Examines patterns of religious behavior and participation of older adults in five areas: social profile of religious participation; profile of patterns of religious behavior of elderly; effects of age, period, and cohort on socialization to religious practice; meaning and role of organized religion for older adults; and implications for future…

Research has consistently shown that among the non-institutionalized elderly, prevalence rates of heavy alcohol use and problem drinking are relatively small in comparison to younger age groups. This study examines how maximum annual alcohol consumption and problem drinking change as a concomitant of the aging process. This study of alcohol-use…

Compared nocturnal sleep structure of 10 healthy elderly nuns to that of 10 healthy age-matched female controls. The nuns fell asleep more quickly and had less early morning awakening, as well as greater rapid eye movement sleep time. These differences may reflect the more highly entrained life style of the nuns, including modest habitual sleep…

Examines age-related changing levels of voting turnout across time at the individual level, using the University of Michigan Survey Research Center panel studies. Demonstrated that older people do not differ substantially from other age groups in the durability of their voting behavior across time. (JAC)

A descriptive analysis of official statistics of completed and attempted suicides of the Jewish elderly in Israel disclosed patterns somewhat different from those known in Western industrial societies. (Author)

Attempts to replicate research on the activity theory of aging. Behaviorally based activity scales were drawn from daily activity inventories of residents of three retirement communities. Findings support the activity theory. Informal activities had the most positive affect on respondents' life satisfaction. (Author/JAC)

Tested three hypotheses focusing on the role of religion in the personal adjustment of older age cohorts. Examined life satisfaction as it relates to age, physical disabilities, and church attendance. Results of interviews with 1,170 older adults suggested physical disabilities may explain decline in church attendance with age. (RC)

Investigated whether the coping framework developed with younger adults with schizophrenia could be applied to people over 50 with schizophrenia. Results indicated that coping strategies used by older people were similar to those of younger populations. However, it was reported that efficacy of coping strategies had increased as participants had…

Describes the Manitoba Longitudinal Study on Aging 1970-77 and discusses its relative potential in investigating the health and health care use behaviors of older persons. Data indicate that a person's utilization behaviors appear to remain consistent over time. (Author/RC)

Research on personality and aging has been limited by several factors, including nomethetic assumptions about traits; overreliance on morale scales as measures of adaptation; and the confounding of cohort, time of measurement and age effects. An idiographic approach, which focuses on traits that individuals subjectively feel as important, may help…

Investigated the relationship between aging and church attendance, religiosity, and prayer in a longitudinal study of 338 older Mexican Americans and Anglos. Results showed church attendance and prayer remained stable over time; religiosity increased somewhat. Only church attendance showed a significant effect on life satisfaction, particularly…

Many older adults react to old age with empirically identified distinguishable mannerisms. Using these mannerisms, or behavior patterns, as a basis for rapport, gerontologists can: (1) uncover causes of adjustment problems; (2) assess seriousness of problems; and (3) implement counseling suggestions. (Author/JAC)

Adaptive behavior skills of 2,144 adults with Down syndrome, aged 20-69 years, were compared to those of other developmentally disabled people. In all behavioral domains and at all levels of mental retardation, individuals with Down syndrome displayed significantly more age-related deficits than did age-matched controls. (Author/DB)

Two studies examined loneliness in older adults (N=177). Loneliness was found to be related to poor psychological adjustment and to dissatisfaction with family and social relationships. It was also related to fears, expectations, and personality characteristics likely to inhibit the restoration of personal support networks after a stressful life…

Men and women continue to be physiologically capable of sexual functioning throughout old age, although interest in and actual sexual activity decline with age in most older persons. Older men are more interested in sex and more active sexually than older women. (Author)