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The May 2024 Financial Gerontology column in the Journal of Financial Service Professionals (Vol. 78, no. 3, pp. 35-38) introduced foundational concepts aimed at fostering a balanced perspective on aging. This column offers guidance on the subsequent step--how to practically apply this perspective when engaging with older clients. Given the aging boomer generation's redefinition of aging and heightened awareness of ageism, enhancing one's approach is crucial. Key elements such as language, visual imagery, and mindset play vital roles in conveying a positive perspective on aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As athletes enter a new chapter in their lives retiring from their sport, the challenge of upholding and enhancing personal brands arises. There has been extensive research on athlete brand building via social media; however, there have been few studies analyzing how athletes build their own brands and brand extensions postcareer, particularly former National Football League (NFL) players. Sixteen retired NFL athletes were examined using Goffman's theory of self-presentation to determine strategies used for building personal brand extensions and obtaining follower engagement via Instagram. Through a content analysis, a total of 2,933 Instagram posts were analyzed, and the findings from this study revealed that former NFL players with fewer followers received higher engagement rates, and retired NFL players made more backstage type of posts on personal pages compared with front-stage posts. Implications, recommendations, and future research suggestions also are discussed within the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe study aimed to evaluate the differences between generations and relationship between mindful and intuitive eating with body mass index (BMI), depression, stress, and anxiety. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 547 adults. Online questionnaire including Intuitive Eating Scale–2nd edition (IES-2), Mindful Eating Questionnaire (MEQ), and Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale was performed. Gen Z scored highest for “unconditional permission to eat”, and lowest for “interference” (p < 0.001). Baby Boomers demonstrated the lowest “conscious nutrition” scores compared to others (p: 0.002). Weak negative correlations were observed between IES-2 scores and BMI (r: −0.165, p < 0.001), depression (r: −0.194, p < 0.001), anxiety (r: −0.191, p < 0.001), and stress (r: −0.100, p: 0.020). MEQ scores were negatively correlated with BMI, depression, anxiety, and stress (r: −0.159, r: −0.364, r: −0.372, r: −0.360, p < 0.001). “Eating for physical rather than emotional reasons” showed negative correlation with depression, anxiety, and stress scores (r: −0.259, r: −0.249, r: −0.168, p < 0.001). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to compare the levels of volunteering by German baby boomers, who are currently in their fifties and sixties, to cohorts born earlier. Using data from the German Aging Survey (DEAS), logistic and negative binomial regressions were employed to analyze the prevalence and time contributions that baby boomers invest in volunteering. The study indicates a higher prevalence of volunteering by baby boomers compared with earlier-born cohorts and suggests that the large size of this cohort will imply high levels of volunteering that could increase even further as the cohort approaches retirement. Moreover, our findings suggest stability in voluntary time contributions by baby boomers compared with earlier-born cohorts; this contrasts with the existing research showing decreased overall time contributions to volunteering. The study underscores the importance of considering cohort-specific differences in voluntary engagement behavior to gain a deeper understanding of the dynamics of volunteering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined differences in middle-aged adults' preferred features of their current versus future residential environments and how these differences varied by health and social characteristics. A sample of 1,651 Korean middle-aged adults (aged 49–64) rated their preferences for each of 12 features (e.g., proximity to family/relatives, house price) regarding current and future residential environments, separately. Respondents considered "accessibility to health services" and "opportunity for leisure activities" more important for future residential environments than for current ones. Respondents with poorer health considered features that help them compensate for health decline more important, while those who contacted friends/neighbors more frequently and participated in more cultural activities considered features that help them maintain their social interactions more important for future residential environments than the past. Our findings identified middle-aged adults' various demands for residential features after retirement, which reflect their strategic reactions to future needs for successful adaptation in later years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the U.S., the acceleration of suburbanization and highway development has been driven partly by the requirements of the Baby Boomers, a generation born between 1946 and 1964. Practitioners and scholars believe that the Baby Boomers' travel patterns are dramatically different from those of previous cohorts, due to their heavy reliance on motor vehicles. However, this argument might mask a socioeconomic heterogeneity among this generation; and changing social and technological environments, such as delayed retirement and the increasing popularity of communication technology, might have reshaped this generation's travel patterns. Using the 2001 and 2017 U.S. National Household Travel Surveys (NHTSs), this study examines how vehicle travel by