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Behavioral Sciences
Special Issues
Wellness and Well-Being of Older People
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Wellness and Well-Being of Older People

A special issue of Behavioral Sciences (ISSN 2076-328X). This special issue belongs to the section "Geriatric Psychiatry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 June 2024 | Viewed by 6019

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Aprill Z. Dawson

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
Interests: health services research; social determinants of health; social risks; older adults; racial/ethnic minorities; type 2 diabetes; health disparities; health equity
Dr. Armiel Suriaga

E-Mail Website
Co-Guest Editor
Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA
Interests: intersection of substance use, misuse, and addiction in the older population and healthy aging

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Aging of the population is a global phenomenon largely due to declines in fertility and mortality, and increases in longevity. As individuals age, the human body goes through a series of physiological changes including decrease in nerve transmission speed, decrease in speed of body movements, declines in cognitive function, increase in functional limitations, increase in chronic conditions and multimorbidity, and numerous other physical health changes. These physical health changes are often associated with loneliness, social isolation, anxiety, depression, and decreased psychological well-being and quality of life.

Due to the increasing older adult population, there is newfound interest in (1) aging in place; (2) research designed to understand factors directly and indirectly associated with health outcomes of older adults, and (3) developing and testing novel and innovative strategies to optimize the health of the older adult population. Given the significance of these topics, more studies are being conducted in this area. This special issue focuses on the physical and psychological well-being of older adults and effective strategies for improving the well-being of older adults, families and communities. In this Special Issue, we look forward to collecting original research studies and reviews focused on these topics.

Dr. Aprill Z. Dawson
Dr. Armiel Suriaga
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Behavioral Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • wellness
  • well-being
  • mental health
  • quality of life
  • perceived discrimination
  • older adults
  • aging
  • cognitive impairment
  • functional limitations
  • outcomes
  • Hemoglobin A1C
  • blood pressure
  • cholesterol
  • depression
  • anxiety
  • social isolation
  • loneliness

