The Development of Purpose among Marginalized Older Adults: A Resource for Resilient Aging

Contrary to societal presumptions, older adults can show positive adaptation despite facing declines associated with late life (i.e., resilient aging; Wiles et al.,2019). One understudied resource that older adults may use to support their resilience is having a sense of purpose. Drawing on purpose has been shown to positively relate to mental and physical health (Musich et al., 2018). However, there is limited research that has examined how older adults develop purpose, particularly those who experience challenges due to aspects of their identity (i.e., due to marginalization). The current study explores older adults’ life stories to understand how a sense of purpose develops among the older minority population across the lifespan. This study further examines purpose as a tool for resilience that aids in challenges and barriers experienced by marginalized older adults. Recruitment is actively underway to seek older adults aged 60+ whose voices may be less often heard or have faced challenges in their life due to factors that are not limited to race, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, and age (Kanna, 2018). Before the interview process, potential participants are screened using the Orientation-Memory- Concentration test for dementia (i.e., those who do not pass are ineligible). Eligible participants are then scheduled for a virtual study session, including a semi-structured interview and a brief set of surveys. The target sample size is 25 participants. Pilot interviews have revealed that older adults describe helping others as part of their purpose but also as a tool to overcome challenging life events. Upon completion of the interviews, grounded theory analysis will be conducted in order to understand how purpose manifests among older adults who face challenges due to their identity

Older Adults Share Challenges in Their Life Story: Sense of Purpose as a Resource for Resilience

Maintaining a sense of purpose promotes mental and physical well-being in older adults (Musich et al., 2018). Drawing on one’s sense of purpose is thus important for late-life resilience. How older adults’ sense of purpose manifests in their everyday lives remains understudied. This study used qualitative methods to amplify older adults’ voices regarding purpose and resilience through analysis of their life stories. This study 1) explored what factors contribute to maintaining purpose in older adulthood, and 2) identified how older adults draw on their purpose during major challenges, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Eighteen older men and women (Mage = 79.1; including the young-old, old-old, and oldest-old) participated in semi-structured life story interviews that asked about participants’ individual interpretations of purpose in their lives and their experiences navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. Thematic analysis was conducted using established methods (Braun & Clarke, 2012). To address the first research question, analyses revealed that older individuals largely maintain their purpose through engaging in acts of service to others, fostering connections with close others, and actively setting and achieving goals. Regarding the second question, older adults described how drawing on purpose through acts of service and connections with others fostered resilience through the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, older adults’ own expressions of their life stories illuminated how they are guided by purpose. Findings demonstrate the functionality of purpose in late life and how purpose can be practically fostered, specifically within the context of universally challenging experiences such as the COVID-19 pandemic

Do​es Chronic Illness Diagnosis Alter Sense of Purpose in Older Adults?

Maintenance of a sense of purpose serves as a psychological resource for late-life health. A strong sense of purpose in older adulthood is associated with a reduction in health incidents (Kim et al., 2013) and mortality, and lower psychological distress (Musich et al., 2018). Limited research has examined whether one’s purpose is threatened by chronic illness diagnoses. This study leverages data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATs; N = 831) to establish trajectories of purpose across three such diagnoses (i.e., dementia, heart disease, no diagnosis) using three-year (pre-diagnosis, year of diagnosis, post-diagnosis) timespans. Results demonstrate a decrease in purpose following a dementia diagnosis (F=9.18, p\u3e.001, n2=.05) which deviates from trajectories of those who received a heart disease diagnosis (F=3.04, p=.05, n2=.006) or no diagnosis (F=1.29, p=.24, n2=.001), where purpose did not change over time. Findings suggest that older adults who receive a dementia diagnosis are vulnerable to a threatened sense of purpose. Interventions that support health priorities navigation and pursuit of purpose despite diagnosis appear to be a priority for dementia care

Modality of Classes and Burnout in College Students

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed how students learn. Many students had to adapt to an all-online class modality. With the increased use of online modality of classes, will burnout scores increase in college students? In previous studies, researchers have mainly focused on burnout in the workplace. There is a gap in the literature in student burnout which we plan to explore. Research about the academic workforce found that indicators of burnout have increased sharply. The current study investigated if a student\u27s class modality influences burnout scores. Students will receive a survey asking about their class modalities (online, in-person, hybrid) and will also be asked questions from the Maslach Burnout Inventory. We found that the Maslach Burnout Inventory has been the leading burnout indication measurement. This inventory will give three different scores in three different categories: occupational exhaustion, loss of empathy, and personal accomplishment. With these questions answered, we hypothesized that students taking more online classes will score higher on the Maslach Burnout Inventory in occupational exhaustion and loss of empathy. We also hypothesize that students taking more online classes will show a lower score in the personal accomplishment category