Gender differences in Greek centenarians. A cross-sectional nation-wide study, examining multiple socio-demographic and personality factors and health locus of control

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Centenarians are exceptional ageing paradigms, offering valuable information on achieving longevity. Although, there are several studies examining different biomedical factors as determinants of longevity in centenarians, little is known about gender differences with respect to personality traits and health locus of control.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Nation -wide study carried out in Greece, between 2007 and 2010. Our final sample of analysis consisted of 400 centenarians who reported on sociodemographic, disease-related and personality factors and health locus of control (HLC). Gender differences were investigated by simple nonparametric comparisons. Bivariate correlations between personality factors and internal and external HLC were obtained.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Women centenarians outnumbered men by a ratio of 1.68 to 1. Significant gender sociodemographic differences were noted, with men reporting less often widowhood, more often centenarian 1st degree relatives and smoking. Higher BMI score was measured in males than females. Concerning personality variables, females were more reward-dependent and adaptable than men, while men were more optimistic than women. No differences were found on health locus of control profile between the genders. Positive correlations between self-directness and spirituality with internal locus of control in men and negative correlations between optimism and external locus of control in women emerged as the main gender disparities in the correlation analyses. Self-directness in men and optimism in women were consistently correlated with the two HLC subscales.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Gender differences should be incorporated in future basic research and epidemiological studies of longevity. Informed policies on ageing and wellbeing programs should also take into account gender issues to increase efficacy by targeting health locus of control.</p

Stress Management in Women with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Aim: Stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT), nevertheless evidence is scarce regarding the effect of stress management on individuals suffering from HT. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of an 8-week stress management intervention on the anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) and anti-thyroglobulin (anti-TG) antibodies as well as thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels of women with HT. Secondary endpoints included the effect on the patients’ lifestyle, body mass index (BMI), depression, anxiety and stress. Methods: This was a two-arm parallel group (stress management intervention vs. standard care groups) randomized controlled study. Adult women with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, completed questionnaires on stress, anxiety, depression and lifestyle, at the beginning of the programme and 8 weeks later. Laboratory thyroid function tests (anti-TPO, anti-TG antibodies and TSH) were also measured at baseline and at the end of the study. Results: A total of 60 women with HT, aged 25-76 years, participated in the study (30 patients in each group). After eight weeks, patients in the intervention group demonstrated statistically significant beneficial decrements in the rate change of anti-TG titers and the levels of stress, depression and anxiety as well as better lifestyle scores, compared to the control group.   

Determinants of Self-Rated Health in a Representative Sample of a Rural Population: A Cross-Sectional Study in Greece

Self-rated health (SRH) is a health measure related to future health, mortality, healthcare services utilization and quality of life. Various sociodemographic, health and lifestyle determinants of SRH have been identified in different populations. The aim of this study is to extend SRH literature in the Greek population. This is a cross-sectional study conducted in rural communities between 2001 and 2003. Interviews eliciting basic demographic, health-related and lifestyle information (smoking, physical activity, diet, quality of sleep and religiosity) were conducted. The sample consisted of 1,519 participants, representative of the rural population of Tripoli. Multinomial regression analysis was conducted to identify putative SRH determinants. Among the 1,519 participants, 489 (32.2%), 790 (52%) and 237 (15.6%) rated their health as “very good”, “good” and “poor” respectively. Female gender, older age, lower level of education and impaired health were all associated with worse SRH, accounting for 16.6% of SRH variance. Regular exercise, healthier diet, better sleep quality and better adherence to religious habits were related with better health ratings, after adjusting for sociodemographic and health-related factors. BMI and smoking did not reach significance while exercise and physical activity exhibited significant correlations but not consistently across SRH categories. Our results support previous findings indicating that people following a more proactive lifestyle pattern tend to rate their health better. The role of stress-related neuroendocrinologic mechanisms on SRH and health in general is also discussed

Lifestyle and self-rated health: a cross-sectional study of 3,601 citizens of Athens, Greece

