Steven E. Mock

Aging attitudes moderate the effect of subjective age on psychological well-being: evidence from a 10-year longitudinal study.

Older subjective age is often associated with lower psychological well-being among middle-aged and older adults. We hypothesize that attitudes toward aging moderate this relationship; specifically, feeling older will predict lower well-being among those with less favorable attitudes toward aging but not those with more favorable aging attitudes. We tested this with longitudinal data from the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States-II assessing subjective age and psychological well-being over 10 years. As hypothesized older subjective age predicted lower life satisfaction and higher negative affect when aging attitudes were less favorable but not when aging attitudes were more favorable. Implications and future research directions are discussed.

Idealizing Parenthood to Rationalize Parental Investments

Although raising children has largely negative effects on parents’ emotional well-being, parenthood is often idealized as a uniquely emotionally rewarding role. We tested the hypothesis that belief in myths idealizing parenthood helps parents cope with the dissonance aroused by the high financial cost of raising children. In Study 1, parents endorsed the idealization of parenthood more when only the costs of parenting were made salient than when both the costs of parenting and the long-term benefits of having children were made salient. When dissonant feelings were measured before idealization of parenthood, these feelings mediated the influence of the salient information on idealization of parenthood. In Study 2, participants reported greater enjoyment of the time they spent with their children and intended to spend more leisure time with their children when only parenting costs were made salient than when the long-term benefits of having children were also made salient (or when no costs or benefits of having children were made salient). We discuss the implications of our results for parental-investment theory and for the propagation of myths idealizing parenthood.

An Examination of Family Caregiver Experiences during Care Transitions of Older Adults

Cette étude a examiné les expériences informelles des aidants familiaux en soutenant les transitions de soins entre l’hôpital et la maison pour les adultes âgés avec des conditions médicales complexes. En utilisant une approche basée sur la théorie ancrée qualitative, une série d’entretiens semi-structurés a été realisée avec la communauté et des gestionnaires de cas et de ressources, ainsi qu’avec des aidants naturels de patients âgés souffrant de fractures de la hanche et des accidents vasculaires cérébraux et ceux qui se remettaient d’une chirurgie pour remplacement de la hanche. Six propriétés qui caractérisent les besoins des aidants naturels de fournir des soins de transition entre l’hôpital et la maison avec succès ont été intégrées dans une théorie qui adressent (1) l’horaire des soins transitoires et (2) le passage émotionnel. Ces six propriétés comprennent : (1) l’évaluation des situations familiales; (2) des informations sur les pratiques; (3) l’éducation et la formation; (4) l’accord entre les aidants officiels et informels; (5) le temps de prendre des dispositions pour la vie personnelle, et (6) la préparation affective et émotionelle. Cette étude soutiendra le développement d’interventions mieux informées et plus pertinentes, qui offrent le soutien le plus approprié pour les patients et leurs familles pendant les soins de transition.This study explored informal family caregiver experiences in supporting care transitions between hospital and home for medically complex older adults. Using a qualitative, grounded-theory approach, in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with community and resource case managers, as well as with informal caregivers of older hip-fracture and stroke patients, and of those recovering from hip replacement surgery. Six properties characterizing caregiver needs in successfully transitioning care between hospital and home were integrated into a theory addressing both a transitional care timeline and the emotional journey. The six properties were (1) assessment of unique family situation; (2) practical information, education, and training; (3) involvement in planning process; (4) agreement between formal and informal caregivers; (5) time to make arrangements in personal life; and (6) emotional readiness. This work will support research and clinical efforts to develop more well-informed and relevant interventions to most appropriately support patients and families during transitional care.

Childhood trauma and chronic illness in adulthood: mental health and socioeconomic status as explanatory factors and buffers

Experiences of traumatic events in childhood have been shown to have long-term consequences for health in adulthood. With data from the 2005 Canadian Community Health Survey we take a life course perspective of cumulative disadvantage and examine the potential role of mental health and socioeconomic status in adulthood as multiple mediators of the link between childhood trauma and chronic illness in adulthood. Mental health and socioeconomic status are also tested as buffers against the typically adverse consequences of childhood trauma. The results suggest mental health and socioeconomic status partially explain the association of childhood trauma with chronic illness in adulthood, with mental health showing a stronger effect. In addition, an analysis of the interactions suggested higher socioeconomic status is a potential protective factor for those with a history of trauma. Results also suggest cumulative disadvantage following trauma may lead to chronic illness and suggest the need for public health expenditures on resources such as counseling and income supports to prevent or reduce psychological harm and chronic illness resulting from traumatic events.

Sense making and benefit finding among patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and their primary caregivers.

