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PloS One 2023Whilst the uniqueness of loneliness and social isolation is now recognised for members of the Armed Forces Community, there is currently a lack of evidence examining... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Whilst the uniqueness of loneliness and social isolation is now recognised for members of the Armed Forces Community, there is currently a lack of evidence examining these experiences within the Military Widow/er population. Therefore, this scoping review aimed to search and synthesise the current evidence base exploring experiences of loneliness and social isolation in this community.
METHOD
Six databases were searched; ASSIA; CINAHL; ProQuest Dissertation & Theses Global; PsycArticles; Medline; Web of Science. Any article type was included if they focused on UK or international Military Widows and loneliness and social isolation. In the absence of loneliness and social isolation, related aspects were included, for example, social support.
RESULTS
A thematic synthesis was completed on the nine eligible papers, where key findings were coded and generated into four themes; Experiences of Loneliness and Social Isolation, The Uniqueness of the Military, Access to Social Support, and The Importance of Peer Support.
CONCLUSIONS
Evidence supports the need for military-specific support services with peers who recognise the individuals' unique experiences of loneliness and social isolation. None of the available evidence focused specifically on social isolation, however this was often prevalent in the results. All of the studies were carried out in the USA and Israel, with none including the views of widowers. Further evidence is required, particularly relating to a UK-context.
Topics: Female; Humans; Loneliness; Widowhood; Military Personnel; Social Isolation; Social Support
PubMed: 38011120
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0293182 -
The Journals of Gerontology. Series B,... Nov 2021Widowhood is a stressful life event with one of the most profound negative effects on health and longevity. Immigrant populations are growing and aging throughout...
OBJECTIVES
Widowhood is a stressful life event with one of the most profound negative effects on health and longevity. Immigrant populations are growing and aging throughout Western nations, and marginalization and cultural differences may make some immigrants especially vulnerable to the stressors of widowhood. However, studies have yet to systematically explore whether the widowhood effect differs between immigrant and native-born individuals.
METHODS
Using Danish population register data from 1980 to 2014, this study assesses whether the relationship between widowhood and mortality differs between immigrants from 10 countries and native-born Danes aged 50 and older at 0-2, 3-5, and 6 and more years post-widowhood.
RESULTS
We find that immigrant men are at higher risk of dying in the first 2 years after experiencing widowhood than Danish-born men, but these mortality differences dissipate over longer periods. Immigrant women have a higher risk of having died 3 and more years after a spouse's death than Danish women. Patterns vary further by country of origin.
DISCUSSION
The results suggest that some immigrants may suffer more from widowhood than native-born individuals, giving insight into how immigration background may influence the health effects of negative life events. They also underscore the potential vulnerabilities of aging immigrant populations to stressors encountered in older age.
Topics: Aged; Cultural Characteristics; Denmark; Emigrants and Immigrants; Female; Humans; Indigenous Peoples; Life Change Events; Male; Middle Aged; Mortality; Sex Factors; Social Marginalization; Stress, Psychological; Vulnerable Populations; Widowhood
PubMed: 34313712
DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbab090 -
Research on Aging Jan 2022We investigate how preloss marital quality is associated with changes in psychological distress and physical health among older widow(er)s. Using prospective data with a...
We investigate how preloss marital quality is associated with changes in psychological distress and physical health among older widow(er)s. Using prospective data with a 2-year follow-up from the Health and Retirement Study, we selected 546 respondents who transitioned into widowhood. Respondents were classified as supportive, ambivalent, aversive, or neutral groups. The supportive and ambivalent group experienced greater increase in depressive symptoms compared to the aversive group, in widowhood. The aversive group showed greater increase in chronic conditions compared to the supportive group. Findings indicated that spousal loss may result in more psychological distress for those with supportive and ambivalent marital relationship. Yet, those with mostly negative accounts of their marriage may experience worsened physical health, albeit no increase in psychological distress. Understanding different benefits and challenges facing older individuals after a positive or negative marriage may help direct support and interventions efforts toward older couples during marriage and in widowhood.
Topics: Adaptation, Psychological; Female; Humans; Marriage; Prospective Studies; Retirement; Widowhood
PubMed: 33511917
DOI: 10.1177/0164027521989083 -
The American Journal of Hospice &... Jun 2018Spousal bereavement in older age is a major stressor associated with an increase in both mental and physical problems. The Stress Management and Resiliency Training:...
BACKGROUND
Spousal bereavement in older age is a major stressor associated with an increase in both mental and physical problems. The Stress Management and Resiliency Training: Relaxation Response Resiliency Program (SMART-3RP) is an 8-week multimodal mind-body program that targets stress and has been found efficacious in decreasing the mental and physical manifestations of stress in varied populations. This qualitative study sought to investigate the relevance, credibility, and feasibility of the SMART-3RP in the community.