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Self-rated health (SRH) is a popular health measure determined by multiple factors. International literature is increasingly focusing on health-related behaviors such as smoking, dietary habits, physical activity, even religiosity. However, population-based studies taking into account multiple putative determinants of SRH in Greece are scarce. The aim of this study was to clarify possible determinants of SRH with an emphasis on the relationship between SRH and lifestyle variables in a large sample of urban citizens.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In this one-year cross-sectional study, a stratified random sample of 3,601 urban citizens was selected. Data were collected using an interview-based questionnaire about various demographic, socioeconomic, disease- and lifestyle related factors such as smoking, physical activity, dietary habits, sleep quality and religiosity. Multivariate logistic regression was used separately in three age groups [15-29 (N = 1,360), 30-49 (N = 1,122) and 50+ (N = 1,119) years old] in order to identify putative lifestyle and other determinants of SRH.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Reporting of good SRH decreased with age (97.1%, 91.4% and 74.8%, respectively). Overall, possible confounders of the lifestyle-SRH relationship among age groups were sex, education, hospitalization during the last year, daily physical symptoms and disease status. Poor SRH was associated with less physical activity in the 15-29 years old (OR 2.22, 95%CI 1.14-4.33), with past or heavy smoking, along with no sleep satisfaction in the 30-49 years old (OR 3.23, 95%CI 1.35-7.74, OR 2.56, 95%CI 1.29-5.05, OR 1.79, 95%CI 1.1-2.92, respectively) and with obesity and no sleep satisfaction in the 50+ years old individuals (OR 1.83, 95%CI 1.19-2.81, OR 2.54, 95%CI 1.83-3.54). Sleep dissatisfaction of the 50+ years old was the only variable associated with poor SRH at the 0.001 p level of significance (OR 2.45, 99%CI 1.59 to 3.76). Subgroup analyses of the 15-19 years old individuals also revealed sleep dissatisfaction as the only significant variable correlated with SRH.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Slight differences in lifestyle determinants of SRH were identified among age groups. Sleep quality emerged as an important determinant of SRH in the majority of participants.</p

