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An introduction is presented in which the author discusses articles within the issue on topics including the role of cultural complexity in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) care, incidence and prevalence of ADRD in minoritized racial and ethnic groups, and factors that influence ADRD care.

COVID-19 has revealed gaps in services and supports for older adults, even as needs for health and social services have dramatically increased and may produce a cascade of disability after the pandemic subsides. In this essay, we discuss the perfect storm of individual and environmental risk factors, including deconditioning, reductions in formal and informal care support, and social isolation. We then evaluate opportunities that have arisen for strengthening person-centered services and supports for older adults, through in-home acute and primary medical care, aggressive use of video telehealth and social interaction, and implementation of volunteer or paid intergenerational service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Sustainability literature has cited the influential role of both awareness and engagement in facilitating increases in pro-environmental behaviors. The purpose of this study is to compare these links across behaviors and explore their interactive influence. Design/methodology/approach: Two research questions were examined: 1) Is awareness about campus efforts regarding waste-prevention and sustainable travel/transportation options associated with increases in student waste-prevention and sustainable travel/transportation behaviors? 2) Is the link between sustainability awareness and changes in behavior conditioned by student engagement (i.e. participation) in campus sustainability activities and events? Research questions were examined using data from the University of Michigan Sustainability Cultural Indicators Program. A sample of freshmen completed a Web-based survey in 2012, and again as seniors in 2015. Findings: Greater awareness of campus waste-prevention efforts in 2015 was associated with significant increases in student waste-prevention behaviors from 2012 to 2015. Also, among students who were engaged (i.e. reported participating in a campus sustainability activity/event), greater travel/transportation awareness in 2015 was associated with a significant decline in sustainable travel/transportation behavior. Consistent with previous studies this study found a link between sustainability awareness and increases in sustainable behavior. However, this study also indicates that this link is not present for all behaviors (i.e. use of sustainable travel/transportation). This study also found that engagement does not amplify the awareness–behavior link. Originality/value: Understanding key drivers of changes in sustainable behavior for specific behaviors can inform the allocation of resources and help university campuses reach their sustainability goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Friends are a vital source of social relations throughout the lifespan and across developmental stages. Our knowledge of how friendships develop over time, especially from childhood through adulthood, is limited. Furthermore, it is now recognized that this specific type of relationship influences health across the life course in unique ways. Using the Convoy Model of Social Relations as a guiding framework, this study charts the multiple and unique trajectories of friendship across adulthood and tests whether these trajectories influence health differentially by age. The sample for the study consisted of 553 adults from the longitudinal Social Relations Study. Respondents ranged in age from 13 to 77 at Wave 1 (1992), and included only those who reported a best friend in each wave, that is, Wave 2 (2005) and Wave 3 (2015). Approximately 65% of the respondents were women, and 24.5% were people of color. Latent growth curve analysis identified three trajectories of the presence of friends in one's network over time, two trajectories of positive friend quality, and three for negative quality. The most consistent findings are associated with positive friend relations over time. Gender was associated with friendship quality where women reported more positive friend relations over time, and increasing positive friend relations predicted better health 23 years later. These findings demonstrate that consistent and increasing positive friendships yield health benefits over time, whereas the presence of friends and negative quality does not have an effect. Overall, findings advance understanding of the long-term effects of social relations across the lifespan and life course. Public Significance Statement: This study suggests that there are distinct trajectories of friendship beginning in young and mid-adulthood indicated by proportion of friends in one's network and relationship quality. Identifying how personal and situational characteristics influence multiple dimensions of the friend relationship over time provides key information to guide social support-based interventions aimed at enriching developmental outcomes and maximizing well-being across the lifespan and life course. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the complex role of family networks in shaping adult psychological well-being over time. We examine the unique and interactive longitudinal influences of family structure (i.e., composition and size) and negative family relationship quality on psychological well-being among young (ages 18-34), middle-aged (ages 35-49), and older adults (ages 50+). A sample of 881 adults (72% White; 26% Black) was drawn from the longitudinal Social Relations, Age, and Health Study. Structural equation modeling indicated that among young and middle-aged adults, increasing family negativity was associated with increases in depressive symptoms over time. In contrast, among older adults, lowered proportion of family in network and an increasing number of family members in the network (i.e., family size) were associated with decreases in depressive symptoms. These findings were moderated by family negativity. Among older adults with low family negativity, having a lower proportion of family and larger family size were associated with decreasing depressive symptoms, but there was no effect among those reporting high family negativity. Overall, these results contribute to an increased understanding of the complex, developmental nature of how family support influences well-being across the life span and highlights unique age differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. Despite a growing body of literature documenting the influence of social networks on health, less is known in other parts of the world. The current study investigates this link by clustering characteristics of network members nominated by older adults in Lebanon. We then identify the degree to which various types of people exist within the networks. This study further examines how network composition as measured by the proportion of each type (i.e., type proportions) is related to health; and the mediating role of positive support and trust in this process. Method. Data are from the Family Ties and Aging Study (2009). Respondents aged ≥60 were selected (N = 195) for analysis. Results. Three types of people within the networks were identified: Geographically Distant Male Youth, Geographically Close/Emotionally Distant Family, and Close Family. Having more Geographically Distant Male Youth in one’s network was associated with health limitations, whereas more Close Family was associated with no health limitations. Positive support mediated the link between type proportions and health limitations, whereas trust mediated the link between type proportions and depressive symptoms. Discussion. Results document links between the social networks and health of older adults in Lebanon within the context of ongoing demographic transitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article considers the health and longevity benefits of community. The authors define social isolation, review mechanisms explaining the links between social isolation and health, consider how interventions may play a role in building community, and identify potential challenges to the ideal of community. The article also details characteristics of living in community that may promote health, such as remaining engaged, socially connected, having a place, and the availability of outdoor spaces and healthy food options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caregiving research has not accounted for increasingly diverse and complex marital and family histories of older Americans. The authors examined social relations and care-specific positive and negative support networks among late-life remarried wife dementia caregivers (N = 61) to determine associations among network structure, relationship quality with and support received from network members, and global assessments of family and stepfamily disagreement on caregiver well-being. Own family and friends predominated in the social relations and positive networks. Although over half (54%) of respondents included a stepfamily member in their positive networks, stepchildren comprised the largest group (35%) in the negative networks. Larger negative networks and actively negative interactions were related to greater caregiver burden, and more global disagreement with stepfamily was associated with greater depression and burden. The findings illustrate the complex nature of support and the value of targeted examinations of caregiving support dynamics among late-life remarried older adults and stepfamilies facing health demands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To examine driving in the context of people with medically intractable epilepsy, a population generally discouraged from driving. Methods: This study tested the relationship between a comprehensive set of factors and driving among 190 patients with a currently valid driver's license who were being evaluated for epilepsy surgery. Results: Almost one third (32.6%) of the sample reported currently driving. Distributional comparisons by current driving status revealed driving was significantly more prevalent among patients who were employed full-time and those who had not experienced a seizure-related MVA. Conclusions: The decision not to drive in the context of a chronic medical condition is complex and influenced by a myriad of factors such as perceived illness susceptibility and severity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To examine driving in the context of people with medically intractable epilepsy, a population generally discouraged from driving. Methods: This study tested the relationship between a comprehensive set of factors and