Do Stress Trajectories Predict Mortality in Older Men? Longitudinal Findings from the VA Normative Aging Study

We examined long-term patterns of stressful life events (SLE) and their impact on mortality contrasting two theoretical models: allostatic load (linear relationship) and hormesis (inverted U relationship) in 1443 NAS men (aged 41–87 in 1985; M = 60.30, SD = 7.3) with at least two reports of SLEs over 18 years (total observations = 7,634). Using a zero-inflated Poisson growth mixture model, we identified four patterns of SLE trajectories, three showing linear decreases over time with low, medium, and high intercepts, respectively, and one an inverted U, peaking at age 70. Repeating the analysis omitting two health-related SLEs yielded only the first three linear patterns. Compared to the low-stress group, both the moderate and the high-stress groups showed excess mortality, controlling for demographics and health behavior habits, HRs = 1.42 and 1.37, ps <.01 and <.05. The relationship between stress trajectories and mortality was complex and not easily explained by either theoretical model

Moderators of the stress effects on caregiver's self-perceived health

O objetivo do presente estudo foi examinar se percepção de benefícios no cuidar de idosos e religiosidade poderiam atuar como variáveis mediadoras na relação entre estresse do cuidador, saúde auto-percebida e tensão emocional relatada. A amostra consistiu de 345 cuidadores com idade variando entre 64 e 88 anos (M= 42,35; DP= 5,2), integrantes do Caregiver’s Health Effect Study, um dos componentes do Cardiovascular Health Study. O método de path análise identificou que, como esperado, o estresse das demandas ambientais apresentou uma relação indireta com saúde física percebida dos cuidadores. Religiosidade e estresse das demandas ambientais foram mediados pela percepção de benefícios na atividade de cuidar de idoso, resultando na diminuição da tensão emocional, a qual teve relação direta com saúde percebida. Nos grupos de baixo nível educacional, especificamente, encontrou-se que religiosidade teve um efeito direto sobre saúde auto-percebida. Os resultados sugerem assim que um importante foco na intervenção com cuidadores seria a percepção de benefícios na atividade de cuidar de idosos, devido a sua função protetora na saúde física e emocional.   Palavras-chave: cuidadores de idosos; estresse; percepção da saúde.The purpose of this study was to examine whether perceived benefits of caregiving and religiosity could mediate the relationship between caregiver stress and emotional strain on self-perceived health. The sample consisted of 345 caregivers between 64 and 88 years old (M= 42,4; SD= 5,2), from the Caregiver’s Health Effect Study, one of the Cardiovascular Health Study components. Path analysis method identified that, as expected, stress of environmental demand had an indirect impact on selfperceived health. Religiosity and stress of environmental demands were mediated by perceived benefits in caregiving, further reducing emotional strain which had a direct impact on self-perception health. In the low socioeconomic status group, specifically, had been found direct effect of religiosity on self-perceived health. Thus, the results suggest that an important scope of intervention with caregivers it would be the perceived benefits in caregiving activities, due to its protective function in the physical and emotional health.Keywords: caregiving; stress; perceived-health

Do Hassles and Uplifts Change with Age? Longitudinal Findings from the NAS

To examine emotion regulation in later life, we contrasted the modified hedonic treadmill theory with developmental theories, using hassles and uplifts to assess emotion regulation in context. The sample was 1,315 men from the VA Normative Aging Study aged 53 to 85 years, who completed 3,894 observations between 1989 and 2004. We computed three scores for both hassles and uplifts: intensity (ratings reflecting emotion regulation), exposure (count), and summary (total) scores. Computing growth curves over age showed marked differences in trajectory patterns for intensity and exposure scores. Although exposure to hassles and uplifts decreased in later life, intensity scores increased. Growth mixture models (GMM) showed individual differences in patterns of hassles and uplifts intensity and exposure, with relative stability in uplifts intensity, normative non-linear changes in hassles intensity, and complex patterns of individual differences in exposure for both hassles and uplifts. Analyses with the summary scores showed that emotion regulation in later life is a function of both developmental change and contextual exposure, with different patterns emerging for hassles and uplifts. Thus, support was found for both hedonic treadmill and development change theories, reflecting different aspects of change in emotion regulation with age.This is an author's peer-reviewed final manuscript, as accepted by the publisher. The published article is copyrighted by American Psychological Association and can be found at: http://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/pag/index.aspx. This article may not exactly replicate the final version published in the APA journal. It is not the copy of record.Keywords: emotion regulation, stress, hedonic treadmill, affect, agin