Παράγοντες προσδιοριστικοί της μακροβιότητας και προαγωγή υγείας

Exceptional longevity is a particular area of research interest, which only in thelast decades, has been systematically studied. The literature reveals that this is acomplex and multifactorial phenomenon influenced by a number of genetic,epigenetic, and environmental factors as well us with lifestyle choices andpsycho-social variables. In Greece, there is very limited prior knowledge ofcentenarians and only a more study with sample size has been conducted.This is a nationwide cross-sectional study on 400 Greek centenarians that wascarried out between 2007 and 2010. The main research purpose was theidentification and recording of centenarians, in order to highlight keyepidemiological characteristics and to record factors associated with healthlevels, their past and current lifestyles and experiences. Specific researchquestions included the recording of transgender differences and to detectdeterminants of self-rated health as a key indicator of health, which has not beenwidely studied in centenarians. Data were collected by conducting personalinterviews and included self-report questionnaires, clinical and anthropometricmeasurements measurement in order to increase accuracy in specific indicators.The basic descriptive statistical analysis, confirmed previous significant findingsof relevant studies in Greek centenarians and abroad, outlining a profile ofrelatively healthy centenarians, who have managed to maintain reasonably goodhealth and independence. Healthy choices regarding lifestyle, that emergedwhere healthy diet , smoking avoidance and good quality of interpersonal familyrelations.Gender analysis has confirmed previous significant gender sociodemographicdifferences while new ones were noted, with men reporting less oftenwidowhood, more often centenarian 1st degree relatives and smoking. HigherBody Mass Index score was measured in males than females. Concerningpersonality variables, females were more reward-dependent and adaptable thanmen, while men were more optimistic than women. No differences were found on health locus of control profile between the genders. Positive correlationsbetween self-directness and spirituality with internal locus of control in men andnegative correlations between optimism and external locus of control in womenemerged as the main gender disparities in the correlation analyses. Selfdirectnessin men and optimism in women were consistently correlated with thetwo health locus of control subscales. Gender differences should be incorporatedin future basic research and epidemiological studies of longevity. Informedpolicies on ageing and wellbeing programs should also take into account genderissues to increase efficacy.Finally, for the first time we studied self-rated health (SRH) in centenarians. Theassessment of their health, was much higher than expected According to ourresults, SRH ratings among centenarians were better than that expectedaccording to previous studies showing worse SRH ratings with increasing age inGreece. The 22.4% of the variance in SRH among centenarians was predicted bygender, habitat region and status, financial problems, disease presence andautonomy. Among lifestyle and psychosocial variables, obesity, goodrelationships with children, lack of feelings of loneliness, high optimism,adaptability and an internal health locus of control profile were independentlyassociated with good SRH. These results indicate that SRH in individuals ofextreme longevity were related to specific personal psychosocial factors thatcontribute to healthy ageing and thus support the biopsychosocial model ofhealth promotion.Finally all the aforementioned conclusions could be evaluated and thenappropriately incorporated into health policies targeting the crucial and up todate target of healthy ageing. Health Promotion plays an important role intosuccessfully meeting the target of healthy ageing, as health promotion programsenable people to increase control on their life and health, leading into a decreaseof morbidity and unhealthy lifestyles, with a parallel increase of both personaland social empowerment for all people undependably of their age.Η εξαιρετική μακροβιότητα αποτελεί ένα ιδιαίτερο πεδίο έρευνας, που μόλις τιςτελευταίες δεκαετίες, έχει αρχίσει να μελετάται συστηματικά. Η βιβλιογραφίααποκαλύπτει ότι πρόκειται για ένα ιδιαίτερα σύνθετο και πολυπαραγοντικόφαινόμενο που επηρεάζεται από ένα πλήθος γενετικών, επιγεννετικών καιπεριβαλλοντικών παραγόντων, ενώ σχετίζεται και με επιλογές στον τρόπο ζωήςκαι ψυχό-κοινωνικές μεταβλητές. Στην Ελλάδα, η προηγούμενη γνώση για τονπληθυσμό των αιωνοβίων είναι ιδιαίτερα περιορισμένη και μόλις μια ακόμηέρευνα, με αντίστοιχα μεγάλο αριθμό δείγματος έχει πραγματοποιηθεί σεπανελλαδικό επίπεδο.