driving among 190 patients with a currently valid driver's license who were being evaluated for epilepsy surgery. Results: Almost one third (32.6%) of the sample reported currently driving. Distributional comparisons by current driving status revealed driving was significantly more prevalent among patients who were employed full-time and those who had not experienced a seizure-related MVA. Conclusions: The decision not to drive in the context of a chronic medical condition is complex and influenced by a myriad of factors such as perceived illness susceptibility and severity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To examine management strategies and goals reported by people diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C. Methods: We analyzed data from semistructured interviews (N=42) and from electronic sources [illness narratives (N=79) and Internet threaded discussions (N=264)]. Line-by-line coding, comparisons, and team discussions generated catalogs of lay management strategies and goals. We analyzed code-based files to identify informants' selection of specific strategies for each goal. Results: We classified lay management strategies into 3 categories: medical self-care, behavior change, and coping. These strategies were used selectively In addressing multiple goals, categorized as fighting the virus, strengthening the body, and managing consequences. Conclusions: Results underscore the diversity of strategies for living with a disease characterized by uncertain prognosis and variable expression of symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Levels of volunteering may differentially influence multiple dimensions of health among older adults. Further, increasing evidence indicates social networks represent critical bridging and bonding contexts for the volunteering-health link. This study examines two research questions: 1) does volunteering level (low, moderate, high) influence physical and mental health in the same ways? And 2) does social network change moderate this link? Data come from Waves 1 and 2 of the longitudinal Social Relations Study (n = 556) collected in 1992 and 2005 and the sub-sample of adults age 50 and older at Wave 2. Regression analyses predicting self-rated health and depressive symptoms were conducted to examine main effects of volunteering and moderating effects of social network change. Volunteering at a moderate level (101–300 hours per year) was associated with fewer depressive symptoms compared to those not volunteering. Social network change moderated the association between volunteering and self-rated health. Among those reporting a decrease in the proportion of non-family in their network (decrease in bridging), a moderate level of volunteering was associated with better self-rated health. While moderate levels of volunteering are associated with better mental health, the link to physical health is only present in the context of decreasing network bridging. Identifying specific circumstances under which volunteering is beneficial is critical for developing interventions to promote health for all, including those in mid and later life. • Moderate volunteering among older adults is associated with better mental health. • High levels of volunteering are not associated with either physical or mental health. • Volunteering benefits physical health only in the context of social network change. • As networks change, volunteering can help those who lose diversity in their ties. • Increasing presence of family in networks may help maximize volunteering benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Abstaining from alcohol consumption is generally recommended for patients with Hepatitis C(HCV). However, mixed research findings coupled with a lack of consistent guidelines on alcohol consumption and HCV may influence what healthcare providers tell their HCV patients about drinking. This may be more problematic when advising nonharmful drinkers with HCV, a population for whom consumption would not bea problem in the absence of their HCV diagnosis.Objective: This study explores what healthcare providers advise their HCV patients who are drinking alcohol at nonharmful levels about alcohol use and what these patients actually hear.Design: We conducted separate focus groups and interviews about alcohol use and HCV with nonharmful drinkers with HCV (N=50) and healthcare providers (N=14) at a metropolitan teaching hospital. All focus groups and interviews were audio-taped, transcribed, and analyzed using NVivo, a qualitative data management and analysis program.Results: We found similar themes about HCV and alcohol consumption (stop completely, occasional drink is ok, cut down, and provision of mixed/ambiguous messages), reported by both providers and patients.Patient respondents who reported hearing “stop completely”were more likely to have had their last medical visit at the gastroenterology (GI) clinic as opposed to the internal medicine (IM) clinic. Furthermore, IM providers were more likely to give their recommendations in“medical language” than were GI providers.Conclusions: To make the best health-related decisions about their disease, HCV patients need consistent information about alcohol consumption. Departments of Internal Medicine can increase provider knowledge about HCV and alcohol use by providing more education and training on HCV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Abstaining