US Baby Boomers Research Articles

PARENTAL TRANSITION TO LONG-TERM CARE: IMPLICATIONS FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING OF ADULT CHILDREN

Abstract Approximately a quarter of US Baby Boomers provide informal caregiving for their parents. Though the psychological burden of caregiving is well-documented, the extent to which this burden relates to parental transition into long-term care is understudied. This study examined the longitudinal associations between parental transition to long-term care and life satisfaction and depressive symptoms among older adults of the ‘Baby Boom’ generation. Sample included respondents with at least one living parent from the Health and Retirement Study, 2010 - 2018 (n = 6,519, mean age = 56). Single-item life satisfaction was assessed on a 5-point Likert scale (range: not at all - completely satisfied). Depressive symptoms were indexed by the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (range: 0-8). Multivariate mixed effects poisson regressions of depressive symptoms and life satisfaction were fit, separately, adjusting for demographic characteristics, total wealth, and interview wave. Over the study period, 12% of respondents had a parent transitioning into long-term care. On average, respondents with parents transitioning into long-term care were older, wealthier, had higher depressive symptoms and lower life satisfaction. Longitudinally, parental transitions to long-term care was associated with mild increase in reported depressive symptoms, but there was no association with life satisfaction. Our findings are generally consistent with previous studies, reaffirming that while placement of parents in long-term care may alleviate caregiving burdens, it may not reduce distress in their adult children.

CORRELATES OF RETIREMENT EXPECTATIONS AMONG BABY BOOMERS IN US AND SOUTH KOREA: APPLICATIONS OF TREE-BASED METHODS

Abstract 75 million US Baby Boomers are expected to retire by 2030. Retirement decisions are a result of a complex interplay of multiple psychosocial factors, including individual (demographics, health characteristics), family (marital status, spousal characteristics), work-related factors (job characteristics, workplace environment), and cultural contexts surrounding retirement. However, traditional regressions of retirement expectations limit the inclusion of a large set of factors and their interactions. This study employed decision trees and random forests to explore the salient psychosocial correlates of retirement expectations among Baby Boomers in two countries that differ in retirement norms and policies, US and South Korea. Sample included adults aged 52-65 from the 2016 wave of the Health and Retirement Study (n=1,192) and the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (n= 766). Expectation (probability) of working full-time for the next 5-10 years was modeled continuously (range: 0-100). Prediction models of expectations included 52 psychosocial factors relating to individual, family, and work characteristics. Mean expectations were higher in Koreans than US adults (71.4% vs. 36.7%). Age, self-reported probability of living to age 75, and work hours strongly predicted expectations in both US and Korean adults. While type of employment, Social Security or private pension benefits, and employment tenure were important predictors in US adults, flexible work arrangements were important in Koreans. Differences in features predicting retirement expectations between the US and Korean adults suggest opportunities for country-specific programs and policies aimed to promote workplace environment and pension benefits for successful retirement planning in the Baby Boom generation.

US baby boomers’ homeownership trajectories across the life course: A Sequence Analysis approach

US baby boomers’ homeownership trajectories across the life course: A Sequence Analysis approach

Cardiorespiratory Fitness Is Associated With Early Death Among Healthy Young and Middle-Aged Baby Boomers and Generation Xers

BackgroundIncreased mortality associated with low cardiorespiratory fitness has shown to take effect during late adulthood in previous generations. A recent rise in early death was observed in the United States. We investigated the impact of low cardiorespiratory fitness during young and middle adulthood on premature death in healthy adults from recent generations. MethodsA prospective cohort study of a nationally representative sample of US Baby Boomers and Generation Xers (born 1945-1980). Between 1999 and 2004, 3242 adults ages 20 to 49 years (weighted N = 59,888,450; mean age, 33.8 ± 0.2 years) underwent submaximal treadmill exercise test in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey study. Weighted Cox proportional hazards regression were used to evaluate the association of cardiorespiratory fitness with premature death at 65 years or younger. ResultsDuring a mean follow-up of 13.8 years, 104 deaths (weighted deaths N =1,326,808) occurred. Low cardiorespiratory fitness was associated with an increased risk of premature death as a result of all-cause (hazard ratio [HR], low vs high: 2.26; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.10 to 4.64, P for trend = 0.036) and cancer mortality (HR low vs moderate/high: 6.53; 95% CI, 2.38 to 17.9). Further, this association was stronger in adults ages 35 to 49 years at baseline (HR, 4.17 [95% CI, 1.19 to 9.11]). ConclusionWe observed an inverse association between cardiorespiratory fitness during middle adulthood and premature death, which was not detected in preceding generations. These findings suggested that low cardiorespiratory fitness might be emerging as a new risk factor for early death among US Baby Boomers and Generation Xers.

The potential effect of US baby-boom retirees on stock returns

Empirical studies demonstrated that US baby boomers consumption and savings patterns have affected economic aggregates over the past decades, among them equity returns. Boomers’ retirement is expected to mitigate the demand for equities until 2050, but its impact varies with the specific population age structure along decades. This paper employs a dynamic asset pricing model with optimum consumption and portfolio rules to estimate aging effects on S&P500 returns between 1950 and 2050. Calibration for demographic and economic data between 1950 and 2005 yields model estimates that significantly explain the moving average of S&P500 returns. Further, taking into account the present value of expected demographic effects until 2050 suggests that the S&P500 was fairly priced at the heart of the financial crisis, on April 2009, but overpriced thereafter.