Η παρούσα εργασία αποτελεί μια συγχρονική μελέτη σε ένα δείγμα 400 ελλήνωναιωνοβίων (σχεδόν 1/3 των αιωνοβίων στην Ελλάδα) στο σύνολο της ελληνικήςεπικράτειας, και έλαβε χώρα στο χρονικό διάστημα από τον Ιανουάριο του 2007έως τον Ιανουάριο του 2010. Βασικός σκοπός της μελέτης ήταν ο εντοπισμός καιη καταγραφή των αιωνοβίων στην Ελλάδα, προκειμένου να αναδειχθούν βασικάεπιδημιολογικά χαρακτηριστικά, και να καταγραφούν παράμετροι πουσχετίζονται με τα επίπεδα υγείας, τις ποικίλες εκφάνσεις του τρόπου ζωής καιτων εμπειριών τους. Τα επιμέρους ερευνητικά ερωτήματα περιελάμβαναν τηνκαταγραφή διαφυλικών διαφορών στις επιμέρους μετρήσεις της μελέτης καιστην ανίχνευση προσδιοριστών του δείκτη αυτό-αξιολόγησης της υγείας, ωςενός βασικού δείκτη για την υγεία, ο οποίος δεν έχει μελετηθεί ευρέως στουςαιωνόβιους. Η συλλογή των δεδομένων έγινε με την διεξαγωγή ατομικώνσυνεντεύξεων και τη συμπλήρωση ερωτηματολογίων-αυτό αναφοράς, κλινικώνμετρήσεων και μέτρηση των ανθρωπομετρικών χαρακτηριστικών για τηνακριβέστερη αποτύπωση συγκεκριμένων δεικτών.Από την βασική περιγραφική στατιστική ανάλυση, επιβεβαιώθηκαν σημαντικάευρήματα προηγούμενων ερευνών σε αντίστοιχους πληθυσμούς αιωνοβίωνστην Ελλάδα και διεθνώς, σκιαγραφώντας ένα προφίλ σχετικά υγιώναιωνοβίων, οι οποίοι έχουν καταφέρει να διατηρήσουν σχετικά καλά επίπεδα υγείας και αυτονομίας. Παράλληλα, αναδείχθηκαν υγιεινές επιλογές αναφορικάμε τον τρόπο ζωής, σε επίπεδο διατροφής, αποφυγής της καπνιστικήςσυνήθειας, αλλά και καλή ποιότητα ενδοοικογενειακών σχέσεων.Από την διαφυλική ανάλυση προέκυψαν ευρήματα που επιβεβαιώνουνπροηγούμενες μελέτες αναφορικά με υπάρχουσες κοινωνικό-δημογραφικέςδιαφορές, όπως υψηλότερα ποσοστά χηρείας στις γυναίκες, και χαμηλότερομορφωτικό επίπεδο, ενώ οι άνδρες αιωνόβιοι είχαν αυξημένη πιθανότητα ναέχουν τουλάχιστον έναν αιωνόβιο συγγενή 1ου βαθμού. Σε επίπεδο νοσημάτωνδεν προέκυψαν στατιστικά σημαντικές διαφορές, ωστόσο σε επίπεδοσυμπεριφορών υγείας οι άνδρες είχαν στατιστικά σημαντικά περισσότερεςπιθανότητες να είναι καπνιστές αλλά είχαν και υψηλότερο Δείκτη ΜάζαςΣώματος. Επίσης, αναδείχθηκαν διαφορετικές διαστάσεις στη μεταβλητή τηςπροσωπικότητας μεταξύ των ανδρών και γυναικών αιωνοβίων, με τις γυναίκεςνα εμφανίζουν υψηλότερη προσαρμοστικότητα, και υψηλό σκορ στην κλίμακατης εξαρτημένης ανταμοιβής, που δείχνει άτομα με υψηλή κοινωνικοποίηση,καλοσύνη αλλά και ευαισθησία στα προβλήματα των άλλων. Αντίστοιχα, οιάνδρες σημείωσαν υψηλότερο σκορ στην κλίμακα της αισιοδοξίας.Δεν βρέθηκαν σημαντικές διαφυλικές διαφορές αναφορικά με το κέντροελέγχου της υγείας, δηλαδή το βαθμό που τα άτομα θεωρούν ότι τα ίδια ήεξωτερικοί παράγοντες επιδρούν στην υγείας του. Σε επίπεδο συσχετίσεωνόμως μεταξύ κέντρου ελέγχου της υγείας και μεταβλητών της προσωπικότηταςυπήρξε θετική συσχέτιση μεταξύ της ατομικής κατεύθυνσης (σχετίζεται μεμεγαλύτερη αποδοχή του εαυτού, αίσθημα ευθύνης για τον εαυτό, και αυτό-αποτελεσματικότητα), της πνευματικότητας και του εσωτερικού κέντρουελέγχου της υγείας στους άνδρες, και της αισιοδοξίας και του εξωτερικούκέντρου ελέγχου της υγείας στις γυναίκες. Η ατομική κατεύθυνση στους άνδρεςκαι η αισιοδοξία στις γυναίκες παρουσίαζε σταθερή συσχέτιση και με τις δυοκλίμακες του κέντρου ελέγχου της υγείας. Η παρούσα διαφυλική ανάλυση θαεπιτρέψει στο μέλλον να υπάρξει ποιο εστιασμένη στο φύλο ανάλυση τωνψυχοκοινωνικών παραμέτρων και συνεπώς θα βοηθήσει να αναπτυχθούν πιοενημερωμένα προγράμματα και πολιτικές που στοχεύουν στο υγιές γήρας μεέμφαση στην διαφορετικότητα των δυο φύλων που γίνεται εμφανής ακόμη καιστις ακραίες ηλικιακές ομάδες. Τέλος, μελετήθηκαν για πρώτη φορά στους έλληνες αιωνοβίους προσδιοριστικοίπαράγοντες του δείκτη αυτό-αξιολόγησης της υγείας τους, οποίος βρέθηκεαρκετά υψηλότερος από ότι αναμενόταν. Το 22,4% της διακύμανσης του δείκτηαυτό-αξιολόγησης της υγείας, προβλέφθηκε από παράγοντες όπως το φύλο, οτόπος διαμονής και με το ποιόν ζουν οι αιωνόβιοι, την ύπαρξη οικονομικώνπροβλημάτων, την παρουσία κάποιου νοσήματος και την αυτονομία. Μεταξύτων μεταβλητών που αφορούν στον τρόπο ζωής και των ψυχοκοινωνικώνμεταβλητών, η παχυσαρκία, οι καλές σχέσεις με τα παιδιά, η έλλειψη αισθήματοςμοναξιάς, η αισιοδοξία, η προσαρμοστικότητα και το εσωτερικό κέντρο ελέγχουγια την υγείας σχετιζόντουσαν ανεξάρτητα με την καλύτερη αυτό-αξιολόγησητης υγείας. Τα αποτελέσματα επιτρέπουν να διερευνηθεί περαιτέρω ηεπικρατούσα υπόθεση της μείωσης του δείκτη αυτό-αξιολόγησης της υγείας μετο πέρας της ηλικίας, και την παραγωγή νέας γνώσης αναφορικά με τη σημασίατων ψυχοκοινωνικών παραγόντων στους μηχανισμούς που σχετίζονται με τηνμακροβιότητα.Τέλος, τα συμπεράσματα της μελέτης, μπορούν να αξιοποιηθούν και ακολούθωςνα ενσωματωθούν σε πολιτικές υγείας που βασίζονται στον επίκαιρο στόχο τηςυγιούς γήρανσης και πραγματώνονται επιτυχώς μέσα από προγράμματαΠροαγωγής Υγείας. Οι σχεδιαζόμενες πολιτικές της Προαγωγής Υγείας θασυμβάλλουν στην αύξηση του ελέγχου που έχουν τα άτομα πάνω στην υγείατους, οδηγώντας στην πρόληψη νοσημάτων και ανθυγιεινών συμπεριφορώνυγείας με την ταυτόχρονη ατομική και κοινωνική ενδυνάμωση, και αφορούνόλες τις ηλικιακές ομάδες

