@article {13175, title = {Physical Disability, Psychological Resilience and COVID-related Changes in Depressive Symptoms among U.S. Older Adults.}, journal = {J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci}, year = {2023}, month = {2023 Feb 21}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: This study pursued three goals: (1) to determine how depressive symptoms among U.S. older adults changed in 2018-2020, a period transitioning to the first wave of COVID pandemic, compared to in pre-pandemic periods, (2) to determine whether physical disability predicts change in depressive symptoms in 2018-2020, and (3) to assess whether psychological resilience moderates the association between physical disability and change in depressive symptoms in 2018-2020.

METHODS: Based on biennial longitudinal data of the Health and Retirement Study from 2010 to 2020, we used a before-after design and latent change score model to examine whether depressive symptoms change in 2018-2020 represents a continuation or departure from the overall trend of between-wave changes in 2010-2018. We also used physical disability in 2018 and psychological resilience in 2016-2018 to predict depressive symptoms change score in 2018-2020.

RESULTS: In contrast to the relatively stable between-wave change trend in 2010-2018, there was an abrupt elevation in the latent change score of depressive symptoms in 2018-2020, which was primarily driven by increased affective symptoms (e.g., depressed mood, loneliness, unhappiness, and sadness). Increase in depressive symptoms in 2018-2020 was associated positively with physical disability but negatively with psychological resilience. Moderation effect of psychological resilience, however, was not significant.

DISCUSSION: Our findings reveal heavier COVID-related mental health burden for older adults with physical disabilities and the potential benefits of enhancing individual psychological resilience. They also suggest that health interventions addressing the COVID impacts need to particularly focus on the affective aspects of depressive symptoms.

}, keywords = {COVID-19, Depressive symptoms, Older Adults, Physical disability, United States}, issn = {1758-5368}, doi = {10.1093/geronb/gbad025}, author = {Li, Miao and Luo, Ye} } @article {13020, title = {Race-Ethnicity and Depressive Symptoms Among U.S. Older Adults in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Uncovering the Counterbalancing Mechanisms.}, journal = {Innovation in Aging}, volume = {7}, year = {2023}, pages = {igad003}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Drawing on the counterbalancing framework, this study examined the counteracting roles of coronavirus disease (COVID)-related stressors (i.e., infection threat, family activity disruption, economic impact) and psychological resilience in explaining racial-ethnic disparities in depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A competitive mediation model was fitted using nationally representative data from the Health and Retirement Study COVID-19 Project, which were collected in June 2020 ( = 1,717). A competitive mediation model was specified within which the associations between race-ethnicity categories and depressive symptoms were mediated by infection threat, family activity disruption, economic impact, and psychological resilience. A list of pre-COVID covariates and pre-COVID depressive symptoms were adjusted for in this model.

RESULTS: Infection threat, family activity disruption, economic impact, and psychological resilience were all higher among non-Hispanic Blacks and Hispanics than among non-Hispanic Whites. Economic impact had a positive whereas psychological resilience had a negative direct effect on depressive symptoms net of pre-COVID covariates and pre-COVID depressive symptoms. Mediation analyses revealed that, compared to non-Hispanic Whites, non-Hispanic Blacks and Hispanics had higher depressive symptoms due to their higher family activity disruption and higher economic impact, but their higher levels of psychological resilience also reduced depressive symptoms. The counteracting indirect effects offset each other, resulting in a null total effect of race-ethnicity on depressive symptoms.

DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: These findings suggest that interventions addressing the mental health impact of COVID should consider race/ethnicity-specific vulnerabilities and resilience. Future studies need to consider the complex and potentially counterbalancing mechanisms linking race-ethnicity and mental health.

}, keywords = {Competitive mediation, COVID-19, Depressive symptoms, race, Resilience}, issn = {2399-5300}, doi = {10.1093/geroni/igad003}, author = {Li, Miao and Luo, Ye} } @article {11966, title = {Cognitive Function Among Noncustodial Grandparents in China and the United States: A Cross-National Perspective.}, journal = {The International Journal of Aging and Human Development}, volume = {95}, year = {2022}, pages = {18-41}, abstract = {

The current study aimed to investigate the association between grandparenting and cognitive function over time in noncustodial grandparents in China and the United States. Lagged dependent variable (LDV) approach and linear regression models were applied to analyze a sample of 1,411 Chinese and 6,579 American adults aged 65 and above from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS, 2011-2013) and the U.S. Health and Retirement Study (HRS, 2012-2014). Grandparenting involvement was associated with less decline in episodic memory for grandparents and greater level of grandparenting had no negative effect on mental status and global cognitive function in noncustodial grandparents in China and the United States. The impact of grandparenting on cognitive function was conditioned on caregiving intensity, gender, urban/rural residence, and nation. Findings of the study suggest that greater attention on grandparenting facilitation might yield improved research, social support, policy, and interventions on cognitive health for the general older population.

}, keywords = {CHARLS, cognitive function, cross-national studies, grandparenthood, intergenerational relationship}, issn = {1541-3535}, doi = {10.1177/00914150211050877}, author = {Pan, Xi and Luo, Ye and Nicholas J Bishop} } @article {13125, title = {Trends in prevalence, health disparities, and early detection of dementia: A 10-year nationally representative serial cross-sectional and cohort study.}, journal = {Front Public Health}, volume = {10}, year = {2022}, month = {2022}, pages = {1021010}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: To identify trends in the prevalence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia, and to determine risk factors associated with the early detection of dementia among U.S. middle-aged and older adults.

METHODS: We used 10-year nationally representative longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) (2006-2016). Adults aged 55 years or older were included to examine the trend. To identify the associated factors, adults aged 55 years or older in 2006 who developed MCI or dementia in subsequent waves until the 2016 wave were included. Early and late detection of dementia were identified using the Langa-Weir classification of cognitive function. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with the early detection of dementia.

RESULTS: The sample size for the analysis of the prevalence of MCI and dementia ranged from 14,935 to 16,115 in the six survey years, and 3,729 individuals were identified to determine associated factors of the early detection of dementia. Among them, participants aged 65 years or older accounted for 77.9\%, and male participants accounted for 37.2\%. The 10-year prevalence of MCI and dementia was 14.5 and 6.6\%, respectively. We also found decreasing prevalence trends in MCI (from 14.9 to 13.6\%) and dementia (from 7.4 to 6.0\%) overall in the past decade. Using logistic regression controlling for the year, non-Hispanic black (MCI: OR = 2.83, < 0.001; dementia: OR = 2.53, < 0.001) and Hispanic (MCI: OR = 2.52, < 0.001; dementia: OR = 2.62, < 0.001) had a higher prevalence of both MCI and dementia than non-Hispanic white participants. In addition, men had a lower prevalence of MCI (OR = 0.94, = 0.035) and dementia (OR = 0.84, < 0.001) compared to women. Associated factors of the early detection of dementia include age, gender, race, educational attainment, stroke, arthritis diseases, heart problems, and pensions.

CONCLUSION: This study found a decreasing trend in the prevalence of MCI and dementia in the past decade and associated racial/ethnic and gender disparities among U.S. middle-aged and older adults. Healthcare policies and strategies may be needed to address health disparities in the prevalence and take the associated factors of the early detection of dementia into account in clinical settings.

}, keywords = {Aged, Cognitive Dysfunction, Cohort Studies, Cross-Sectional Studies, Dementia, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Prevalence}, issn = {2296-2565}, doi = {10.3389/fpubh.2022.1021010}, author = {Lu, Kevin and Xiong, Xiaomo and Li, Minghui and Yuan, Jing and Luo, Ye and Friedman, Daniela B} }