The associations of sense making and benefit finding with depressive symptoms were examined among patient and caregiver pairs coping with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Benefit finding, but not sense making, was associated with fewer depressive symptoms for both patients and caregivers. Patient and caregiver pairs where neither found benefit had more depressive symptoms compared to pairs where at least one member found benefit. Patients cited benefits related to relationships and caregivers were more likely to cite finding personal strength as a benefit. Results suggest situational constraints to making sense and on the kinds of benefit that can be found.

Impact of patient suffering on caregiver well-being: The case of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients and their caregivers

The impact of patient suffering on family caregivers is an understudied but important topic. This study of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and their caregivers examined the associations of two components of patient suffering: patient physical symptoms, and mental distress, as well as the patients support for the caregiver, with caregiver well-being. The sample consisted of 52 patients with ALS and their caregivers. Patients and caregivers each completed a structured survey assessing multiple domains including demographics, health, and well-being. Specifically, patients rated their own physical symptoms and mental distress. Caregivers rated their own daily affect, and the extent to which they perceived the patient as supportive. Caregivers also reported whether or not they had found any benefit in dealing with the patients illness. Regression analyses yielded significant associations of patient distress with caregiver negative affect; patient support was associated with greater caregiver positive affect, and patient symptoms and support were associated with greater likelihood of caregiver benefit finding. There was a significant two-way interaction of patient symptoms by support, namely, benefit finding was not only more likely with greater physical suffering and patient support, but it was also the case that caregivers who perceived the care recipient as unsupportive could only find benefit when this person experienced intense physical suffering. Support interventions for ALS patients and their caregivers should devote particular attention to how caregivers may be affected by witnessing their loved ones sufferings, as well as identify and address challenges in support exchanges between caregivers and patients.

Deeper leisure involvement as a coping resource in a stigmatized leisure context.

Although leisure involvement can be a resource for coping with stigmatization, some forms of leisure are themselves stigmatized. One such stigmatized leisure context is the furry fandom, a diverse group of people that create anthropomorphic animal identities. Drawing on the minority stress model and symbolic self-completion theory, we examined survey responses of 3473 members of online furry communities. Greater involvement in the furry community was associated with higher levels of well-being. This association was statistically explained by greater disclosure of furry identity and an indirect path through feelings of self-acceptance and affiliation with the furry fandom linked to greater disclosure of furry identity. Results suggest how deeper leisure involvement helps to counteract minority stress and cope with a stigmatized leisure identity.

Highway to health? Commute time and well-being among Canadian adults

This paper examines commute time, time spent in activities benefical to well-being, and the relationship to self-assessed well-being. Using cross-sectional data from the 2010 Canadian General Social Survey, Cycle 24, time use patterns and feelings of well-being are assessed for a subsample of 3409 men and women who regularly commute to work by car. Drawing upon a resource drain model, daily activities known to affect well-being were selected for analysis, and well-being was measured by life satisfaction and time pressure. Time spent commuting is associated with lower levels of life satisfaction and an increased sense of time pressure. Reduced time for physically active leisure and experiences of traffic congestion mediate the association of commute time with well-being, consistent with a resource drain model. Results suggest workplace practices aimed at increasing opportunities for physical activity and government-led efforts towards more integrated solutions to reduce traffic congestion may help increase well-being.

Physical leisure participation and the well-being of adults with rheumatoid arthritis: the role of sense of belonging.

Participation in physical leisure activities was tested as a coping resource among adults with rheumatoid arthritis. Drawing on sociological theory of social integration, sense of belonging was tested as a potential mediator to help explain any significant association found between physical leisure activity and well-being among a population-based sample of adults with rheumatoid arthritis. Greater frequency of physical leisure participation was associated with higher ratings of mental health and physical health, and these associations were partially explained by sense of belonging. Results highlight the potential role of sense of belonging as a component in how activity participation can enhance the well-being of adults coping with disability.

Gay and Bisexual Men’s Disclosure of Sexual Orientation in the Workplace: Associations With Retirement Planning

This study examined the retirement financial planning of gay and bisexual men. Unlike heterosexual adults, gay and bisexual men must consider the costs and benefits of disclosing sexual identity in the workplace. Concealing sexual identity tends to diminish the appeal of the workplace and thus may increase motivation to plan for life beyond work. Analyses showed that the more participants concealed sexual orientation, the more they engaged in retirement financial planning. The results suggest that the retirement planning of gay and bisexual men is shaped by some of the typical factors established in previous research and also by their unique experience regarding sexual identity disclosure. The potential impact of concealing sexual identity on the motivation to plan for retirement is discussed.