The Effects of a Brief Social Intergenerational Interaction for Older and Younger Adults

The aging population in the United States is estimated to reach 98 million by the year 2060. Promoting successful aging is important in maintaining the quality of life and independence for the growing population of older adults. Further efforts to provide comprehensive healthcare for older adults may help maintain independence; however, careers in geriatrics are less sought after, resulting in fragmented and costly healthcare. This lack of interest in geriatric careers may be impacted by a lack of exposure to these careers. To address this concern, the present study evaluated the effect of a brief social intergenerational interaction for both young and older adults with the following aims: 1) to evaluate the effect of social interaction on older adults’ cognition, social and psychological well-being; and 2) assess the effects of intergenerational interactions on young adults’ changes in attitudes and anxiety about aging, quality of communication with older adults, and interest in careers in geriatrics. Ninety-two older adults living in assisted and independent living communities participated in either a social or control group and completed a battery of cognitive and social well-being measures. Older adults in the social group were recruited to meet with students and share their life stories. Thirty-seven undergraduate and graduate students completed questionnaires prior to meeting with older adults in the social condition. Students and older adults met weekly for three consecutive weeks. The students wrote a book about each older adult’s life story, which was printed and presented to the older adult in a fourth final visit at the end of the semester. Participants then completed post measures. Results demonstrated changes in older adults’ performance on measures of attention and executive functions in both the social and control groups; however, mean differences appeared to be larger for the social group. There were reductions in older adults’ negative reactions to thinking about aging and lower levels of aging anxiety in both social and control groups. Young adults reported a decrease in anxiety about interacting with older adults and improvement in views about emotional well-being with aging. Additionally, young adults demonstrated an improvement in the quality of their communication skills. Qualitative data revealed themes of developing a meaningful connection, learning about each other, and challenging of previously held beliefs for both the young and older adults. In addition, older adult participants reported feeling valued and shared their views about the program. Young adult participants shared how they learned factual information about the world through these interactions and felt this was a valuable experience that provided them with skills necessary for their future careers. Brief intergenerational social interactions can provide cognitive and social benefits for older adults as well as improve college students’ attitudes towards older adults

The Effects of a Brief Social Intergenerational Interaction for Older and Younger Adults

The aging population in the United States is estimated to reach 98 million by the year 2060. Promoting successful aging is important in maintaining the quality of life and independence for the growing population of older adults. Further efforts to provide comprehensive healthcare for older adults may help maintain independence; however, careers in geriatrics are less sought after, resulting in fragmented and costly healthcare. This lack of interest in geriatric careers may be impacted by a lack of exposure to these careers. To address this concern, the present study evaluated the effect of a brief social intergenerational interaction for both young and older adults with the following aims: 1) to evaluate the effect of social interaction on older adults’ cognition, social and psychological well-being; and 2) assess the effects of intergenerational interactions on young adults’ changes in attitudes and anxiety about aging, quality of communication with older adults, and interest in careers in geriatrics. Ninety-two older adults living in assisted and independent living communities participated in either a social or control group and completed a battery of cognitive and social well-being measures. Older adults in the social group were recruited to meet with students and share their life stories. Thirty-seven undergraduate and graduate students completed questionnaires prior to meeting with older adults in the social condition. Students and older adults met weekly for three consecutive weeks. The students wrote a book about each older adult’s life story, which was printed and presented to the older adult in a fourth final visit at the end of the semester. Participants then completed post measures. Results demonstrated changes in older adults’ performance on measures of attention and executive functions in both the social and control groups; however, mean differences appeared to be larger for the social group. There were reductions in older adults’ negative reactions to thinking about aging and lower levels of aging anxiety in both social and control groups. Young adults reported a decrease in anxiety about interacting with older adults and improvement in views about emotional well-being with aging. Additionally, young adults demonstrated an improvement in the quality of their communication skills. Qualitative data revealed themes of developing a meaningful connection, learning about each other, and challenging of previously held beliefs for both the young and older adults. In addition, older adult participants reported feeling valued and shared their views about the program. Young adult participants shared how they learned factual information about the world through these interactions and felt this was a valuable experience that provided them with skills necessary for their future careers. Brief intergenerational social interactions can provide cognitive and social benefits for older adults as well as improve college students’ attitudes towards older adults

Social participation predicts cognitive functioning in aging adults over time: comparisons with physical health, depression, and physical activity

Objectives: Several risk and protective factors are associated with changes in cognitive functioning in aging adults - including physical health, depression, physical activity, and social activities - though the findings for participation in social activities are mixed. This study investigated the longitudinal association between social participation and two domains of cognitive functioning, memory and executive function. A primary goal of our analyses was to determine whether social participation predicted cognitive functioning over-and-above physical health, depression, and physical activity in a sample with adequate power to detect unique effects. Method: The sample included aging adults (N = 19,832) who participated in a large, multi-national study and provided data across six years; split into two random subsamples. Unique associations between the predictors of interest and cognitive functioning over time and within occasion were assessed in a latent curve growth model. Results: Social participation predicted both domains of cognitive functioning at each occasion, and the relative magnitude of this effect was comparable to physical health, depression, and physical activity level. In addition, social participation at the first time point predicted change in cognitive functioning over time. The substantive results in the initial sample were replicated in the second independent subsample. Conclusion: Overall, the magnitude of the association of social participation is comparable to other well-established predictors of cognitive functioning, providing evidence that social participation plays an important role in cognitive functioning and successful aging.European Commission [QLK6-CT-2001-00360, RII-CT-2006-062193, CIT5-CT-2005-028857, CIT4-CT-2006-028812, 211909, 227822, 261982]; U.S. National Institute on Aging [U01 AG09740-13S2, P01 AG005842, P01 AG08291, P30 AG12815, R21 AG025169, Y1-AG-4553-01, IAG BSR06-11, OGHA 04-064]; German Ministry of Education and Research12 month embargo; Published online: 01 Sep 2015This item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]