METHODS
Focus groups were conducted among both older widowed adults and providers who support them in the community (eg, chaplains, hospice bereavement coordinators). Transcripts were coded independently by coders trained in qualitative research. Codebooks were created based on both general themes and detailed subthemes present in the transcripts.
RESULTS
Findings from 4 focus groups revealed a general convergence between the needs of recently widowed older adults reported by widow(er)s and community providers alike and needs identified in the literature. Several components of the SMART-3RP target many of these needs (eg, social support, stress awareness, coping skills), making both community providers and widow(er)s report that the SMART-3RP is logical (89%) and would be helpful (100%) and successful in reducing symptoms (78%). Additionally, all widow(er)s reported a willingness to participate (100%). Feedback from the focus groups was used to adapt the SMART-3RP to improve its relevance to grief-related stress.
CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that the SMART-3RP may be helpful in decreasing somatic and psychological distress in older adults who have lost a spouse.
Topics: Adaptation, Psychological; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Emotions; Female; Focus Groups; Grief; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Mind-Body Therapies; Quality of Life; Resilience, Psychological; Self Care; Social Support; Stress, Psychological; Time Factors; Widowhood
PubMed: 29172636
DOI: 10.1177/1049909117743956 -
Royal Society Open Science Oct 2022Lizards and spiders are natural adversaries, yet little is known of adaptations that lizards might possess for dealing with the venomous defences of spider prey. In the...
Lizards and spiders are natural adversaries, yet little is known of adaptations that lizards might possess for dealing with the venomous defences of spider prey. In the Western USA, two lizard species ( and ) are sympatric with and predate western black widow spiders (). The consequences of black widow spider venom (BWSV) can be severe, and are well understood for mammals but unknown for reptiles. We evaluated potential resistance to BWSV in the lizards that consume black widows, and a potentially susceptible species () known as prey of widows. We investigated BWSV effects on whole-animal performance (sprint) and muscle tissue at two venom doses compared with control injections. Sprint speed was not significantly decreased in or in any treatment, while suffered significant performance reductions in response to BWSV. Furthermore, showed minimal tissue damage and immune response, while and exhibited increased muscle damage and immune system infiltration in response to BWSV. Our data suggest predator-prey relationships between lizards and spiders are complex, possibly leading to physiological and molecular adaptations that allow some lizards to tolerate or overcome the dangerous defences of their arachnid prey.
PubMed: 36277837
DOI: 10.1098/rsos.221012 -
Behavior Therapy May 2022The dual-process model proposes that early and later bereavement involves different types of stressors and adaptation processes (Stroebe & Schut, 1999, 2010). It is thus...
The dual-process model proposes that early and later bereavement involves different types of stressors and adaptation processes (Stroebe & Schut, 1999, 2010). It is thus possible that different factors facilitate adaptation during the early months versus subsequent years following widowhood. Elevated depressive symptoms, though prevalent after widowhood, may indicate problematic adaptation, as they are associated with poor long-term physical and mental health outcomes. We predicted that neutral death acceptance would be associated with less increase in depression during early widowhood (when confronted with loss-oriented stressors), whereas perceived control would predict depressive symptom decline during later widowhood (when adapting to controllable restoration-oriented stressors). Older adults (N = 265) reported on neutral death acceptance, perceived control, and depression before widowhood and on depression 0.5, 1.5, and 4.0 years after the death of their spouse. Bilinear spline growth modeling revealed that, on average, depressive symptoms increased from before to 0.5 years after spouse death and fell from 0.5 to 4.0 years after spouse death. Neutral death acceptance predicted a smaller increase in depression from before to 0.5 years after spouse death, as well as a smaller subsequent decrease in depression from 0.5 to 4.0 years after spouse death. Perceived control predicted a larger decrease in depression from 0.5 to 4.0 years after spouse death. Neutral death acceptance and perceived control had unique associations with resilience and recovery throughout early and later widowhood. These variables may be fruitful targets in interventions for depression throughout the full course of widowhood.
Topics: Aged; Bereavement; Female; Humans; Spouses; Widowhood
PubMed: 35473647
DOI: 10.1016/j.beth.2021.11.002 -
Industrial Psychiatry Journal Oct 2021By 2040, dementia is projected to rise exponentially by 300% in India. Studies addressing the need for psychiatric care in the community being few and those focusing in...
BACKGROUND
By 2040, dementia is projected to rise exponentially by 300% in India. Studies addressing the need for psychiatric care in the community being few and those focusing in old age homes even fewer, a study was undertaken to study the prevalence of dementia and the association with sociodemographic factors and psychiatric morbidity.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A total of 558 elderly aged 60 years and above, residing in old age homes in Pune were studied. 179 inmates were included based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Those who scored a predetermined cut-off score on the screening tool were included to undergo a detailed physical and neurological examination, cognitive profile using subtests from the cognitive test (community screening instrument for Dementia of 10/66 group).