people aged 56–71 (the Baby Boomers) in 2017 differs from that of the same age group (referred to as the Silent Generation) in 2001. Descriptive analysis shows that the overall distance traveled in vehicles by this age group slightly increased between 2001 and 2017. However, travel frequency declined. Regression results show that, all else being equal, Baby Boomers in 2017 had lower VMT and took fewer vehicle trips than the Silent Generation in 2001. These results also show how the relationship between socioeconomic attributes, the built environment and vehicle travel differs between the two generations. For example, results show that gender and racial disparities in vehicle travel are narrower among the Baby Boomers than they were among the Silent Generation, while retirement and having a college degree have a stronger relationship with vehicle travel among Boomers. Results show the necessity of factoring in such sociodemographic diversity, along with the impact of population aging as a whole on demand for vehicle travel, when devising future transportation policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite existence of a substantial potential market for retirement plans in Sri Lanka, the demand is considerably low. The current study investigates reasons for this gap, in view of the Capacity-Willingness-Opportunity model. Adopting a deductive approach, the study attempts to determine whether financial self-efficacy, job involvement, and social group support should be considered as components of capacity, willingness, and opportunity to save for retirement, respectively. It also investigates whether gender and/or age group moderate any identified relationship. Data from 376 employees is analyzed employing PLS-SEM. Social group support and financial self-efficacy revealed significant and positive impacts on financial planning for retirement (FPR). Albeit not significantly different from men, women have greater effects of financial self-efficacy, job involvement, and social group support on FPR. When one is older, the influence of financial self-efficacy on FPR is substantially greater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The post-war generation of Marxist Slovak intelligentsia was formed from people who had experience with the war and this experience in the fight against fascism, together with the pre-war social situation, were the main reasons of their inclinations towards the theory of socialism and at the same time caused their sharp criticism of the Church and its ideas. Jaroslav Čelko can also be included in the generation of these authors, and this paper describes and explores his ideas and their influence on the development of secular humanism during the existence of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic and after its disintegration. At the same time, the aim of the paper is to evaluate the influences and connections between the ideas of scientific atheism (including examples of the works of Jaroslav Čelko) and secular humanism in Slovakia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The document "Studying Math - and then?" from the DMV newsletter presents the professional career of Franziska Kühnemund at the consulting firm Willis Towers Watson (WTW). She is responsible as Senior Director for company pension schemes in Germany. WTW advises companies worldwide in the areas of personnel, risk, and capital. Company pension schemes are an important topic in Germany, as the baby boomers retire and the younger generation faces challenges. [Extracted from the article]

The present study examined the interaction effects of generations, gender, and residential nature on attitudes toward interfaith marriage in a sample of 1190 Indian participants from iGen, Xennials and Millennials, and Baby Boomers generations. Data were collected using a socio-demographic response sheet and the Attitude Scale, with lower ratings indicating positive attitudes and higher ratings indicating negative attitudes. The results of this study demonstrated that generational differences are significantly associated with gender and residential nature. There was a significant interaction between generation and gender and generation and residential nature on attitudes toward interfaith marriages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the key considerations in designing a smart environment for the elderly, aiming to enhance their effective use of such space environments within a structure such as a building. A survey was conducted among a limited sample of elderly recipients in South Korea to explore the relationship between the frequency and usefulness of smart digitalization usage and various factors, including design elements, age, and perceived necessity. By identifying the needs of modern elderly people regarding smart environments, the study aims to provide implications for the direction of smart environments for the elderly, thereby contributing to the creation of a sustainable society in various ways. The study results are as follows. First, in terms of design factors, eco-friendliness was identified as a major factor influencing both the frequency of use and the convenience of the elderly in smart environments. Second, the age group of the elderly was found to be a significant variable affecting the frequency of use and the convenience of smart environments. Third, variables such as an emergency environment, a comfortable environment, and a healthy environment with regard to environmental factors, as well as maintenance, aesthetics, and safety in design elements, were found to have no statistically significant impact. These findings suggest that simply considering environmental friendliness or aesthetics is insufficient in designing a smart residential environment for the elderly, and that design strategies prioritizing the actual user experience and convenience are necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is important that students across university disciplines and class years explore their attitudes about ageism, aging, and older adults. Yet few if any ageism interventions in academic settings are directed at business students, instead targeting disciplines such as health sciences. In this paper we offer requisite detail of ageism workshops we developed for use in an undergraduate entrepreneurship course, including discussion of our results. Business curricula at the university level can serve to reinforce age gaps through the study of functional areas such as marketing (target market segmentation) and finance (retirement planning). In entrepreneurship, stories of youthful startups persist despite recent findings that strongly reject the notion that youth is a key trait of successful entrepreneurs. In the context of workplace ageism, ageism interventions, and age in entrepreneurship, we modified the Disrupt Aging curriculum offered by A.A.R.P., which facilitates an examination of one's personal attitude about age and aging. Our twist was to focus the curriculum on entrepreneurship and have our students work in groups with an entrepreneur from the Baby Boom generation. This innovation to our curriculum provides promising evidence of effectiveness as measured in pre- and post-workshop attitudes about ageism and entrepreneurship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, Florida has become increasingly hostile toward issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion in public education. This poses challenges for principals who need to ensure that students, particularly from marginalized backgrounds, have the opportunity to succeed. This case explores the social justice practices of a self-identifying conservative, Cuban, "boomer" principal leading a predominately Black and Brown high school in South Florida. The case draws upon the multiplicity of social justice leadership conceptualizations within the field to suggest that not all leaders "talk the walk" of social justice and raises important questions about the construct of social justice leadership in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses Karl Mannheim's perspective on the concept of generations, focusing on how generations are defined by shared historical experiences rather than just age gaps. Mannheim's work is foundational for sociologists and demographers, emphasizing the qualitative analysis of cohorts. The text also explores the distinction between generations and concrete social groups, highlighting the unique social location and identity that generations provide. Mannheim's insights on generations as a social phenomenon are essential for understanding how individuals are situated within a broader social structure. [Extracted from the article]

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How has the changing structure of the economy during the transition in Central and Eastern Europe resulted in reskilling, deskilling, or upskilling of the labor force? Using data from the Life in Transition Survey and survival analysis we find that the scale of changes in the skill-sets has been surprisingly limited. Instead, the transition has resulted in a generational change: workers from declining sectors left employment, while the young cohorts took up the jobs in the emerging sectors. Furthermore, to a large extent, pre-retirement exits can be explained by a lack of relevant skills in the older generation that were necessary for the open market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subbottom profiler (SBP) systems are commonly employed for geohazard analysis in offshore engineering studies. The joint analysis of multichannel seismic and SBP data also provides additional information for analyzing submarine fluid-flow structures in shallow sediments. Detailed geohazard analyses aim to reveal small-scale changes in the seafloor and the underlying structures. Therefore, the horizontal and vertical resolution of SBP data is a crucial parameter and obtaining the necessary resolution requires appropriate data processing. This study analyzes the steps and parameters applied in processing pinger, Chirp, boomer, and parametric SBP data to determine an optimal data processing flow and parameters. Compared to multichannel seismics, the most significant challenge in processing SBP data is to suppress noise and increase the signal-to-noise ratio. Band-pass filtering is effective in eliminating swell noise, especially for boomer data. Spiking deconvolution has the most significant impact on reducing the ringy character, particularly for Chirp data. Only boomer data required the removal of multiple reflections, and predictive deconvolution was applied to eliminate the multiples. The heave effect was corrected by applying manually picked residual static values of the seafloor to the SBP data. From spectral analysis results, the wavelength of the signal was calculated, and it was observed that the parametric SBP system had the highest vertical resolution. Applications demonstrated that among the four different SBP data types, the parametric SBP data required the fewest processing steps and least time, which indicates that the parametric SBP system is the most effective in distinguishing the SBP signal from ambient noise during acquisition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates the demographic consequences of major wars and the determinants of post-war demographic recovery, analyzing severe conflicts from 1914 to 2010 in countries across various development levels and war types. Through an empirical evaluation of demographic recovery following major wars, this paper explores how several important factors, including political capacity, foreign aid, and human capital, influence recovery patterns in societies that have experienced these