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Psychological Health and Social Wellbeing among Older Adults
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Psychological Health and Social Wellbeing among Older Adults

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2024 | Viewed by 3995

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Doreen Wing Han Au

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Nursing and Health Studies, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Interests: ageing; mental health; integrative and complementary medicine; health economics; health and healthcare policy; technology impact analysis, and digital game-based learning

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The current global demographic transition is characterized by a significant rise in the proportion of older individuals within the population.  This demographic shift holds significant implications for the development of a "wellbeing economy", particularly with respect to the psychological health and social wellbeing of older adults.

To further comprehend and measure these aspects of wellbeing, innovative measures and approaches are necessary. Such developments have significant implications for reviewing the internationally agreed development objectives, including those featured in the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA) and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

We welcome contributions that explore various aspects of Psychological Health and Social Wellbeing among Older Adults. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Theoretical frameworks for integrating the concept of psychological health and social wellbeing;
  • Novel assessment tools or the validation of existing ones in order to evaluate living conditions and arrangements, productive and other contributions to society, social protection, and healthcare needs;
  • Innovative interventions to promote psychological health and social engagement and wellbeing in later life;
  • The role of technology in enhancing Psychological Health and Social Wellbeing among Older Adults;
  • The environmental impact on the psychological health and social wellbeing of older adults and their caregivers;
  • The cultural and societal factors that influence psychological health and social wellbeing during the later stages of life.

Submissions from diverse academic disciplines, such as psychology, sociology, gerontology, social work, environmental health, health economics and public health, are encouraged. Original research articles, reviews, meta-analyses, and theoretical papers are all welcome.

Dr. Doreen Wing Han Au
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • ageing 
  • psychological health
  • social wellbeing
  • gerontechnology
  • environmental health
  • health economics

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 1396 KiB  
Article
An International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health Model-Based Analysis of Suicidal Ideation among 9920 Community-Dwelling Korean Older Adults
by Haewon Byeon
Healthcare 2024, 12(5), 538; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12050538 - 23 Feb 2024
Viewed by 864
Abstract
Background: Many complex factors contribute to suicide in older adults. The suicidal ideation that precedes suicide is an especially direct predictor of suicide. This study aimed to identify the effects between variables affecting suicidal ideation among older adults using the International Classification of [...] Read more.
Background: Many complex factors contribute to suicide in older adults. The suicidal ideation that precedes suicide is an especially direct predictor of suicide. This study aimed to identify the effects between variables affecting suicidal ideation among older adults using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) model and understand the causal relationships to systematize complex factors. Methods: This study used data from 9920 community-dwelling older adults who completed a national survey in 2020 to classify predictors of suicidal ideation (e.g., depression, subjective health status, sociodemographic factors, health factors, social support, instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), and social participation) by using the ICF model. To determine the causal relationship between variables, this study examined significance based on the critical ratio (C.R.) and squared multiple correlation (SMC) by using a path model. Results: Gender, education level, economic level, age, IADL, relationship satisfaction with a child, depression, and the number of chronic diseases significantly affected suicidal ideation, while age, employment status, participation in social groups, formal and informal support, satisfaction with a friend/neighbor relationship, and subjective health status did not significantly influence it. Moreover, depression mediated the relationship between each of these variables and suicidal ideation. Conclusions: It was found that depression was the most direct and mediating factor in suicidal ideation among many factors affecting the suicidal ideation of community-dwelling older adults. Additional studies should be conducted to develop community-level strategies based on these factors and understand causal relationships. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychological Health and Social Wellbeing among Older Adults)
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12 pages, 230 KiB  
Article
Purposes of Internet Use and Its Impacts on Physical and Psychological Health of Korean Older Adults
by Gyeong-Suk Jeon and Kyungwon Choi
Healthcare 2024, 12(2), 244; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12020244 - 18 Jan 2024
Viewed by 1330
Abstract
Older adults engage in online activities for various purposes. An increasing number of studies are establishing connections between the purposes of internet use and their impacts on health outcomes. This study aimed to examine how the purposes of internet use affect self-rated health [...] Read more.
Older adults engage in online activities for various purposes. An increasing number of studies are establishing connections between the purposes of internet use and their impacts on health outcomes. This study aimed to examine how the purposes of internet use affect self-rated health and depressive symptoms among Korean older adults. A nationally representative survey of community-dwelling older adults in Korea was used in the analysis (n = 5094). Instrumental internet use (using the internet to access various forms of information, services, and other resources) in Korean older adults was as common as interpersonal communication use, and the purposes of internet use were mainly for information seeking for everyday needs and engaging in various activities for enjoyment. Internet use for interpersonal communication and instrumental purposes was significantly associated with depressive symptoms and self-rated health. Internet use for instrumental purposes had a greater impact on self-rated health (β = −0.186) and depressive symptoms (β = −0.160) compared with the impacts of interpersonal communication internet use on self-rated health (β = −0.101) and depressive symptoms (β = −0.047). The findings highlighted the necessity of designing interventions that take into account the different purposes of internet use for older adults in order to maximize its benefits, paying special emphasis for information seeking online. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychological Health and Social Wellbeing among Older Adults)
10 pages, 259 KiB  
Article
A Study on the Longitudinal Relationship between Changes in Depression and Cognitive Function among Older Adults Living Alone
by Soyoung Park, Kyuhyoung Jeong and Seoyoon Lee
Healthcare 2023, 11(20), 2712; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11202712 - 11 Oct 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1257
Abstract
Background: As South Korea faces unprecedented population aging, this longitudinal study examined the relationship between depression and cognitive function changes in older individuals living alone. Methods: The study used data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA). A total of 1354 participants [...] Read more.
Background: As South Korea faces unprecedented population aging, this longitudinal study examined the relationship between depression and cognitive function changes in older individuals living alone. Methods: The study used data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA). A total of 1354 participants with data available over a period of at least three years, from 2016 (wave 1) to 2020 (wave 8), were included, and latent growth modeling (LGM) was used for analysis. Results: Depression levels increased gradually among older individuals living alone and cognitive function declined over time among older adults living alone. Moreover, higher initial depression levels were associated with lower initial cognitive function levels and a more rapid cognitive decline over time. Therefore, it is imperative that depression be addressed as a potential cause of cognitive impairment and dementia. Furthermore, rapid increases in depression corresponded to rapid declines in cognitive function, indicating the need for continuous monitoring and intervention in cases of escalating depression, as it may negatively affect cognitive abilities. Conclusions: These findings highlight the complex interplay between depression and cognitive function among older individuals living alone. Policy support to encourage participation in these programs is crucial to enhance the well-being of this vulnerable population. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychological Health and Social Wellbeing among Older Adults)
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Planned Papers

