Anita M. Hubley

Prediction of subjective age, desired age, and age satisfaction in older adults: Do some health dimensions contribute more than others?

Of all the variables that have been shown to contribute to subjective age, health variables typically explain the greatest proportion of variance, with poorer health related to feeling older than ones chronological age. Despite the significant contribution of health to subjective age, little research has explored the relative importance of different dimensions of health to subjective age. The primary aim of the present study was to examine the relative importance of various physical, mental, social, and emotional dimensions of health, as well as satisfaction with health, to measures of subjective age, desired age, and satisfaction with age in a sample of 875 older men and women. The results indicated that: (1) certain combinations of health dimensions and satisfaction with health accounted for relatively large proportions (20—36%) of the variance in subjective age and satisfaction with age but not desired age; (2) subjective age and satisfaction with age were explained by different combinations of health dimensions; and (3) the health predictors of subjective age and satisfaction with age differed somewhat for men and women and for young-old and old-old groups.

Comparability of total score performance on the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure and a modified Taylor Complex Figure.

One of the most commonly used neuropsychological measures of visuo-spatial abilities is the Rey–Osterrieth Complex Figure (ROCF) Test. Previous research has reliably shown that its companion figure, the Taylor Complex Figure, is not a comparable measure of visuo-spatial memory. The aims of the three studies presented here are to (a) introduce a modified version of the Taylor Figure (MTCF), and (b) examine the comparability of the ROCF and the MTCF using two different administration procedures. The first two studies used a between-subjects design in which half of the study participants received the ROCF and half received the MTCF. In Study 1, an incidental procedure was used in which participants were asked to first copy a figure and then reproduce it from memory without prior warning. In Study 2, an intentional procedure was used in which participants were first asked to observe the figures for the express purpose of reproducing them from memory followed by delay and copy trials. In Study 3, a within-subjects design using counterbalancing and an intentional procedure was used to examine the comparability of the two figures when administered to the same participants as in a true test-retest situation. Overall, the studies demonstrated that learning, memory, and copy score performance on the MTCF was comparable to that on the ROCF.

Importance Ratings and Weighting: Old Concerns and New Perspectives

This article describes key concepts, reviews empirical findings, and discusses important issues related to the use of subjective importance ratings and importance weighting. The review of empirical findings focuses on weighting achieved via the multiplicative model and on 3 areas in which weighting is commonly used: quality of life, self-esteem, and job satisfaction. An important distinction is made between issues regarding importance ratings and those related to importance weights. Directions for future research are suggested throughout the article.

Comparability of the Rey-Osterrieth and Modified Taylor Complex Figures using total scores, completion times, and construct validation.

The Modified Taylor Complex Figure (MTCF) was developed as an alternate form for the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure (ROCF) to assess visuospatial abilities. The present study examines the comparability of the figures by comparing (a) total scores and completion times on copy and recall trials using a repeated-measures design and an incidental administration procedure, and (b) the pattern of relationships between each of the figures and a number of demographic, convergent, and discriminant measures in a sample of community-dwelling adults. Overall, the study supports the use of the MTCF as a comparable measure of visuospatial memory and construction to the ROCF.

Measurement Invariance of the Appearance Schemas Inventory-Revised and the Body Image Quality of Life Inventory across Age and Gender.

The majority of body image measures have largely been developed with younger female samples. Before these measures can be applied to men, and to middle-aged and older women, and used to make gender and age comparisons, they must exhibit adequate cross-group measurement invariance. This study examined the age and gender cross-group measurement invariance of the Appearance Schemas Inventory—Revised (ASI-R) and the Body Image Quality of Life Inventory (BIQLI), with a sample of 1,262 adults (422 men and 840 women) aged 18 to 98 years. For the ASI-R, all groups met requirements for configural and metric invariance. Scalar invariance was found only for the three age groups, which indicated that mean comparisons may be conducted across gender for young, middle-aged, and older adults but should not be conducted across age groups within either gender. Results for the BIQLI indicated that observed mean comparisons may be conducted across all age and gender groups.

Associations between social participation and subjective quality of life for adults with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury

Abstract Purpose: To examine the association between social participation and subjective quality of life (SQOL) for non-employed, community-dwelling adults with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) at 1 year or greater post-injury. Method: A correlational study was conducted involving 46 participants. Social participation was measured using the Community Integration Questionnaire, Social Provisions Scale and the Adult Subjective Assessment of Participation. SQOL was measured using the Quality of Life and Health Questionnaire, Abdel-Khalek Happiness Scale and UCLA Loneliness Scale. Results: Higher levels of happiness and global quality of life were each associated with higher levels of enjoyment, satisfaction with performance and higher proportion of activities performed with others. Lower levels of loneliness were associated with higher levels of general social integration and higher levels of perceived social supports. There were no associations found between SQOL and the objective social participation measures of diversity, frequency (intensity) or proportion of activities performed outside of home. Conclusions: Findings contribute to the TBI literature in showing that it is: (a) the more subjective and not objectively measured nature of participation that is associated with SQOL and (b) positive and negative aspects of quality of life show different relationships with social participation variables. Implications for Rehabilitation A high proportion of individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) experiences reduced involvement in social participation (involvement in social and leisure activities and within a social network) and low subjective quality of life (SQOL). This study suggests that, by simply increasing the variety and frequency of social and leisure activities, there may be no positive influences on SQOL. Instead, this study suggests that, to increase SQOL, it is important to increase opportunities for individuals to participate with others and also to enhance their subjective experience of social and leisure activities. The large variance obtained of scores for social participation and SQOL provide a reminder to clinicians to maintain an individualized approach when working with individuals with TBI.