conflicts. The analysis suggests that populations tend to recover to pre-war levels within a generation, often exceeding them due to significant post-war baby booms. Political capacity appears to be associated with faster recovery, while the impact of foreign aid and human capital varies across different economic contexts. The research employs a large N time-series cross-section analysis, offering a comprehensive exploration of the dynamics involved in post-war demographic recovery. The results highlight the complex relationship between political, economic, and social factors, providing a valuable foundation for future research. By integrating insights from political demography, international relations, and population studies, these findings can guide the development of new theories and models to better understand the mechanisms of post-conflict recovery. Ultimately, this research aims to inform more effective strategies and policies for post-conflict reconstruction and development, promoting sustainable peace and stability in war-affected regions. Este artículo investiga las consecuencias demográficas que tienen las grandes guerras, así como los determinantes para la recuperación demográfica durante la posguerra. Para ello, analizamos los conflictos graves ocurridos entre 1914 y 2010 en países con diversos niveles de desarrollo y con diferentes tipos de guerra. Este artículo realiza una evaluación empírica de la recuperación demográfica después de grandes guerras con el fin de estudiar cómo existen varios factores importantes, tales como la capacidad política, la ayuda exterior y el capital humano, los cuales influyen sobre los patrones de recuperación de las sociedades que han vivido estos conflictos. El análisis sugiere que las poblaciones tienden a recuperarse a los niveles anteriores a la guerra en una generación, y que, a menudo, llegan a superar estos niveles debido a los importantes baby booms que suelen tener lugar en las posguerras. La capacidad política parece estar asociada con una recuperación más rápida, mientras que el impacto de la ayuda exterior y del capital humano varía según los diferentes contextos económicos. La investigación emplea un análisis transversal de series temporales de N grandes, el cual ofrece un análisis exhaustivo de aquellas dinámicas implicadas en la recuperación demográfica de la posguerra. Los resultados ponen de manifiesto la compleja relación existente entre los factores políticos, económicos y sociales, y proporcionan una base que será de gran relevancia para futuras investigaciones. Estas conclusiones integran los conocimientos de la demografía política, de las relaciones internacionales y de los estudios de población, y, por ello, pueden guiar el desarrollo de nuevas teorías y modelos que serán de utilidad para comprender mejor los mecanismos de recuperación después de los conflictos. En última instancia, esta investigación tiene como objetivo aportar estrategias y políticas más efectivas para la reconstrucción y el desarrollo después de los conflictos, promoviendo la paz y la estabilidad sostenibles en las regiones afectadas por la guerra. Cet article s'intéresse aux conséquences démographiques des guerres importantes et aux déterminants de la récupération démographique d'après-guerre, en analysant les graves conflits intervenus entre 1914 et 2010, dans des pays aux niveaux de développement différents, frappés par divers types de guerres. Par le biais d'une évaluation empirique de la récupération démographique à la suite de guerres majeures, cet article analyse l'incidence de plusieurs facteurs importants, notamment la capacité politique, l'aide internationale et le capital humain, sur les schémas de récupération dans les sociétés ayant connu ces conflits. D'après l'analyse, les populations auraient tendance à revenir aux niveaux d'avant la guerre en l'espace d'une génération, et les dépassent même souvent grâce à de considérables booms démographiques d'aprèsguerre. La capacité politique serait associée à une récupération plus rapide, tandis que l'incidence de l'aide étrangère et du capital humain dépendrait du contexte économique. Le travail de recherche s'appuie sur une analyse de régression de séries chronologiques transversale grand N, et ainsi propose une exploration exhaustive des dynamiques à l'oeuvre dans la récupération démographique d'après-guerre. Les résultats soulignent la relation complexe entre les facteurs politiques, économiques et sociaux, ce qui offre une base précieuse pour des recherches futures. En intégrant des informations issues de la démographie politique, des relations internationales et des études de populations, ces conclusions peuvent orienter le développement de nouvelles théories et de nouveaux modèles pour mieux comprendre les mécanismes de récupération d'après-guerre. En définitive, ce travail de recherche vise à renseigner des stratégies et politiques plus efficaces pour la reconstruction et le développement d'après-guerre, en promouvant une paix et une stabilité durables dans les régions subissant des guerres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The American Dream is tightly woven into the American culture and way of life. Despite the importance and ubiquitous nature of the American Dream, the topic is difficult to define and belief in the attainability of the American Dream changes over time. Because of the little academic research on the topic, this study aims to fill this gap and investigate what people think about the American Dream and what factors influence the perception that this concept is outdated among different two generations – Baby Boomers and Millennials. Design/methodology/approach: An online survey containing both open-ended and close-ended questions was conducted in two age groups via Qualtrics – 245 Millennials (born 1980–1996) and 253 Baby Boomers (born 1946–1964). Open-ended