Results:A single latent factor explained 26% of the variance in fluid cognition (p=0.0001). Higher levels of age, errors of omission on both tasks, and task-related interference were all associated with worse fluid cognition, whereas task-unrelated thoughts were associated with better fluid cognition.A two-factor latent model explained 12% of the variance in perceived psychological well-being (p=0.0004). Age and task-unrelated thoughts were positively associated with psychological well-being. In contrast, errors of omission on both tasks, response time variability on the CPT, and task-related interference were negatively associated with perceived psychological well-being.Conclusions:Mind-wandering is associated with fluid cognition and perceived psychological well-being in older adults. Select behavioral measures were better than self-report measures at linking mind-wandering to fluid cognition and perceived psychological well-being. Interestingly task-unrelated thoughts, but not task-related interference, was positively associated with fluid cognition, supporting the cognitive resource-based account of mind-wandering. The result of our study provides novel insights into differential relationships between various metrics of mind-wandering and cognitive and psychological health.

Autobiographical Cerebral Network Activation in Older Adults Before and After Reminiscence Therapy: A Preliminary Report.

Reminiscence therapy (RT), which engages individuals to evoke positive memories, has been shown to be effective in improving psychological well-being in older adults suffering from PTSD, depression, and anxiety. However, its impact on brain function has yet to be determined. This paper presents functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data to describe changes in autobiographical memory networks (AMN) in community-dwelling older adults. This pilot study used a within-subject design to measure changes in AMN activation in 11 older adults who underwent 6 weeks of RT. In the scanner, participants retrieved autobiographical memories which were either recent or remote, rehearsed or unrehearsed. Participants also underwent a clinical interview to assess changes in memory, quality of life, mental health, and affect. Compared to pretreatment, anxiety decreased (z = -2.014, p = .040) and activated significant areas within the AMN, including bilateral medial prefrontal cortex, left precuneus, right occipital cortex, and left anterior hippocampus. Although RT had subtle effects on psychological function in this sample with no evidence of impairments, including depression at baseline, the fMRI data support current thinking of the effect RT has on the AMN. Increased activation of right posterior hippocampus following RT is compatible with the Multiple Trace Theory Theory (Nadel & Moscovitch, 1997).

Identifying the impact of social isolation and loneliness on psychological well-being among the elderly in old-age homes of India: the mediating role of gender, marital status, and education

BackgroundSocial isolation and loneliness can be detrimental to the overall functioning of the older adults. The study examines the impact of social isolation and loneliness on the psychological well-being of older adults residing in various old-age homes in India and investigates the mediating role of gender, marital status, and education level in the way social isolation and loneliness affect psychological well-being.MethodsData has been collected from 320 individuals aged sixty years or above. Data were collected using standardized measures like Lubben Social Network Scale- 6, revised UCLA Loneliness Scale, and shortened version of psychological well-being scale by Ryff & Keyes (1995). Multivariate and mediation analysis were performed to understand the associations of social isolation and loneliness with psychological well-being.ResultsA statistically significant MANOVA effect was obtained for social isolation (F = 3.836, p < .01), and loneliness (F = 3.782, p < .01). Gender and education as independent factors were significantly associated with the psychological well-being of individuals. However, both gender and education did not mediate the impact of social isolation and loneliness on the psychological well-being of older adults. Further, marital status had a partial mediating effect on the relationship between social isolation, loneliness, and psychological well-being.ConclusionsThe findings of the study can be incorporated into measures aiming at alleviation of feelings of social isolation and loneliness among the elderly. Further, the findings can be used to design various intervention strategies aimed at the reduction of social isolation and loneliness among older adults and the restoration of their psychological well-being.

The Application of Fully Immersive Virtual Reality on Reminiscence Interventions for Older Adults: Scoping Review.

The increasing number of older adults with mental, behavioral, and memory challenges presents significant public health concerns. Reminiscence is one type of nonpharmacological intervention that can effectively evoke memories, stimulate mental activities, and improve psychological well-being in older adults through a series of discussions on previous experiences. Fully immersive virtual reality (FIVR) may be a useful tool for reminiscence interventions because it uses realistic virtual environments connected to a person's significant past stories. This review aims to examine empirical evidence regarding the application of FIVR in reminiscence interventions, its usability and acceptability, and its effectiveness in assisting the intervention to achieve optimal outcomes. We followed the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) approach for scoping reviews. The PubMed, PsycINFO, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, ACM, and IEEE Xplore electronic databases were used for the search. We included peer-reviewed studies that used FIVR as an assistive tool for reminiscence interventions; were published between January 1, 2000, and August 1, 2022; reported empirical research; involved older adults as participants; and addressed health- and behavior-related outcomes or the feasibility and usability of FIVR. We used Endnote X9 to organize the search results and Microsoft Excel for data extraction and synthesis. Of the 806 articles collected from the databases and other resources, 11 were identified. Most of the studies involved participants aged between 70 and 90 years. Only 1 study did not involve those with cognitive impairments, whereas 3 specifically targeted people living with dementia. The results indicated that FIVR reminiscence interventions enhanced engagement and reduced fatigue. Although some studies have observed positive effects on anxiety, apathy, depression, cognitive functions, and caregiver burden reduction, these findings were inconsistent across other research. In addition, FIVR showed overall usability and acceptability with manageable side effects among older adults across various health conditions during reminiscence sessions. However, 1 study reported adverse feelings among participants, triggered by unpleasant memories evoked by the virtual reality content. The role of FIVR in reminiscence interventions remains nascent, with limited studies evaluating its impacts on older adults. Many of the reviewed studies had notable limitations: small sample sizes, absence of rigorous research design, limited assessment of long-term effects, lack of measures for health and behavior outcomes, and quality of life. Beyond these limitations, this review identified a list of future research directions in 6 categories. On the basis of the review findings, we provide practical recommendations to enhance FIVR reminiscence interventions, covering topics such as virtual reality content, device choice, intervention types, and the role and responsibility of facilitators.