Social participation predicts cognitive functioning in aging adults over time: comparisons with physical health, depression, and physical activity

Objectives: Several risk and protective factors are associated with changes in cognitive functioning in aging adults - including physical health, depression, physical activity, and social activities - though the findings for participation in social activities are mixed. This study investigated the longitudinal association between social participation and two domains of cognitive functioning, memory and executive function. A primary goal of our analyses was to determine whether social participation predicted cognitive functioning over-and-above physical health, depression, and physical activity in a sample with adequate power to detect unique effects. Method: The sample included aging adults (N = 19,832) who participated in a large, multi-national study and provided data across six years; split into two random subsamples. Unique associations between the predictors of interest and cognitive functioning over time and within occasion were assessed in a latent curve growth model. Results: Social participation predicted both domains of cognitive functioning at each occasion, and the relative magnitude of this effect was comparable to physical health, depression, and physical activity level. In addition, social participation at the first time point predicted change in cognitive functioning over time. The substantive results in the initial sample were replicated in the second independent subsample. Conclusion: Overall, the magnitude of the association of social participation is comparable to other well-established predictors of cognitive functioning, providing evidence that social participation plays an important role in cognitive functioning and successful aging.European Commission [QLK6-CT-2001-00360, RII-CT-2006-062193, CIT5-CT-2005-028857, CIT4-CT-2006-028812, 211909, 227822, 261982]; U.S. National Institute on Aging [U01 AG09740-13S2, P01 AG005842, P01 AG08291, P30 AG12815, R21 AG025169, Y1-AG-4553-01, IAG BSR06-11, OGHA 04-064]; German Ministry of Education and Research12 month embargo; Published online: 01 Sep 2015This item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]

Differences between young and older adults in unity and diversity of executive functions

Miyake and colleagues (2000) identified three independent but correlated components of executive function in young adults - set shifting, inhibition, and updating. The present study compared the factor structure in young adults to two groups of older adults (ages 60-73 and 74-98). A three-factor model of shifting, inhibition and updating was confirmed in young adults, but the factors were weakly or uncorrelated. In both older groups, a two-factor solution was indicated, updating/inhibition and shifting, which were moderately correlated in young-older adults, and strongly correlated in the old-older group. A nested factors model in the oldest group revealed a common factor, which loaded on all but one of the tests, and a shifting-specific factor. We concluded that in young adulthood, shifting, updating and inhibition may operate relatively independently. As people age and processing becomes less efficient, they may rely increasingly on general executive control processes, reallocating their limited resources to optimize performance.12 month embargo; published online: 08 October 2020This item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]

The Early Psychosis Intervention Center (EPICENTER): development and six-month outcomes of an American first-episode psychosis clinical service

BACKGROUND: There is growing evidence that specialized clinical services targeted toward individuals early in the course of a psychotic illness may be effective in reducing both the clinical and economic burden associated with these illnesses. Unfortunately, the United States has lagged behind other countries in the delivery of specialized, multi-component care to individuals early in the course of a psychotic illness. A key factor contributing to this lag is the limited available data demonstrating the clinical benefits and cost-effectiveness of early intervention for psychosis among individuals served by the American mental health system. Thus, the goal of this study is to present clinical and cost outcome data with regard to a first-episode psychosis treatment center within the American mental health system: the Early Psychosis Intervention Center (EPICENTER). METHODS: Sixty-eight consecutively enrolled individuals with first-episode psychosis completed assessments of symptomatology, social functioning, educational/vocational functioning, cognitive functioning, substance use, and service utilization upon enrollment in EPICENTER and after 6 months of EPICENTER care. All participants were provided with access to a multi-component treatment package comprised of cognitive behavioral therapy, family psychoeducation, and metacognitive remediation. RESULTS: Over the first 6 months of EPICENTER care, participants experienced improvements in symptomatology, social functioning, educational/vocational functioning, cognitive functioning, and substance abuse. The average cost of care during the first 6 months of EPICENTER participation was lower than the average cost during the 6-months prior to joining EPICENTER. These savings occurred despite the additional costs associated with the receipt of EPICENTER care and were driven primarily by reductions in the utilization of inpatient psychiatric services and contacts with the legal system. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study suggest that multi-component interventions for first-episode psychosis provided in the US mental health system may be both clinically-beneficial and cost-effective. Although additional research is needed, these findings provide preliminary support for the growing delivery of specialized multi-component interventions for first-episode psychosis within the United States. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01570972; Date of Trial Registration: November 7, 2011This item is part of the UA Faculty Publications collection. For more information this item or other items in the UA Campus Repository, contact the University of Arizona Libraries at [email protected]