This study examines the hypothesis that the outcome of the Eriksonian crisis of integrity vs. despair is dependent on successful coping with four developmental tasks: maintenance of active involvement, reevaluation of life satisfaction, developing a sense of health maintenance, and reevaluation of the sense of coherence (SOC). A selective sample…

With rising longevity, increasing numbers of older people are experiencing changes in their everyday family and social life, changes in their financial status, and a greater number of chronic conditions affecting their health. We took the opportunity to explore these relationships with worry in a group of volunteer community-living elderly (n =…

As aging is occurring at a rate never before seen in South Korea, the present study examines the predictors of mental health in a nationally representative sample of older adults (n = 4,155), drawn from Wave I of the Korean Longitudinal Study on Aging. Findings show that sociodemographic factors, chronic health conditions, level of cognition, and…

This study examined relationships between cognitive functioning in older people and (1) levels of mental, physical and social activities, and (2) intentions regarding maintenance of cognitive functioning. Participants (N = 145) were 70-91 years of age, varied in health status and socio-economic backgrounds. Current cognitive functioning was…

Develops a perspective for studying conversational behavior in geriatric institutions. Considers why conversation is a theoretically significant focus for communications researchers concerned with the aged and presents data from ethnographic studies of two nursing facilities. Data highlight the importance of conversational behavior for…

Examined social interaction and depression among 42 elderly persons. Found depression was negatively correlated with measure of quantity of social interaction entailing frequent conversations and positively correlated with having reciprocally intimate relationships. Findings suggest that depression in older adults is negatively related to having…

Analyzed national survey data to discern differences in the effects of widowhood on the well-being of older men and women. Data supported an overall decline in well-being of widowed persons, but a direct effect of widowhood was substantial only for the negative dimension of the well-being of women. (Author/RC)

Preretirees displayed the least work satisfaction, preferred a lower retirement age, and manifested simultaneous positive attitudes toward retirees and their gatherings. Early retirees had negative attitudes toward work and retirement. Working retirees were the most work-oriented while fully retired persons were retirement-oriented and negative…

Analyzed interprofessional agreements (N=26) between nurses and social workers when rating older patients on their physical self-maintenance abilities, mental status, and dispositions to social interaction with other residents of a home for the aged. Findngs showed significant intercorrelations of physical self-maintenance abilities and mental…