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 634 KiB  
Article
Caring for Dementia Caregivers: Psychosocial Factors Related to Engagement in Self-Care Activities
by Xinyao Lin, Jerad H. Moxley and Sara J. Czaja
Behav. Sci. 2023, 13(10), 851; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13100851 - 18 Oct 2023
Viewed by 1326
Abstract
Caregivers often prioritize the needs of the care recipient and neglect their own health needs. It is imperative to understand the factors related to their self-care practices and engagement in self-care activities. The present study examined the extent to which dementia caregivers engaged [...] Read more.
Caregivers often prioritize the needs of the care recipient and neglect their own health needs. It is imperative to understand the factors related to their self-care practices and engagement in self-care activities. The present study examined the extent to which dementia caregivers engaged in self-care activities, how this varied depending on caregiver characteristics, and whether self-care engagement mediated the relationship between social support and caregiver outcomes. The study utilized baseline data from a diverse sample of dementia caregivers (N = 243) who participated in a randomized trial evaluating a psychosocial technology-based caregiver intervention. Results showed that the dementia caregivers engaged in low levels of self-care activities and that their engagement varied based on the caregivers’ background characteristics (age, gender, race/ethnicity, relationship to the care recipient, and employment status). Less caregiver involvement (e.g., less ADL/IADL help provided and more caregiver preparedness) and more social support predicted higher self-care activity engagement. Self-care activity engagement served as a mediator, such that more social support predicted more self-care activities, which, in turn, were associated with more positive perceptions of caregiving and less caregiver burden and depression. The findings suggest a need for interventions that promote self-care engagement among dementia caregivers and underscore the importance of social support and caregiver preparedness to caregivers’ well-being. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wellness and Well-Being of Older People)
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12 pages, 787 KiB  
Article
Combating Loneliness in Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings from a Volunteer-Based Program in Greece
by Marianna Balta, Konstantinos Katsas, Chrysoula Grigoropoulou, Dimitrios V. Diamantis, Dimitrios Kalogiannis, Nikolaos Drougos, Eleni Fagogeni, Afroditi Veloudaki, Demosthenes Panagiotakos and Athena Linos
Behav. Sci. 2023, 13(10), 804; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13100804 - 27 Sep 2023
Viewed by 1016
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the feeling of loneliness, especially among older adults. This study aims to investigate any association between COVID-19 cases in Greece and the number of Loneliness Helpline calls at the Friendship at Every Age program and to assess whether [...] Read more.
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the feeling of loneliness, especially among older adults. This study aims to investigate any association between COVID-19 cases in Greece and the number of Loneliness Helpline calls at the Friendship at Every Age program and to assess whether the interconnection part of the program, which interconnects older adults with volunteers, can combat loneliness/social isolation in older adults. This is a supportive, volunteer-based, social intervention program. A total of 4033 calls were collected from July 2020 to November 2022, in Greece. Older adults who participated in the interconnection part completed baseline (n = 275) and follow-up questionnaires (n = 168), including the UCLA Loneliness Scale. A time-series analysis revealed a positive association in the number of calls with COVID-19 cases (Incidence Rate Ratio per 100 new COVID-19 cases = 1.012; Confidence Interval (95% CI) [1.002, 1.022]). A significant decrease in the Loneliness Scale was observed at follow-up [difference = −0.85; 95% CI (−1.16, −0.54)], with similar results by sex, educational level, and area of living. Loneliness Helpline calls increased during COVID-19 outbreaks, while the interconnection part had a positive impact on older adults, reducing their feeling of loneliness. Similar initiatives are required to better address the needs of the ageing population during and after health crises. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wellness and Well-Being of Older People)
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20 pages, 1585 KiB  
Article
Motor–Cognitive Interventions May Effectively Improve Cognitive Function in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Controlled Trial
by Mingda Tao, Huajun Liu, Jinxuan Cheng, Caiyun Yu and Lili Zhao
Behav. Sci. 2023, 13(9), 737; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13090737 - 04 Sep 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1439
Abstract
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a syndrome that occurs in the preclinical stage of Alzheimer’s disease. Early intervention can be effective in preventing Alzheimer’s disease, but further research is needed on intervention methods. To identify interventions that are more suitable for Chinese characteristics [...] Read more.
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a syndrome that occurs in the preclinical stage of Alzheimer’s disease. Early intervention can be effective in preventing Alzheimer’s disease, but further research is needed on intervention methods. To identify interventions that are more suitable for Chinese characteristics and to investigate the effects of motor–cognitive intervention on the cognitive functions of older adults with MCI, we screened 103 community-dwelling older adults with MCI aged 65 years and older in Qingdao, Shandong, China; divided them into an intervention group and a control group; and administered a motor–cognitive intervention to the intervention group for 12 weeks. The study used the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) to assess the initial cognitive level of the MCI participants and detect the effects of the intervention. We found that the cognitive abilities of the intervention group were significantly improved at the end of the intervention, as well as at the end of the follow-up, compared with the control group. The results of the current study suggest that the motor–cognitive intervention we used may improve the cognition of older people with MCI in the Chinese community. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wellness and Well-Being of Older People)
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15 pages, 1334 KiB  
Systematic Review
Is Formal Social Participation Associated with Cognitive Function in Middle-Aged and Older Adults? A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis of Longitudinal Studies
by Cláudia Cunha, Gina Voss, Renato Andrade and Alice Delerue-Matos
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(4), 262; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14040262 - 22 Mar 2024
Viewed by 650
Abstract
This systematic review with meta-analysis aimed to explore the association between formal social participation and cognitive function in middle-aged and older adults using data from longitudinal studies. A comprehensive search was conducted in Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science for longitudinal studies that [...] Read more.
This systematic review with meta-analysis aimed to explore the association between formal social participation and cognitive function in middle-aged and older adults using data from longitudinal studies. A comprehensive search was conducted in Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science for longitudinal studies that assessed the association between formal social participation and cognitive function in middle-aged and older adults published between January 2010 to 19 August 2022. Risk of bias was judged using the RoBANS tool. Meta-analysis using a random-effects model was computed with odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for cognitive decline probability. Sensitivity analyses were made to explore any changes to the pooled statistical heterogeneity and pooled effect size. Certainty of evidence was judged using the GRADE framework. We included 15 studies comprising 136,397 participants from 5 countries. Meta-analyses showed that formal social participation was associated with reduced cognitive decline (OR = 0.78, 95% CI 0.75–0.82, p < 0.001), with very low certainty of evidence. Formal social participation appears to enhance cognition in middle-aged and older adults, but further high-quality research is needed given the very low certainty of evidence. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wellness and Well-Being of Older People)
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14 pages, 639 KiB  
Systematic Review
Effectiveness of Different Neurocognitive Intervention Approaches on Functionality in Healthy Older Adults: A Systematic Review
by Susana Sáez-Gutiérrez, Eduardo J. Fernandez-Rodriguez, Celia Sanchez-Gomez, Alberto Garcia-Martin, Luis Polo-Ferrero and Fausto J. Barbero-Iglesias
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(2), 87; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14020087 - 25 Jan 2024
Viewed by 932
Abstract
Subtle loss of functionality in healthy older adults is considered one of the most important predictors of cognitive decline. Neurocognitive interventions are increasingly being used, from a preventive maintenance approach to functional capacity. This study evaluates the effectiveness of different neurocognitive approaches on [...] Read more.
Subtle loss of functionality in healthy older adults is considered one of the most important predictors of cognitive decline. Neurocognitive interventions are increasingly being used, from a preventive maintenance approach to functional capacity. This study evaluates the effectiveness of different neurocognitive approaches on the functionality of healthy older adults. In this systematic review (CRD42023473944), an extensive search was conducted for articles published in the last 10 years (2013–2023) in the following databases: Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science. A total of 809 trials were identified, of which 18 were considered to be eligible for inclusion in the review. The data revealed heterogeneity in sample size, measures of functional assessment, neurocognitive interventions used, number of sessions, session duration, and time. Traditional cognitive stimulation is shown to have no significant functional benefit, while other less commonly used neurocognitive interventions, such as those based on everyday cognition, are associated with more significant benefits. Moreover, it is demonstrated that although the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living scale (IADL) is the most used test in similar studies, it is not sensitive enough to detect changes in functionality in healthy elderly individuals, with other tests such as the Timed Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (TIADL) being more advantageous. Therefore, a new guideline is proposed for its use in clinical practice and research, using homogeneous study protocols and neurocognitive interventions that allow for the transfer and generalization of results in daily life. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wellness and Well-Being of Older People)
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