questions were analyzed using NVivo and closed-ended questions were analyzed using SPSS. Items on the online survey measured the definition of the American Dream, factors in defining it, the relevancy and attainability of the Dream, whether it was outdated, as well as Schwartz's list of values (Lindeman and Verkasalo, 2005). Findings: Three research questions were investigated. First, the results show that Baby Boomers and Millennials define the Dream similarly in terms of a house, family, happiness, freedom and equality. Second, they differ, however, in whether they believe that the Dream is relevant and attainable. Specifically, only Baby Boomers believe that the Dream is still relevant, but both generations believe that it is harder for younger generations to achieve the Dream. Third, the authors found similarities and differences in terms of demographics and values predicting whether the two generations believed that the Dream is outdated, and new values should be added. For both generations, values were more likely to predict the belief that the Dream was outdated. Using Schwartz's values, those high in universalism were more likely to believe that the Dream was outdated and that new values should be added to the definition of the Dream for both generations. The values of security, self-direction, achievement and benevolence differed between the generations in believing that the Dream was outdated and that new values should be added. Originality/value: This research provides insight into how these macrolevel beliefs influence people at the microlevel and how businesses or public policymakers can use these concepts to influence attitudes or behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explored how the three major trends evident in the labor market since the 1970s (narrowing gender inequality, increased enrollment in higher education, occupational inequality) are related to income differences between the baby boom and millennial generations in Hong Kong, a major city in East Asia. We have incorporated analysis that examines the differences between local-born individuals and migrants in order to highlight a significant feature of Hong Kong society. Using the Hong Kong census for 1991 and 2016, we showed that from 1991 to 2016, the income gap between local-born Chinese and migrants widened substantially between millennials and baby boomers. RIF regression analysis and the decomposition based on the RIF regression results show that the three major social trends are related to the incomes of young adult baby boomers and millennials in Hong Kong in different ways. These patterns also vary by high and lower-income groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We propose a life course theoretical framework for understanding variation in family life courses between birth cohorts (historical time), societies (place), and social groups (social location). Building on the life course paradigm, we explain how key predictors on different levels of analysis can reinforce, precondition, counteract, preclude, or alter each other's influence on family life courses in specific contexts. The proposed framework re‐organizes and extends core principles of the life course paradigm into family life course predictors and outcomes on the individual, relational, and population levels. Background: The life course approach is a well‐recognized interdisciplinary paradigm in family research but often remains too abstract to guide hypotheses about family life course variation. Method: We demonstrate the utility of the proposed framework with a qualitative case study on family life courses in Senegal and a quantitative case study on family life course change between Baby Boomer and Millennial cohorts in the United States using sequence analysis. Results: Findings of the two example applications support that fertility decline in Senegal was primarily driven by material considerations and not by ideational change and that family life course de‐standardization was greater between White Baby Boomers and Millennials compared to Black Boomers and Millennials. Conclusion: Developing narrower mid‐range theories that fill the basic life course principles with substantive content and target specific fields of application, such as family life courses, is promising to advance life course theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Homeschooling has grown into a large and highly diverse segment of American education. However, empirical studies of homeschooling have remained methodologically underdeveloped. The purpose of this article is to chart an agenda for a new generation of research on homeschooling. A narrative review of quantitative research published since 2000 is undertaken to identify gaps in the current evidence base. This review indicated that prior work is generally limited by small samples, uniform operationalizing of homeschool practice, and cross-sectional data sources. This article then concludes by describing strategies that researchers can use to address the limitations of previous studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "Retirement Age Then and Now: A Biologist's Perspective" from the Public Policy & Aging Report discusses the changes in retirement age and life expectancy for older adults in the United States over the past 50 years. It highlights the significant improvements in health and longevity for older Americans, with life expectancy at birth increasing by 7 years and at age 65 by 4 years. The article also explores the demographic shifts, such as the surge in the number of older Americans due to the baby boomer generation, and the implications of these changes on retirement age policies. Additionally, it discusses the potential future changes in retirement age based on life expectancy trends and advancements in health-extending interventions. [Extracted from the article]

