Aging & mental health
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Aging & mental health · Jan 2015
Incongruence between stroke survivor and spouse perceptions of survivor functioning and effects on spouse mental health: a mixed-methods pilot study.
This pilot study investigated stroke survivors' and caregiving spouses' individual perspectives on survivor cognitive and physical functioning and the extent to which incongruence between partners' perceptions affects spouse depressive symptoms and overall mental health. ⋯ Partner incongruence has an impact on spouse depressive symptoms and overall mental health. Interventions targeted at survivor-spouse dyads and focused on improving communication between partners about survivor abilities may be effective for improving the mental health of spousal caregivers.
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Aging & mental health · Jan 2015
The stability of coping strategies in older adults with osteoarthritis and the ability of these strategies to predict changes in depression, disability, and pain.
Given the chronically painful, incurable nature of osteoarthritis, effective cognitive and behavioral coping strategies may be critical for older adults with the disease. Little is known about how and why coping changes over time, nor about stability of coping strategies in persons with osteoarthritis. The aims of this work were to examine the structure of coping in older adults with osteoarthritis, the association of coping strategies with well-being, the stability of coping over time, and its association with changes in well-being over the same period. ⋯ Changes in coping style predicts future well-being; however, coping remains malleable with age and maladaptive strategies can be effectively targeted. Greater knowledge of the utility or maladaptive nature of a given strategy may help guide decisions about interventions for patients with osteoarthritis and encourage more adaptive coping styles.
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In many countries veterans from World War II are growing old. Research has shown that war experiences continue to impact those who have been involved in war for a long time. The present study targets old injured war veterans from World War II in Finland. The aim of this study was to produce knowledge of the impact of war experiences and injuries on the lifespan of Finnish war veterans. ⋯ The war overshadowed the whole lifespan of the veterans, but in old age they finally felt free. Since war experiences vary depending on historical context, a formal theory would require additional research.