from alcohol consumption is generally recommended for patients with Hepatitis C (HCV). However, mixed research findings coupled with a lack of consistent guidelines on alcohol consumption and HCV may influence what healthcare providers tell their HCV patients about drinking. This may be more problematic when advising nonharmful drinkers with HCV, a population for whom consumption would not be a problem in the absence of their HCV diagnosis.Objective: This study explores what healthcare providers advise their HCV patients who are drinking alcohol at nonharmful levels about alcohol use and what these patients actually hear.Design: We conducted separate focus groups and interviews about alcohol use and HCV with nonharmful drinkers with HCV (N = 50) and healthcare providers (N = 14) at a metropolitan teaching hospital. All focus groups and interviews were audio-taped, transcribed, and analyzed using NVivo, a qualitative data management and analysis program.Results: We found similar themes about HCV and alcohol consumption (stop completely, occasional drink is ok, cut down, and provision of mixed/ambiguous messages), reported by both providers and patients. Patient respondents who reported hearing "stop completely" were more likely to have had their last medical visit at the gastroenterology (GI) clinic as opposed to the internal medicine (IM) clinic. Furthermore, IM providers were more likely to give their recommendations in "medical language" than were GI providers.Conclusions: To make the best health-related decisions about their disease, HCV patients need consistent information about alcohol consumption. Departments of Internal Medicine can increase provider knowledge about HCV and alcohol use by providing more education and training on HCV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives Little is known about how race/ethnicity and geographic context relate to support service use among dementia caregivers. Our objectives were to investigate (a) whether the use of at least one formal caregiving service—support groups, respite care, and training—differed by race/ethnicity and across metro and nonmetro areas; and (b) whether predisposing, enabling, and need characteristics influenced support service use by race/ethnicity. Research Design and Methods Data were analyzed from a sample of primary caregivers of care recipients aged 65 years or older with probable dementia (n = 482) in the 2017 National Health and Aging Trends Study and National Study of Caregiving. We calculated weighted prevalence estimates and then used the Hosmer–Lemeshow goodness of fit statistic to find the best-fitting logistic regression models. Results Among minority dementia caregivers, support service use was higher in metro than nonmetro areas (35% and 15%); the trend was reversed for non-Hispanic White caregivers (47% nonmetro and 29% metro). The best-fitting regression models included predisposing, enabling, and need factors for both minority and non-Hispanic White caregivers. Younger age and more disagreement within the family were consistently associated with more service use in both groups. Among minority caregivers, better caregiver and care recipient health were associated with using support services. Among non-Hispanic White caregivers, nonmetro geographic context and caregiving interfering with valued activities were associated with using support services. Discussion and Implications Geographic context differently affected support service use and the influence of predisposing, enabling, and need factors varied by race/ethnicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives The purpose of this study was to examine dynamic links between changes in social ties and changes in emotional well-being. Method Trivariate dual-change score models were used to test whether a large number of close ties would be more strongly associated with low levels of depressed affect than a large number of weaker ties, and a large number of weaker ties would be more strongly associated with high levels of positive affect compared to a large number of close ties, across three waves of a large, regionally representative sample of U.S. adults aged 40 and older (N = 802). Results We found that a greater number of weaker ties was associated with having more close ties over time, and that the number of weaker ties was more strongly predictive of positive age-related changes in both aspects of well-being (i.e. more positive affect and less depressed affect) than the number of close ties. Discussion Contrary to popular theoretical orientations in gerontology, weaker ties may offer older adults a more effective avenue for promoting emotional well-being over time than close ties, and may have the additional benefit of compensating for losses in the number of close ties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Multiple chronic conditions (MCCs) are common and have harmful consequences in later life. Along with managing their own health, many aging adults care for an impaired partner. Spousal caregiving may be more stressful when caregivers have MCCs, particularly those involving complex management. Yet, little is known about combinations of conditions that are most consequential for caregiving outcomes. Method Using a U.S. sample of 359 spousal caregivers and care recipients from the 2011 National Aging Trends Study and National Study of Caregiving, we examined three categories of