RESULTS
Mean age of the sample was 75.02 years majority (39.7%) was in the 60-70 years group. Males 25.7% versus females 74.3%. The sample consisted of the following socioeconomic groups: 40.2% middle, 26.3% low middle, 24% high middle, 8.4% high income, and 1.1% in low income. 60.3% widow/widower category, 36.3% never married, 4.5% had family history of dementia. Mean scores of mini mental state examination in the overall sample was 26.02 compared to 18.02 in those cut-off point of 23. The prevalence of dementia in the sample was 22.9%. There was the high prevalence of psychiatric symptoms and psychiatric morbidity in the dementia group than the rest. Frontal lobe dysfunction and impairment of orientation with increasing severity of dementia were observed.
CONCLUSIONS
Sociodemographic factors, which were considered protective against the prevalence of dementia, identified were less restriction in physical activity and having fish in the diet regularly.
PubMed: 34908681
DOI: 10.4103/0972-6748.328806 -
BMC Women's Health Jul 2022Women heads of households (widows or divorcees) are vulnerable groups in society who face various psychological problems and have less resilience than other women....
INTRODUCTION
Women heads of households (widows or divorcees) are vulnerable groups in society who face various psychological problems and have less resilience than other women. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of resilience educational intervention on the psychological capital of poor widows in Fasa city, south Iran.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
In this quasi-experimental study, 120 widows covered by Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation were selected by a simple random sampling method based on a random Efron algorithm (Efron coin) and randomly assigned into two interventions and control groups (60 people each) in the second half of 2021. About 8 training sessions on resilience and psychological capital were held for the experimental group through training clips, audio transmissions, and podcasts. Data were collected using demographic characteristics forms, widowers' resilience assessment questionnaires, and Luten's psychological capital scale for testing and control before and two months after the intervention. Data were analyzed with Chi-square test, independent and paired t-test using SPSS V. 26 software.
RESULTS
There were differences between the two groups at pretest in demographic variables and psychological capital and its subscales, and resilience and its subscales (P ≥ 0.05).. But two months after the educational intervention, a statistically significant increase was observed in the experimental group in these variables compared to the control group (p < 0.05). It indicates that there was an improvement in the outcomes from pretest to post-test within the intervention and no change in the outcomes over time within the control group.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION
Using a resilience-based educational approach as a novelty of this research to promote psychological capital and resilience can increase resilience and psychological capital in widows. Then, considering the positive effect of this educational approach and the low cost of this intervention, it seems that the implementation of such interventions should be included in the plans related to widows.
Topics: Family Characteristics; Female; Humans; Iran; Surveys and Questionnaires; Vulnerable Populations; Widowhood
PubMed: 35864493
DOI: 10.1186/s12905-022-01886-9 -
Journal of Women & Aging 2022Take good care of yourself is a regard often said to older bereaved women. However, what does it mean? Though self-care is a well-known phenomenon within health, it is... (Review)
Review
Take good care of yourself is a regard often said to older bereaved women. However, what does it mean? Though self-care is a well-known phenomenon within health, it is not well understood in the context of late life spousal bereavement and widowhood. We undertook an integrative review to synthesize knowledge of older women's self-care challenges, resources and activities when bereaved and in a healthy transition to widowhood. Good care refers to health-promoting self-care and can be explained as the older widows' ability to access and mobilize resources and activities that are significant for a healthy transition to widowhood.
Topics: Aged; Bereavement; Female; Grief; Humans; Self Care; Widowhood
PubMed: 32339070
DOI: 10.1080/08952841.2020.1753484 -
Psychoneuroendocrinology Apr 2023Spousal bereavement is one of the most stressful experiences in adulthood. In a sample of 183 widow(er)s, bereaved about three months prior, we examined the intersection...
Spousal bereavement is one of the most stressful experiences in adulthood. In a sample of 183 widow(er)s, bereaved about three months prior, we examined the intersection of employment, family income, and health outcomes (proinflammatory marker production, perceived stress, and grief symptoms). Bereaved employees had higher levels of monocyte-stimulated interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, chemokine ligands 4, and perceived stress than bereaved retirees. We also found an interaction such that family income was positively associated with perceived stress and grief symptoms for employed window(er)s, but not for retirees. These findings align with the reserve capacity model, which states that people at higher levels of socioeconomic status have more psychosocial resources to address psychosocial stressors. Employment likely served as an added psychological and inflammatory burden for all bereaved workers, except those with the highest incomes.
Topics: Humans; Bereavement; Grief; Interleukin-6; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Employment; Family
PubMed: 36702040
DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106024