Substance Use and Access to Health Care and Addiction Treatment among Homeless and Vulnerably Housed Persons in Three Canadian Cities

Introduction We examined the prevalence of substance use disorders among homeless and vulnerably housed persons in three Canadian cities and its association with unmet health care needs and access to addiction treatment using baseline data from the Health and Housing in Transition Study. Methods In 2009, 1191 homeless and vulnerably housed persons were recruited in Vancouver, Toronto, and Ottawa, Canada. Interviewer administered questionnaires collected data on socio-demographics, housing history, chronic health conditions, mental health diagnoses, problematic drug use (DAST-10≥6), problematic alcohol use (AUDIT≥20), unmet physical and mental health care needs, addiction treatment in the past 12 months. Three multiple logistic regression models were fit to examine the independent association of substance use with unmet physical health care need, unmet mental health care need, and addiction treatment. Results Substance use was highly prevalent, with over half (53%) screening positive for the DAST-10 and 38% screening positive for the AUDIT. Problematic drug use was 29%, problematic alcohol use was lower at 16% and 7% had both problematic drug and alcohol use. In multiple regression models for unmet need, we found that problematic drug use was independently associated with unmet physical (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.95; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.43–2.64) and unmet mental (AOR 3.06; 95% CI 2.17–4.30) health care needs. Problematic alcohol use was not associated with unmet health care needs. Among those with problematic substance use, problematic drug use was associated with a greater likelihood of accessing addiction treatment compared to those with problematic alcohol use alone (AOR 2.32; 95% CI 1.18–4.54). Conclusions Problematic drug use among homeless and vulnerably housed individuals was associated with having unmet health care needs and accessing addiction treatment. Strategies to provide comprehensive health services including addiction treatment should be developed and integrated within community supported models of care.

Rates of forgetting on three measures of verbal learning using retention intervals ranging from 20 min to 62 days.

Previous research has examined age effects in rates of forgetting at short delay intervals of 20-30 min. The present study examined age effects in three verbal memory tasks at longer delay intervals of up to 62 days. Study participants consisted of 371 community-dwelling men and women comprising three age groups 20-39, 40-59, and 60-79 years. Age differences in acquisition and 20-min delayed recall were found on each of the memory tasks (paragraph, word list, and word pairs). However, all age groups showed equivalent rates of forgetting after this short delay interval. When participants were required to retain information for longer delay intervals (i.e., 1-62 days), increasing age was associated with faster rates of forgetting for day 1, but not over longer delay intervals. Age differences in rates of forgetting for longer delay intervals and the facilitating effects of prompted recall are discussed in terms of encoding and storage versus retrieval processes.

Quality of life themes in Canadian adults and street youth who are homeless or hard-to-house: A multi-site focus group study

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to identify what is most important to the quality of life (QoL) of those who experience homelessness by directly soliciting the views of homeless and hard-to-house Canadians themselves. These individuals live within a unique social context that differs considerably from that of the general population. To understand the life areas that are most important to them, it is critical to have direct input from target populations of homeless and hard-to-house persons.MethodsFocus groups were conducted with 140 individuals aged 15 to 73 years who were homeless or hard-to-house to explore the circumstances in which they were living and to capture what they find to be important and relevant domains of QoL. Participants were recruited in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and Vancouver. Content analysis was used to analyze the data.ResultsSix major content themes emerged: Health/health care; Living conditions; Financial situation; Employment situation; Relationships; and Recreational and leisure activities. These themes were linked to broader concepts that included having choices, stability, respect, and the same rights as other members of society.ConclusionsThese findings not only aid our understanding of QoL in this group, but may be used to develop measures that capture QoL in this population and help programs and policies become more effective in improving the life situation for persons who are homeless and hard-to-house.Quality of life themes in Canadian adults and street youth who are homeless or hard-to-house: A multi-site focus group study.

A Comparison of Older Informal Caregivers and Non-Caregivers Living in Non-Metropolitan Areas

The primary purpose of this study was tocompare the quality of life, health, and socialsupport of caregivers and non-caregivers age 65or older. A secondary purpose was to examineage identity in these two groups. This samplewas taken from a large quality of life surveyof 875 individuals age 55 or older living incommunities in northern British Columbia,Canada (Michalos et al.,2001). We restricted our sample to (a)individuals 65 years or older because we wereparticularly interested in seniors, and (b)married individuals because preliminaryanalyses indicated that marital status was apotentially confounding variable in thecaregiver/non-caregiver comparisons. Thus, oursample consisted of 239 married,community-dwelling respondents ranging in agefrom 65 to 86 years, with an average age of71.8 years. Of these respondents, 48.5% werefemales and 26.4% were caregivers. Generallyspeaking, caregivers and non-caregivers werenot significantly different in terms of qualityof life, self-reported health, and most aspectsof social support and age identity. Seniors,whether they were caregivers or not, reportedpositive levels of quality of life and healthstatus. Caregivers and non-caregivers, however,did differ in terms of: (a) their satisfactionwith their romantic relationships, withcaregivers being less satisfied, and (b) theage they felt mentally with caregivers feelingslightly older mentally than non-caregivers.Thus, caregiver status alone does not appear toresult in lower levels of quality of life,poorer mental and physical health, lower levelsof social support, or older age identitiesoverall in older, married adults living innon-metropolitan areas.