MCCs based on similarity of management strategies (concordant only, discordant only, and both concordant and discordant) and their associations with caregiving difficulties and gains. We also considered gender differences. Results Relative to caregivers without MCCs, caregivers with discordant MCCs reported fewer gains, whereas caregivers with both concordant and discordant MCCs reported greater emotional and physical difficulties. Wives with discordant MCCs only reported a trend for greater physical difficulties. Caregivers with concordant MCCs did not report more difficulties or gains. Discussion Spousal caregivers with MCCs involving discordant management strategies appear to be at risk for adverse care-related outcomes and may benefit from support in maintaining their own health as well as their caregiving responsibilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Longer life expectancies and declining fertility rates suggest changes in connectedness among older adults. This study examines cohort patterns in the links between age and social relations by testing the Convoy Model of Social Relations among 2 adult cohorts in 1980 and 2005. We hypothesize that despite societal changes, connectedness remains fundamental in later life. The data are drawn from a regionally representative sample (N = 543) aged 50 to 100 collected in 2005 and a nationally representative sample (N = 718) aged 50 to 95 collected in 1980. We use multilevel-modeling to update the preliminary examination of how network characteristics vary by age and emotional closeness (Antonucci & Akiyama, 1987) with data collected 25 years later. Findings indicate that network size, gender composition, and years known were similar in both cohorts. Changes are also evident. In 2005, network members were older, had more frequent contact, and lived closer to their network members than in 1980. There was 1 cohort difference in network composition, the proportion of other family was smaller in 2005 compared with 1980. Finally, cohorts differed in the effects of age (e.g., on contact frequency), closeness (e.g., on network size), and Age × Closeness interactions (e.g., on sibling composition). In sum, overall patterns of network structure and composition are largely similar in the 2 cohorts. The effects of age and emotional closeness were largely consistent over 25 years. Although caution is warranted, these findings provide continued support for the importance of close relations in later life across historical periods. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To compare rural–urban health care costs among Latinx adults ages 51+ and examine variations by dementia status.Data are from the Health and Retirement Study (2006–2018 waves; n = 15,567). We inflation-adjusted all health care costs using the 2021 consumer price index. Geographic context and dementia status were the main exposure variables. We applied multivariate two-part generalized linear models and adjusted for sociodemographic and health characteristics.Rural residents had higher total health care costs, regardless of dementia status. Total health care costs were $850 higher in rural ($2,640) compared to urban ($1,789) areas (p < .001). Out-of-pocket costs were $870 higher in rural ($2,677) compared to urban ($1,806) areas (p < .001). Dementia status was not an effect modifier.Health care costs are disproportionately higher among Latinx rural, relative to urban, residents. Addressing health care costs among Latinx rural residents is a public health priority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Few studies have examined how the intersectionality of geographic context and race/ethnicity influences dementia caregiving. Our objectives were to determine whether caregiver experiences and health (a) differed across metro and nonmetro areas and (b) differed by caregiver race/ethnicity and geography. Methods We used data from the 2017 National Health and Aging Trends Study and National Study of Caregiving. The sample included caregivers (n = 808) of care recipients ages 65 and older with "probable" dementia (n = 482). The geographic context was defined as the care recipient's residence in metro or nonmetro counties. Outcomes included caregiving experiences (care situation, burden, and gains) and health (self-rated anxiety, depression symptoms, and chronic health conditions). Results Bivariate analyses indicated that nonmetro dementia caregivers were less racially/ethnically diverse (82.7% White, non-Hispanic) and more were spouses/partners (20.2%) than their metro counterparts (66.6% White, non-Hispanic; 13.3% spouses/partners). Among racial/ethnic minority dementia caregivers, nonmetro context was associated with more chronic conditions (p <.01), providing less care (p <.01), and not coresiding with care recipients (p <.001). Multivariate analyses demonstrated that nonmetro minority dementia caregivers had 3.11 times higher odds (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.11–9.00) of reporting anxiety in comparison to metro minority dementia caregivers. Discussion Geographic context shapes dementia caregiving experiences and caregiver health differently across racial/ethnic groups. Findings are consistent with previous studies that have shown that feelings of uncertainty, helplessness, guilt, and distress are more prevalent among people providing caregiving from a distance. Despite higher rates of dementia and