Cognitive Status and Psychological Well-Being of Older Adults with Hearing, Vision, or Dual Sensory Impairments

Cognitive Status and Psychological Well-Being of Older Adults with Hearing, Vision, or Dual Sensory Impairments

Effect of Fictive Kinship Interactions on the Physical Health and Psychological Well-Being of Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Shared Site Intergenerational Programs in China

ABSTRACT This randomized controlled trial examined the effects of fictive kin interaction on the physical health and psychological well-being of older adults living in a shared site nursing home in China. The results revealed that depression levels significantly decreased and self-efficacy and flourishing levels significantly increased among the participants who engaged in additional one-to-one pair activities with kindergartners, with the effect size ranging from medium to large. The research findings indicated that one-to-one fictive kinship interactions between older adults and young children can promote the self-perceived physical health and psychological well-being of older adults in a Chinese context.

Effect of home-based group conversation intervention using smartphone application on cognitive health and psychological well-being of older adults with subjective cognitive concerns in Japan: a randomized controlled trial protocol.

Social activity is a key component in the prevention of cognitive decline. However, face-to-face social intervention has limited accessibility. To address this issue, we developed the "Photo-Integrated Conversation Moderated by Application" (PICMOA), a home-based group conversation intervention using smartphones. This paper introduces the PICMOA intervention and the protocol of the ongoing randomized controlled trial (RCT), which aims to evaluate the effects of PICMOA on the cognitive functioning and psychological well-being of Japanese community dwelling older adults at the risk of cognitive function decline. This study uses an RCT design in two parallel group trials with 1:1 allocation. The participants are community dwelling older adults aged 65 years and above, living in an urban city in Japan, with subjective cognitive concerns. In total, 81 participants were allocated to the intervention or control groups. The intervention group receives 30 min of weekly PICMOA sessions at their home for 12 weeks. The PICMOA intervention consists of (1) a photo preparation period before the session and (2) a structured group conversation session talking about the photos that participants took according to a specific theme. The control group receives 30 min of weekly health education videos on a tablet device. The primary outcome is cognitive functioning at pre- and post-phases of the 12-week intervention measured using the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status in Japanese, semantic and phonemic fluency tests, and the Digit Span Forward and Backward tests. The secondary outcomes are psychological and social aspects including mental status, well-being, loneliness, and social support. Interest is growing in internet-based activities for preventing social isolation. However, the effect of remote conversation interventions on cognitive functioning remains unclear. This study addresses this issue and provides a new avenue of social participation for older adults. https://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/, identifier: UMIN000047247.

THE EFFECTS OF EXERCISING ON PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING IN OLDER ADULTS

Exercising is an essential component of healthy aging. The benefits of exercise are numerous. There are certain benefits on physical performance. Exercise in older adults can increase endurance, improve balance and quality of life. The benefits of exercise are not limited to physical health. Psychological variables such as depressive mood and anxiety can also be modified by regular exercise. There are several types of exercise regimens. The most common exercise types tailored to older adults include aerobic training, strengthening, flexibility exercises and balance exercises. Specific exercises can be directed to individuals with certain health disorders. Exercising may mediate psychological health through the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis. Improved sleep via exercise can further lead to an improvement in mood and cognition. The current article reviewed the recent literature regarding the effects of exercising on psychological well-being in older adults.

Sexuality, quality of life and psychological well-being in older adults: A correlational study

This study aimed at analyzing the relationship between general health status, quality of life, and sexual life among older adults. This descriptive-correlational design study was conducted with the participation of 323 (169 female and 154 male) older people at the age of 65+. The participants were clients of the outpatient services in a general hospital in Istanbul. Data were collected with the General Health Questionnaire, Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale, and Quality of Life Scale. Psychological well-being had no association with sexuality scores whereas quality of life had a significant association. Older people with better quality of life had less sexual dysfunctionality. Participants who were up the 75 years old, who have lower education, lower economic status, unemployed, having chronic diseases seemed to experience higher ASEX scores, meaning that higher sexual dysfunction, lower GHQ scores and lower quality of life level. Sexuality in older people changes over time and continues to hold its importance. Less sexual dysfunction seemed to relate with higher quality of life in older people. Researchers should consider the importance of the quality of life on sexual satisfaction in older people.