Kate M. Bennett

Old and alone: barriers to healthy eating in older men living on their own

Ageing is associated with reduced energy intake and loss of appetite. Older men tend to have poorer dietary intakes including consumption of fewer fruits and vegetables in comparison to older women. Living and eating alone further diminishes food consumption and dietary quality. The aim of the present study was to explore food choice and energy intake in older men living alone using both quantitative and qualitative methods. 39 older men were interviewed and completed questionnaires on health, food choice, dietary patterns and appetite. Few men managed to consume recommended levels of energy, essential trace elements or vitamins A and D. Age and BMI failed to predict patterns of intake, but men with good cooking skills reported better physical health and higher intake of vegetables. However, cooking skills were negatively correlated with energy intake. Men who managed to consume at least 4 portions of fruits and vegetables each day had significantly higher vitamin C levels, a greater percentage of energy as protein and generally more adequate diets. Interviews revealed that poor cooking skills and low motivation to change eating habits may constitute barriers to improving energy intake, healthy eating and appetite in older men (193).

Internalization of the Ultra-Thin Ideal: Positive Implicit Associations with Underweight Fashion Models are Associated with Drive for Thinness in Young Women

This study examined whether young women who make implicit associations between underweight models and positive attributes report elevated eating disorder symptoms. Ninety nine female undergraduates completed a weight based implicit association test (IAT) and self report measures of body dissatisfaction, thin-ideal internalization and eating disorder symptoms. IAT scores were associated with drive for thinness (r  =  −0.26, p < 0.05). This relationship was moderated by attitude importance. The relationship between drive for thinness and IAT scores was stronger (r = 0.34; p < 0.02) in participants who report that the media is an important source of information about fashion and being attractive. The IAT used in the current study is sensitive enough to discriminate between participants on drive for thinness. Women who have developed cognitive schemas that associate being underweight with positive attributes report higher eating disorder symptoms. Attitude importance is highlighted as a key construct in thin ideal internalization.

Narratives of death: a qualitative study of widowhood in later life

In this paper, we examine the descriptions given by women of the deaths of their husbands. Almost all the women gave elaborate narratives of the events that led up to their husbands death and of the death itself. These show that they identified earlier events as contributory factors in their husbands death and in the emotional impact upon them. They also show the detail with which these women recall their actions during this difficult time. The length of these accounts often contrasts with the remainder of the interview, where there are much shorter conversational turns. It is suggested that the events are shaped into narrative form because they are frequently mentally rehearsed. Two reasons for this are proposed. First, remembering these events is a goal in itself. Preserving the memory of these events is important both for the widows themselves and as a demonstration of respect for their husbands. Second, the narrative shape, and the attendant fluency, may be the result of relating the events on many occasions to other people. Elsewhere in the interviews, the widows speak of the need to recount these events, and talk about them, as a means of coping and surviving. This paper presents some of these ‘death narratives’ and discusses the implications of the research.

Coping, depressive feelings and gender differences in late life widowhood.

The study investigated the relationship between depressive feelings and coping amongst older widowed men and women. Participants were interviewed about their affective experiences of widowhood and completed two depression questionnaire assessments, the Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression Scale (SAD) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Participants were assessed as either coping or not coping. The results showed that both measures were effective at differentiating those who coped (Copers) from those who did not (Non-Copers) in the sample as a whole. Amongst the widows the HADS significantly differentiated the two groups. Amongst men, neither measure significantly distinguished Copers from Non-Copers. However, an examination of the interviews suggested that widowers reported depressive feelings significantly more often than widows. The results suggest that depressive feelings are associated with non-coping in older widowed people. There is also evidence to suggest that widows and widowers respond differentially to assessment measures.

Longitudinal changes in mental and physical health among elderly, recently widowed men

Mental and physical health, morale and social functioning were assessed in a sample of elderly men widowed during the course of a longitudinal study. Measures were taken before these men were widowed, and then re-measured four years later, after they had been widowed. They were compared with a sample of age-matched still-married controls. There were no significant differences as a result of either marital status or time for mental health, morale or social functioning. However, there were significant interactions between time and marital status for these variables. Those men who had recently become widowed showed declines in mental health, morale and social functioning. Physical health showed a significant difference for time alone, with both the widowed and still-married men showing declines in physical health over the four year period. The results confirm earlier findings which indicate that mens mental health and morale is affected by widowhood. They also show that men reduce their participation in soc...