The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.

Title: Understanding the Well-being of Residents in Chinese Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) – A Case of Shanghai
Authors: Xuechun Wang1*, Bo Xia2, Martin Skitmore3, Kristy Volz4, Xiaodong Hu5
Affiliation: 1*Xuechun Wang, PhD Student, School of Architecture and Built Environment, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane QLD 4001, Australia. Email: [email protected] 2Bo Xia, Associate Professor, School of Architecture and Built Environment, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane QLD 4001, Australia. Email: [email protected] ORCID: 0000-0001-7694-4743. 4Martin Skitmore, University Professorial Fellow, Faculty of Society and Design, Bond University, Robina QLD 4226, Australia, Email: [email protected] ORCID: 0000-0001-7135-1201. 4Kristy Volz, Senior Lecturer, School of Architecture and Built Environment, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane QLD 4001, Australia. Email: [email protected] ORCID: 0000-0001-5787-6845. 5Xiaodong Hu, PhD Student, School of Civil Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410083, China. Email: [email protected]
Abstract: A B S T R A C T The study aims to assess how well residents in Chinese Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) are faring in terms of their psychological and physical health, considering China’s aging population and changing societal structures. It uses a mixed-methods approach, including a literature review, a survey, and data analysis, to understand residents’ experiences and perceptions and identify suitable measures of well-being across various psychological and physical health areas. The results show that, while Chinese CCRCs can enhance residents’ well-being through personalized care and social activities, challenges such as psychological distress and declining physical health remain. Demographic factors including living situation and length of stay also affect residents’ well-being. The study emphasizes the importance of ongoing research and evaluation to guide evidence-based practices and improve CCRCs continuously. Overall, it offers a comprehensive analysis of the well-being of Chinese CCRC residents, shedding light on both psychological and physical health aspects and providing valuable insights for enhancing CCRC design, implementation, and evaluation in China and elsewhere.

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