The article delves into the difficulties of overseeing the defense industry, emphasizing the impact of financial interests on both defense contractors and regulators. It sheds light on the revolving door phenomenon between government officials and defense contractors, potentially leading to conflicts of interest. Furthermore, it touches upon the challenges posed by a lack of transparency and enforcement in curbing unethical practices within the defense sector. The text also explores the intricate interplay among wealth, warfare, and the public good in the realm of defense contracting. Proposed solutions include measures such as granting the government unrestricted access to technical data from defense contracts, conducting regular reviews of defense regulations, and imposing limitations on the movement of personnel between government and defense companies. These initiatives aim to tackle issues like cost overruns, delivery delays, and price inflation in the defense industry, ultimately striving for a more efficient and effective defense industrial landscape. [Extracted from the article]

Life insurance enhances households' capacity to absorb financial shocks and protects against personal risks that no one likes to contemplate. This is even more important in times of economic hardship such as now, when many Europe countries and particularly Spain are going through difficult times due to rising inflation, the war in Ukraine, and the ongoing COVID‐19 pandemic. Although previous studies have analysed the driving forces of life insurance demand, the influence of the individual's financial planning horizon, financial knowledge, and financial self‐control have been underexplored. This study analyses the influence of personal financial attributes on life insurance demand and, in so doing, explores whether the effects of such attitudes differ across different generational cohorts (i.e., the silent generation, baby boomers, Gen Xers, and millennials). The data, taken from the Survey of Financial Competences, comprises 7245 Spanish individuals. Evidence from multivariate analyses reflects the relevance of standard sociodemographic characteristics in explaining individuals' decisions to become life insurance holders. In contrast, evidence does not support a statistically significant relationship in the case of behavioural variables such as financial self‐control and the financial planning horizon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores how different conceptualizations of retirement—New Beginning, Continuation, Imposed Disruption, and Transition to Old Age—affect retirement consideration and planning while controlling for demographic and work-related variables. In a sample of Slovak preretirees (N = 332, M age = 54.84, SD = 3.67 years, all working full-time), three of the retirement concepts were significant predictors of retirement consideration and planning. The New Beginning concept positively influenced both retirement consideration and planning. In contrast, the Continuation concept negatively impacted retirement consideration, with no significant effect on retirement planning. The Imposed Disruption concept positively predicted retirement consideration and planning, although the mechanisms driving engagement differed from those in the New Beginning concept. The Transition to the Old Age concept did not significantly predict retirement consideration or planning. These findings highlight the importance of understanding individual retirement concepts when discussing retirement planning and consideration. Consequently, preretirement interventions should focus on personalized approaches that reflect employees' unique retirement concepts and needs, supporting healthy pathways to retirement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis research delves into the adoption of Virtual Reality (VR) technology for travel intentions, with a specific emphasis on understanding generational disparities between Baby Boomers and Gen Z. This study focuses on two pivotal elements necessitating further examination: the role of virtual experiences and content quality in shaping travel intentions within the realm of virtual reality. Our investigation delves into the influence of perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness on virtual experiences and the impact of information access and novelty on content quality with travel intention for VR. Utilizing the Partial Least Squares Multigroup Analysis (PLS-MGA) and Generalized Regression Neural Network (GRNN) models, we scrutinize these factors. This study aims to illuminate the technological and generational dimensions of VR adoption within the context of travel intention. The study underscores generational distinctions, yielding an intriguing outcome: virtual experiences distinctly shape the travel intentions of Gen Z but do not find favor among Baby Boomers. Conversely, the influence of content quality is evident, decisively affirming the travel intentions of Baby Boomers while lacking substantiation in the case of Gen Z. This finding provides valuable insights into how different generations engage with and adopt VR technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intergenerational conflict stands as a significant societal challenge, influencing relationships and comprehension among different age groups. This study delves into the perspectives on intergenerational conflicts as perceived by representatives from the Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Generation Y. Employing the ‘Intergenerational Solidarity’ model and adopting a phenomenological approach, the study conducted five focus group sessions involving 19 participants, utilizing a semi-structured interview form. The findings highlight the prominence of intergenerational conflicts, particularly in the realms of consensual and functional solidarity. Notably, Baby