Widowhood in elderly women: The medium- and long-term effects on mental and physical health

Bereavement in late life amongst women is a high-probability life event. Although several studies have examined the relative short-term effects (e.g. up to 12 months post- bereavement), research into the longer-term psychological effects of widowhood amongst this group has not been extensive. This paper aims to examine the research into the medium- and long-term effects of widowhood. It will also address, briefly, a number of methodological issues. The paper argues that the effects of bereavement on older women may be more profound than has previously been recognized. There appear to be effects on both mental health and morale which continue to have an impact several years following the loss. In contrast, the effects of widowhood appear to leave physical health and social participation unchanged. The effect of ageing itself, however, introduces change in mental and physical health, and social partici- pation. There are also effects of living alone, in addition to the effects of widowhood per se.

Does marital status and marital status change predict physical health in older adults

BACKGROUND Evidence for the effects of marital status and marital status change on physical health is equivocal. METHOD Structural equation models examined whether marital status predicted physical health. Six groups were examined simultaneously: married (M); widowed (W); divorced (D); never married (NM); newly widowed (NW); and newly divorced (ND). There were four annual measures (T1-T4). Both NW and ND were married at T1, but had lost their partners by T2. Four physical health variables were examined: Problems, Limitations, Service use, and Self-rated health (SRH). Age and gender were included. RESULTS Previous health predicted future for all measures and for all groups. However, the specific strengths and time-courses varied between marital status groups and between health measures. The most marked patterns were associated with marital status change. Service use was influenced most strongly by NW, whilst Limitations was influenced by ND. Problems distinguished NW and ND from stable marital status groups but also from each other. SRH was influenced by W and not by recent marital status change. The effects of age and gender were modest and restricted to specific health variables and specific marital statuses. CONCLUSIONS The results demonstrate that marital status and marital status change, in particular, influence health longitudinally. The impact of a change to divorced or to widowed status is not the same. No two health variables responded in the same way, suggesting that marital status has a differential effect on health.

A Qualitative Exploration of Young Women’s Attitudes towards the Thin Ideal

The thin ideal has been identified as playing a central role in female body dissatisfaction. However, research into idealization of thinness in young women tends to focus on quantitative measures that can mask the complexity of attitudes and experiences. This article describes a series of focus groups with 41 females aged 16—26 and explores the multifaceted relationship young women have with the thin ideal. Thematic qualitative analysis revealed differences between individuals in the construct of the thin ideal and explored the conflict and ambivalence experienced by young women who are confronted by these ideals on a daily basis.

How to achieve resilience as an older widower: turning points or gradual change ?

ABSTRACT The paper draws together two conceptualisations of resilience in bereavement and widowhood that were developed by Bonanno (2004) and Moore and Stratton (2003), both using North American data. This paper has re-examined data from two United Kingdom studies of widowerhood. Among an aggregate sample of 60 widowers, 38 per cent showed resilience in the face of the exacting challenges that late-life widowhood brings. Resilient men were seen as having a positively viewed biography, were participating in relationships and activities, and had returned to a life that had meaning and brought satisfaction. Four broad categories among the resilient widowers were identified. The first had been resilient consistently throughout their widowhood. The second group achieved resilience gradually, and the third following a turning point. Finally, a small group of men demonstrated both gradual and turning point pathways towards resilience. Personal characteristics had been particularly influential for those in the first group, while for the last group, social support had made an important contribution to achieving resilience and had two forms: informal and formal. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications of the differentiation of resilience for adaptation to bereavement amongst older men.

The internal structure of the eating disorder inventory

The Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI; Garner, Olmsted, & Polivy, 1983) is used as a screening instrument for identifying potential anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. It comprises eight subscales: Bulimia, Drive for Thinness, Body Dissatisfaction, Maturity Fears, Introceptive Awareness, Perfectionism, Interpersonal Distrust, and Ineffectiveness. We examined the internal structure of the EDI using a principle components factor analysis, for a sample of women with no known eating disorder. The results of the factor analyses showed differences between the extracted factors and Garner et al.s subscales. Seven factors were extracted, accounting for 60.8% of the variance. The first factor accounted for 33.5% of the variance. The analysis indicated that items factored along positive-negative and factual-emotional lines. We conclude that at present there is not enough evidence to support the efficacy of the subscale structure with women who are not known to have eating disorders.