Analyzes women (n=6) whose husbands reside in nursing homes, determining the extent to which these women perceive themselves as married. Some women perceive no existing couplehood with their institutionalized husbands, while others perceive low to high couplehood. Offers implications of such a typology for researchers, clinicians, and…

Infantilization was investigated in a sample of elderly adults, both community residents (n=18) and residents of institutions (n=17). Community residents were more negative in their ratings of infantilizing speech content and intonation, and appeared particularly resentful of infantilizing speech intonation of the dimension of respect. (JPS)

Examined burnout among nursing assistants (n=245). Found that both stressor and appraisal variables influenced feelings of burnout. Stressor variable, frequency of disturbing patient behaviors, best explained feelings of reduced Personal Accomplishment. Appraisal variable, reaction to patient behaviors, best explained Emotional Exhaustion. Found…

Gathered essays from 53 elderly nursing home residents about the strongest meaning in their lives. Most reported family relationships as central, followed by pleasure, and then health. Analysis showed significant differences between residents' and younger adults' types of meaning. Residents did not reveal an absence of meaning in their lives. (RJM)

Examined the effects on veteran and novice participants of a life review program for nursing home residents with Alzheimers disease or severe cognitive dysfunction. Results confirm the impact of the Life Review Program on level of disorientation, social interaction, and life review. Evidence suggests that life improvements may be stored in memory…

Study utilizing self-determination theory (which poses four types of motivation: intrinsic, self-determined extrinsic, nonself-determined extrinsic, and amotivation) postulates varying consequences for adaptation and well-being. Finds the four types of motivation could be reliably measured and that intercorrelations between them were consistent…