dementia-related mortality in nonmetro areas, findings suggest both positive and negative aspects of caregiving among White and racial/ethnic minority caregivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We examine how changes in social networks influence volunteerism through bridging (diversity) and bonding (spending time) mechanisms. We further investigate whether social network change substitutes or amplifies the effects of education on volunteerism. Methods: Data (n = 543) are drawn from a two-wave survey of Social Relations and Health over the Life Course (SRHLC). Zero-inflated negative binomial regressions were conducted to test competing hypotheses about how changes in social network characteristics alone and in conjunction with education level predict likelihood and frequency of volunteering. Results: Changes in social networks were associated with volunteerism: as the proportion of family members decreased and the average number of network members living within a one-hour drive increased over time, participants reported higher odds of volunteering. The substitution hypothesis was supported: social networks that exhibited more geographic proximity and greater contact frequency over-time compensated for lower levels of education to predict volunteering more hours. Discussion: The dynamic role of social networks and the ways in which they may work through bridging and bonding to influence both likelihood and frequency of volunteering are discussed. The potential benefits of volunteerism in light of longer life expectancies and smaller families are also considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) are advised to refrain from alcohol consumption. A questionnaire was developed to measure concepts associated with alcohol use for individuals with HCV Method: Subjects with HCV (N = 527) completed a telephone survey. Eligible respondents had screened negative for current abuse/dependence disorders (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test [AUDIT] < 10). Measures of personality, self-efficacy, knowledge, readiness, coping styles, stigma, and symptoms were examined for associations with alcohol use. Results: Factor analysis supported a measurement structure of 105 items in 35 subdomains. A total of 26 subdomains had significant bivariate associations with alcohol use. Higher self-efficacy for resisting drinking in social situations was associated with lower alcohol use (r = -.68, p < .001), as was knowledge of alcohol and HCV (r = -.27, p < .001). Although agreeableness and marital status are typically associated with lower current drinking in samples of those with alcohol use problems, in our study agreeableness (P = .13, p < .01) and marital status (P = .08, p < .05) were modestly associated with higher current drinking. The final multivariate R2 was .55. Conclusions: The pattern of associations suggests the importance of the social aspects of drinking for drinking decisions. Existing brief interventions will need to be tailored to a contextualized psychosocial model for medical patients with HCV and AUDIT scores < 10 to optimize effectiveness. Such future interventions should emphasize the potential medical hazards of drinking for persons with HCV, the maintenance of social relationships in the absence of alcohol use, and strategies for building confidence for resisting drinking in specific situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among older adults social relationships influence mortality, but it is less clear how. We examined associations between relationship quality with spouse, child, and best friend and mortality; and whether the associations varied in the presence of chronic illnesses. Survival analyses (N = 514; 59 percent women aged ≥ 60) revealed sometimes counterintuitive main and buffering effects. Individuals who reported greater negative relationship quality with their children and friends lived longer. Buffering models suggest that relationships may exacerbate the effects of chronic illness on mortality and emphasize the importance of using a more nuanced approach when examining the effects of social relations on mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Little is known about how non-problematic drinkers respond to advice to reduce alcohol consumption as part of disease management. In this article, we examine patient reports of drinking behaviour after being diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C, a condition for which alcohol consumption is contraindicated. Methods: In this qualitative study, we analyzed transcripts of semi-structured interviews with hepatitis C virus+ (HCV+) patients whose level of alcohol consumption would not be considered problematic in the absence of their diagnosis. Results: Most respondents reported some instances of adherence, but only half adhered to the advice to limit drinking consistently over time. Respondents who did not stop drinking often modified their behaviour by changing the type of alcohol consumed or limiting drinking to particular occasions. Conclusion: Most informants understood the risks of drinking after HCV infection, particularly in the presence of symptoms, with the onset of complications, or when undergoing treatment. But some believed they could monitor their bodies for evidence of disease progression or that drinking was acceptable during early, asymptomatic stages of infection. Our results also identified