Boomers and Generation X exhibit similar viewpoints, while Generation Y presents distinctive opinions. The root of intergenerational conflict revolves around societal values, with a diminishing rate of socialization playing a pivotal role. Proposing that older adult education can foster intergenerational understanding and communication by enhancing socialization, this study suggests a potential avenue for mitigating conflicts among generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Previous studies have indicated that compared to older adults, younger older adults (e.g. baby boomers) are more susceptible to obesity, but their risk decreases as they age. However, there is a lack of research on how individuals experience sarcopenic obesity, which increases in later life and is a mortality risk factor. This study examined how younger cohorts of older Americans and their demographic traits are related to sarcopenic obesity. Methods Generalized estimating equations were used to analyze participants aged 65 years and older, stratified by sex using data from the 2006–2016 Health and Retirement Study, with survey weights (n = 2,896 men and n = 4,268 women). Results The findings indicate that the youngest cohort (born between 1948 and 1953) had greater odds of sarcopenic obesity than older cohorts (born before 1931). However, the youngest cohort did not have significantly different risks from those born between 1931 and 1947. Unexpectedly, the youngest cohort of older women living alone tended not to have sarcopenic obesity compared to the older cohorts living alone. These results remained significant even after adjusting for various covariates, including marital status, race, education level, wealth, and other factors. Discussion This paper contributes to the existing literature on population health and demographic change in 2 ways. First, the risk of sarcopenic obesity is higher among younger cohorts of older Americans relative to older cohorts (born before 1931). Second, living alone may not necessarily be considered a worse health condition, particularly for younger female cohorts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This investigation used long-term longitudinal survey data from baby boomer women to identify whether strengthening gender role egalitarianism in early adulthood predicted declines in religious service attendance and religious intensity in later life. The aging of this cohort coincided with dramatic societal shifts in gender values and religiosity. The data were derived from 350 women participating in the Longitudinal Study of Generations, a study originally fielded in 1971 of families living in Southern California. Respondents were initially assessed in their late teens and early 20s and followed up to their early-to-mid 60s. Using growth curve modeling, we linked the change in egalitarian gender attitudes from 1971 to 1988 to a change in religiosity from 1994 to 2016. Women who became more egalitarian in their gender attitudes experienced sharper declines in religious intensity, but not in religious attendance in the period studied. Controlling for life-course transitions did not alter these results. The findings are discussed in terms of the connection between two asynchronous social changes occurring over the lives of women in a uniquely positioned birth cohort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The goal of this study is to examine how the age-crime distribution in South Korea has shifted over time and the role of cohorts in driving this shift. This study highlights the impact of social change and historical events on cohort effects, potentially leading to shifts in the age-crime distribution.. Methods: Age-Period-Cohort-Interaction (APC-I) models are estimated on age-specific-arrest statistics for offenses in South Korea from 1967 and 2011. The APC-I models take into account the interdependence of age, period, and cohort, thus permitting the identification of inter-and intra-cohort differences in crime over the life course. Results: The age-crime distribution in South Korea has changed over time to an older peak age of arrest. Korean baby boomers born between 1955 and 1963 have a higher risk of arrest earlier in life than other cohorts, perpetuating an overall increased risk over the life course. Conclusion: Changes in socio-historical conditions differentiate crime trajectories across cohorts over the life course. Thus, this study suggests that social change and historical events impact the age-crime dynamics in South Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In our study we analyzed four editions of the post-war magazine Vyšehrad (1945-1948). We observed how the philosophical trends of the time (existentialism, personalism) determined the debate of Catholic intellectuals within the magazine. These intellectuals were thus forced to cope not only with the growing Stalinist ideology, but also with the trend of Sartre's influence on the young post-war generation. We find that both generations had to shift their attention from defending the Christian tradition to the anti-essentialism of Sartre's existential philosophy, and that despite their proclaimed disagreement with his views, they took up some of his themes (anxiety, nothingness, freedom of choice) to which they began to seek an adequate response, conditioned by Christian personalism. However, this search for an answer was put to an end by the authorities: the magazine was stopped by the Communist authorities and ceased publication in December 1948. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore factors associated with productivity in urologic practice. Work-relative value units (wRVUs), the basis for Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and private payer reimbursements, commonly serve to estimate physician productivity. Limited data describes which practice factors predict increased wRVU productivity. The 2017 and 2018 CMS databases were retrospectively queried for urologic Medicare provider demographics and procedural/service details. Medical school graduation year was used to estimate years in practice and generation (Millennial, Gen X, Baby Boomer, or Post-War). Treated patients' demographics were obtained. Adjusted and unadjusted linear mixed models were performed to predict wRVU production. Included were 6773 Medicare-participating urologists across the United States. Millennials produced 1115 wRVUs per year, while Gen X and Baby Boomers produced significantly more (1997 and 2104, respectively, P <.01). Post-War urologists produced numerically more (1287, P =.88). In adjusted analyses, predictors of Medicare wRVU productivity included female and pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery (exponentiated beta estimate (β) 1.46, 95% CI 1.32-1.60), men's health (β 1.22, 95% CI 1.13-1.32), and oncologic subspecialization (β 1.08, 95% CI 1.02-1.14), female gender (β 0.87, 95% CI 0.82-0.92), wRVUs generated from inpatient procedures (β 1.08, 95% CI 1.06-1.09) and office visits (β 0.88, 95% CI 0.87-0.89), and the level of education (β 1.10, 95% CI 1.07-1.14) and percent impoverished patients (β 0.85, 95% CI 0.83-0.88) in provider's practice zip code. Urologic experience, specialization, demographics, practice patterns, and patient demographics are significantly associated with wRVU productivity in Medicare settings. Further work should incorporate quality metrics into wRVUs and ensure patient demographics do not affect reimbursement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a media thematic agenda analysis of 528 articles on retirement from five influential online newspapers in Slovakia between January 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023. The aim was to understand these newspapers' societal discourses on retirement, the breadth and completeness of their coverage of retirement topics, and which aspects they emphasized and overlooked. The analysis found that the media coverage during the selected period did not address various retirement issues. Quantitative analysis revealed that economic and legislative aspects dominated, followed by political positions on retirement issues, information from the Social Insurance Agency, details about adjustments to the pension system, and expert opinions. Financial preparation for retirement received minimal coverage, while psychological, socio-psychological, and sociological contexts of retirement were on the periphery of media attention. As the media reflect and shape cultural beliefs about retirement, our findings provide insights into the retirement culture within a nationally specific framework. Considering that retirement culture is under-researched in social science studies, we recommend focusing on a research program to delve deeper into this issue in Slovakia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The text discusses labor force nonparticipation rates among different age groups and genders from 1999 to 2022. It highlights that school attendance was the main reason for nonparticipation among teenagers and young adults, with an increase in nonparticipation due to factors such as increased summer school attendance and parental emphasis on education. Among men aged 25 to 54, illness or disability was the main reason for nonparticipation, while women cited home responsibilities as their main reason. The text also mentions that nonparticipation due to illness or disability increased for both men and women during this period. The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the U.S. labor force, with the overall nonparticipation rate rising from 34.0 percent in 2019 to 35.5 percent in 2022. Retirement was the main reason for the increase in nonparticipation during the pandemic. The article also discusses trends in retirement patterns, including the impact of recessions and the COVID-19 pandemic on retirement rates. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Asia's elderly Baby Boomer demographic (born between 1946 and 1964) faced a huge problem during the COVID-19 pandemic due to increased all-cause mortality. We aimed to provide a unique Taiwan situation regarding the impact of Baby Boomers on excess mortalities from all causes relative to non-Baby Boomers throughout distinct times of SARS-CoV-2 mutations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We used the Poisson time series design with a Bayesian directed acyclic graphic approach to build the background mortality prior to the COVID-19 pandemic between 2015 and 2019. It was then used for predicting the expected all-cause deaths compared to the reported figures during the COVID-19 pandemic period based on Taiwan residents, an Omicron-naïve cohort. Results: Baby Boomers experienced a 2% negative excess mortality in 2020 (Wuhan/D614G) and a 4% excess mortality in 2021 (Alpha/Delta) with a rising background mortality trend whereas non-Baby Boomers showed the corresponding figures of 4% negative excess and 1% excess with a stable trend. Baby Boomer and non-Baby Boomer excess mortality soared to 9% (95% CI: 7-10%) and 10% (95% CI: 9-11%), respectively, during the epidemic Omicron period from January to June 2022. Surprisingly, Baby Boomers aged 58–76 experienced the same 9% excess mortality as non-Baby Boomers aged 77 and beyond. Non-COVID-19 deaths were more prevalent among Baby Boomers than non-Baby Boomers (33% vs. 29%). Conclusion: Baby Boomers were more likely to die from COVID-19 in early pandemic and had more non-COVID-19 deaths in late pandemic than older non-Baby Boomers demonstrated in Taiwan Omicron-naïve cohort. For this vulnerable population, adequate access to medical care and medical capacity require more consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]