Fair trade consumption from the perspective of US Baby Boomers

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to expand the knowledge base of Baby Boomers’ attitudes, behaviours and perceived barriers related to fair trade purchasing. Design/methodology/approach – This study included 168 Baby Boomers. Data were collected through an online questionnaire. Data analysis included a combination of both quantitative (descriptive statistics, independent samples t-tests and correlation analysis) and qualitative techniques. Findings – Findings indicated that the participants exhibited positive attitudes towards fair trade but were minimally engaged in fair trade purchasing. Furthermore, the participants perceived numerous barriers to purchasing fair trade products including the incompatibility of fair trade merchandise with lifestyles, the inability to touch and see fair trade products prior to purchase and difficulty in identifying fair trade items. Research limitations/implications – A limitation of this study is that the sample was well-educated university faculty and it is not representative of all Baby Boomers. Practical implications – Fair trade entities need to be more effective in marketing the advantages of the fair trade. Fair trade organizations should consider targeting marketing strategies specific to the unique demographic and psychographic characteristics of Baby Boomer consumers. Originality/value – This research expands understanding of the consumer behaviours of US Baby Boomers related to fair trade. An additional contribution is the comparison of differences in fair trade knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of Early vs Late Baby Boomers. It also has potentially important implications for fair trade organizations, as the paper discusses marketing strategies specific to Baby Boomers.

Treating Dementia and Agitation

Age is the greatest single risk factor for developing dementia. When people reach age 65, their risk of dementia is 10%, and by age 85, approximately one-third will develop Alzheimer disease, the most common cause of dementia.1 With 76 million US baby boomers entering or having entered this period of risk, a new wave of dementia cases can be anticipated—instead of today’s approximate 5 million people with dementia, nearly 14 million in the United States are expected to have dementia by 2050.2

Preferences for technology versus human assistance and control over technology in the performance of kitchen and personal care tasks in baby boomers and older adults

Purpose: Quality of Life technology (QoLT) stresses humans and technology as mutually dependent and aware, working together to improve task performance and quality of life. This study examines preferences for technology versus human assistance and control in the context of QoLT. Method: Data are from a nationally representative, cross-sectional web-based sample of 416 US baby boomers (45–64) and 114 older adults (65+) on preferences for technology versus human assistance and control in the performance of kitchen and personal care tasks. Multinomial logistic regression and ordinary least squares regression were used to determine predictors of these preferences. Results: Respondents were generally accepting of technology assistance but wanted to maintain control over its’ operation. Baby boomers were more likely to prefer technology than older adults, and those with fewer QoLT privacy concerns and who thought they were more likely to need future help were more likely to prefer technology over human assistance and more willing to relinquish control to technology. Conclusions: Results suggest the need for design of person- and context-aware QoLT systems that are responsive to user desires for level of control over operation of the technology. The predictors of these preferences suggest potentially receptive markets for the targeting of QoLT systems.Implications for RehabilitationIn anticipation of potential needs for help with instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) and activities of daily living (ADL), approximately half of US baby boomers and older adults are open to having intelligent, person-aware technology provide assistance. The remainder would prefer human assistance.US baby boomers and older adults are generally not in favor of relinquishing control to the technology when receiving IADL or ADL assistance.Preferences for technology versus human assistance and control over technology vary by socio-demographic, health-related, and technology attitude variables.Intelligent, person-aware quality of life technologies for rehabilitation must be designed to be sensitive to user characteristics and preferences for control over operation of the technology.

Response to activewear apparel advertisements by US baby boomers

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the importance of cognitive‐ versus chronological‐age factors in activewear apparel advertisements targeting female baby boomers in the USA.Design/methodology/approachA total of 50 female participants aged 41‐65 were asked to view two print advertisements: one showing activewear apparel worn by a cognitive‐age model and the other by a chronological‐age model. Participants then responded to a four‐part questionnaire that included a measurement of cognitive age, physical activity, response to the advertisements, and purchase intent.FindingsThe responses indicated that the participants view themselves as younger than their chronological age and were more inclined to respond favorably toward the advertisement using the cognitive age model.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough this study focuses on only one consumer group – US baby boomers – it reveals their current attitudes toward advertisements of activewear apparel as well as their motivations for purchasing activewear apparel. More research on this age demographic and the impact of cognitive age vs. chronological age on their perceptions of advertising is needed.Originality/valueCurrently one of the largest age demographics in the USA, baby boomers are known for having higher amounts of disposable income as compared to other age cohorts and for their interest in physical fitness and leading active lifestyles. The results of this study point to the need to understand the age‐related perceptions of this consumer group in order to successfully market activewear apparel products directly to them.

Long-Term Predictability in Stock Returns: Past and Future Us Baby-Boom Effects, 1950-2050‎

Empirical studies demonstrated that US baby boomers consumption and savings ‎patterns have affected economic aggregates over the past decades, among them ‎equity returns. Boomers’ retirement is expected to generate an excess supply of ‎equities until 2050, but its impact varies with the specific population age structure ‎along decades. This paper estimates aging effects on S&P500 returns between ‎‎1950-2050. Calibration for demographic and economic data between 1950-2005 ‎yields model estimates that significantly explain the moving average of S&P500 ‎returns. The present value of expected demographic effects until 2050 suggests ‎that the S&P500 was rationally priced in early 2009, but its subsequent ‎appreciation represents overpricing.‎