situations in which patients need support in adhering to intentions not to drink, including social pressures, stressful situations, or environmental triggers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Negative social relationships are associated with poor health, chronic illness, and mortality. Yet, we know little about the dynamics of negative aspects of relationships within individual's closest relationships over time, how those experiences vary by age, and the implications of those relationships for well-being. Method A total of 592 participants (ages 25–97; M = 57.5; 63.3% women) from the Social Relations Study completed monthly web surveys for up to 12 months. Each month they reported negative relationship quality with their three closest network members and multiple dimensions of well-being (positive affect, negative affect, self-rated health, and sleep quality). Results Multilevel models revealed older individuals reported less negativity in their relationships than younger people, but fewer age differences in the closest tie. Greater negative relationship quality predicted poor well-being (i.e., greater negative affect, sleep problems). Links between negative relations and well-being were less strong among older individuals; especially in the closest ties. Discussion Results were partially consistent with the strength and vulnerability integration (SAVI) model, which proposes fewer age-related improvements in emotion regulation when individuals are unable to avoid tensions. Despite feeling just as negative as younger individuals, older individuals may be more resilient to tensions in their closest relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective More than a third of the U.S. population of older adults is obese. The present study tests the Dyadic Biopsychosocial Model of Marriage and Health, which hypothesizes that, among married couples, individual and partner chronic stress predicts increased waist circumference and these links are exacerbated in negative quality marriages. Method Participants were from the nationally representative longitudinal Health and Retirement Study (HRS). A total of 2,042 married individuals (in 1,098 married couples) completed psychosocial and waist circumference assessments in 2006 and 2010. Analyses examined whether negative marital quality and chronic stress in Wave 1 (2006) were associated with changes in waist circumference over time. Results Actor–partner interdependence models revealed that greater partner stress, rather than individuals' own reports of stress, was associated with increased waist circumference over time. Higher perceived negative marital quality among husbands and lower negative marital quality among wives exacerbated the positive link between partner stress and waist circumference. Discussion Consistent with the Dyadic Biopsychosocial Model of Marriage and Health, partner stress has direct associations with waist circumference among couples and this link is moderated by negative marital quality. Thus, dyadic perceptions of stress and negative marital quality are important to consider for understanding marriage and obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the health problems and opportunities that society will face in 2030. We propose a proactive model to combat the trend towards declining levels of physical activity and increasing obesity. The model emphasizes the need to increase physical activity among individuals of all ages. We focus on the right to move and the benefits of physical activity. The paper introduces a seven-level model that includes cells, creature (individual), clan (family), community, corporation, country, and culture. At each level the model delineates how increased or decreased physical activity influences health and well-being across the life span. It emphasizes the importance of combining multiple disciplines and corporate partners to produce a multifaceted cost-effective program that increases physical activity at all levels. The goal of this paper is to recognize exercise as a powerful, low-cost solution with positive benefits to cognitive, emotional, and physical health. Further, the model proposes that people of all ages should incorporate the "right to move" into their life style, thereby maximizing the potential to maintain health and well-being in a cost-effective, optimally influential manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite a sustained public education campaign aimed at reducing the risks of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), it remains one of the leading causes of infant death. This study aims to determine physicians’ knowledge of SIDS and whether physicians are discussing how to reduce the risk of SIDS with parents. A cross-sectional survey is sent to 912 pediatricians, family practitioners, and obstetrician-gynecologists in Central New York State. The response rate is 23.5%. Almost all respondents (99.5%) agree that certain measures can be taken to reduce the risks of SIDS, but 30.3% incorrectly state that the safest sleep position is something other than on the back. Although 97.6% agree that it is important to discuss SIDS with parents, 30% admit to not discussing this information. To continue to decrease the SIDS rate, physicians must take responsibility for educating themselves and parents about safe sleep practices and other SIDS risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]