Demographic and Anthropometric Variables Related to Longevity: Results from a Greek Centenarians’ Study

Centenarian research contributes to expanding our knowledge on longevity and healthy aging. In Greece, a variety of studies have been conducted in order to explore exceptional longevity. This is a retrospective study of 106 centenarians employing both quantitative and qualitative measures in order to explore centenarians own perspective on longevity. Basic socio demographic and life style variables where associated with centenarians beliefs and perceptions about their longevity. The majority of centenarians attributed their longevity to God and to living a good life overall. God and social networks were reported as their main source of strength in order to continue living. Gender differences were also evident as male centenarians reported non abusive behaviors and a sense of having a measure in daily living, as well as nutrition as their main source of longevity, while female emphasized on God and social networks. Gender differences on Body Mass Index and Smoking are also evident. Centenarians own perception of longevity could be further explored and findings could be incorporated in future research and intervention programs aiming at healthy longevity

Exploring Stress Levels, Job Satisfaction, and Quality of Life in a Sample of Police Officers in Greece

Background: The ongoing economic crisis in Greece has affected both stress and quality of life (QoL) at all socioeconomic levels, including professionals in the police force. The aim of this study was to examine perceived stress, job satisfaction, QoL, and their relationships in a sample of police officers in Greece. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted during the first trimester of 2011 in 23 police stations in the greater Athens area. A total of 201 police officers agreed to participate (response rate 44.6%). The General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28) was used to assess general health, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF Questionnaire and Perceived Stress Scale-14 (PSS-14) questionnaires were used to assess QoL and perceived stress, respectively. Results: The PSS and GHQ subscales and total scores exhibited strong, positive, and significant correlations coefficients (r): 0.52 for somatic disturbances, 0.56 for stress and insomnia, 0.40 for social dysfunction, and 0.37 for depression, yielding an r equal to 0.57 for the total GHQ score. A higher level of perceived stress was related to a lower likelihood of being satisfied with their job; in this regard, male participants and higher ranked officers reported lower job satisfaction. The PSS and GHQ scores were inversely, consistently, and significantly related to almost all of the QoL aspects, explaining up to 34% of their variability. Parenthood had a positive effect on QoL related to physical health, and women reported lower QoL related to psychological health. Conclusion: Higher levels of stress are related to an increased risk of reporting suboptimal job satisfaction and QoL. The magnitude of these associations varied depending on age, gender, and rank, highlighting the need for stress-management training

Demographic and Anthropometric Variables Related to Longevity: Results from a Greek Centenarians’ Study

Centenarian research contributes to expanding our knowledge on longevity and healthy aging. In Greece, a variety of studies have been conducted in order to explore exceptional longevity. This is a retrospective study of 106 centenarians employing both quantitative and qualitative measures in order to explore centenarians own perspective on longevity. Basic socio demographic and life style variables where associated with centenarians beliefs and perceptions about their longevity. The majority of centenarians attributed their longevity to God and to living a good life overall. God and social networks were reported as their main source of strength in order to continue living. Gender differences were also evident as male centenarians reported non abusive behaviors and a sense of having a measure in daily living, as well as nutrition as their main source of longevity, while female emphasized on God and social networks. Gender differences on Body Mass Index and Smoking are also evident. Centenarians own perception of longevity could be further explored and findings could be incorporated in future research and intervention programs aiming at healthy longevity

An 8-week Stress Management Program in Information Technology Professionals and the Role of a New Cognitive Behavioral Method: a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Aim: The aim of this study is to compare and evaluate the sort-term benefits of the effects of an 8-week stress management techniques in information technology professionals. Methods: In this parallel randomized controlled trial, participants were randomly assigned to either the stress management group (n=40; relaxation breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery) or in the Pythagorean Self awareness group (n=41). Self-reported validated measures were used to evaluate perceived stress, health locus of control, anxiety and depression. Results: All groups were found with significantly better cognitive speed and verbal memory at the end of the follow-up. Taking into account the group by time interaction coefficients, PSAT was found significantly superior to standard SM with regards to depression, emotional intelligence, lifestyle and personal control and verbal memory suggesting that verbal memory improvement through time should be mostly attributed to PSAT. On the other hand, the cognitive speed improvement during follow-up should be attributed to both interventions. Conclusions: These findings provide important insight into the role of stress management. Future studies should focus on randomized, controlled trials with larger samples and longer follow-up times.