Do Stress Trajectories Predict Mortality in Older Men? Longitudinal Findings from the VA Normative Aging Study

We examined long-term patterns of stressful life events (SLE) and their impact on mortality contrasting two theoretical models: allostatic load (linear relationship) and hormesis (inverted U relationship) in 1443 NASmen (aged 41–87 in 1985; M = 60.30, SD = 7.3) with at least two reports of SLEs over 18 years (total observations = 7,634). Using a zero-inflated Poisson growth mixture model, we identified four patterns of SLE trajectories, three showing linear decreases over time with low, medium, and high intercepts, respectively, and one an inverted U, peaking at age 70. Repeating the analysis omitting two health-related SLEs yielded only the first three linear patterns. Compared to the low-stress group, both the moderate and the high-stress groups showed excess mortality, controlling for demographics and health behavior habits, HRs = 1.42 and 1.37, ps < .01 and < .05. The relationship between stress trajectories and mortality was complex and not easily explained by either theoretical model

Do Cherished Children Age Successfully? Longitudinal Findings From the Veterans Affairs Normative Aging Study

Although early adversity has been linked to worse mental and physical health in adulthood, few studies have investigated the pathways through which positive and negative dimensions of early experiences can jointly influence psychological well-being in later life. This study examined: (a) profiles of early experiences across multiple domains, (b) the relations of these profiles to hedonic and eudaimonic well-being in later life, and (c) whether midlife social support mediated these relations. We first conducted latent class analysis of early experiences using data from 1,076 men in the VA Normative Aging Study who completed the Childhood Experiences Scale (age: M = 69, SD = 7). Analyses yielded 3 profiles of early experiences, labeled as cherished (strong support and some losses), harshly disciplined (harsh parental discipline, low positive reinforcement, and nonnormative stressors), and ordinary (few stressors and low parental attention). Next, we applied structural equation modeling to data on a subset of this sample assessed 7 years later on hedonic and eudaimonic well-being (n = 496; age: M = 76, SD = 7). In general, the cherished group reported stronger qualitative social support in midlife than the harshly disciplined and ordinary groups, which in turn was related to greater hedonic (life satisfaction, positive affect) and eudaimonic (competence, positive relations with others) well-being in later life. The cherished group also reported higher autonomy than the ordinary group, but this association was independent of midlife social support. Our findings suggest that experiencing adversity in the context of a nurturing early environment can promote successful aging through the maintenance of supportive relationships in midlife.This is the publisher’s final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by the American Psychological Association and can be found at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/pag0000050 This article may not exactly replicate the final version published in the APA journal. It is not the copy of record.Keywords: early adversity, latent class analysis, eudaimonic well-being, successful aging, hedonic well-bein

Culture, Coping and Resilience to Stress

Sudden economic change can have devastating effects on the wellbeing of a country, as witnessed by the dramatic increases in suicide rates in the former Soviet Socialist Republics. However, it is possible to use economic development to promote happiness, if one understands the relationship between culture, coping, and resilience to stress. Cultures shape both normative stressors and individuals’ responses to them; individual coping strategies and cultural institutions must change to accommodate new types of stressors induced by economic development. However, strategies such as the promotion of intact social networks and dispersed economic development can mitigate the impact of stress due to economic change on gross national happiness

Effects of stress on health and aging: Two paradoxes

Although older adults are thought to experience more stress and to be more vulnerable to its adverse effects, they often report less stress than younger adults and sometimes show more resilience. Paradoxically, while stress sometimes has long-term positive effects on well-being, studies differ as to whether this increases or decreases with age. We conclude that older individuals have learned to appraise and cope differently with stress. This protects them in spite of their increased physiological vulnerability and may also increase the possibility of stress-related growth and optimal aging

Effects of stress on health and aging: Two paradoxes

Although older adults are thought to experience more stress and to be more vulnerable to its adverse effects, they often report less stress than younger adults and sometimes show more resilience. Paradoxically, while stress sometimes has long-term positive effects on well-being, studies differ as to whether this increases or decreases with age. We conclude that older individuals have learned to appraise and cope differently with stress. This protects them in spite of their increased physiological vulnerability and may also increase the possibility of stress-related growth and optimal agin