There are positive correlations between subjective health reports and episodic memory performance in older adults. However, previous studies have not evaluated the scope of such complex relationships, nor the potentially nonlinear magnitude of these correlations across age and time. We employed multiple subjective heath indices to evaluate the scope and nonlinearity of such relationships with memory

Age-related differences in cognition are typically assessed by comparing groups of older to younger participants, but little is known about the continuous trajectory of cognitive changes across age, or when a shift to older adulthood occurs. We examined the pattern of mean age differences and variability on episodic memory and executive function measures over the adult lifespan, in a more fine-grained

To examine distributional effects of the 2008 recession and subsequent recovery across generational cohorts.

Abstract ObjectivesPrevious literature suggests age-related increases in prosociality. Does such an age-prosociality relationship occur during the COVID-19 pandemic, or might the pandemic—as a stressor that may differently influence young and older adults— create a boundary condition on the relationship? If so, can empathy, a well-known prosocial disposition, explain the age-prosociality relationship

Abstract ObjectivesWidowhood is a stressful life event with one of the most profound negative effects on health and longevity. Immigrant populations are growing and aging throughout Western nations, and marginalization and cultural differences may make some immigrants especially vulnerable to the stressors of widowhood. However, studies have yet to systematically explore whether the widowhood effect

Divorce is now widespread in later life, yet little is known about how older adults and their adult children respond in the aftermath of gray divorce. Guided by the life course perspective, this study examines the consequences of gray divorce and subsequent repartnering for parent-adult child relationships from the parent’s perspective.

We drew on fundamental cause theory and the weathering hypothesis to examine how discrimination influences aging for midlife and older adults in Canada.

The present research used a continuous measurement approach to extend evidence that autism is associated with significant struggles in physical health as well as mental health and psychological well-being.

Theoretical and empirical evidence suggests the existence of a general perceived stress factor overarching different life domains. The present study investigated the general perceived stress relative to domain-specific perceived stress as predictors of 26 diverse health outcomes, including mental and physical health, health behaviors, cognitive functioning, and physiological indicators of health.

Abstract OBJECTIVESThis study describes living arrangement-specific life expectancy for older Americans with and without children, by sex and race/ethnicity. METHODSWe use life tables from the Human Mortality Database and data from the Health and Retirement Study over a 17 -year period (2000-2016) to calculate living arrangement-specific life expectancy at age 65 using Sullivan’s method. Results describe

Abstract ObjectivesCatastrophic health expenditure (CHE) has considerable effects on household living standards, but little is known regarding the relationships between CHE and people’s mental health. Using China as an example, this study examines the association between CHE and mental health and investigates whether the association differs between those with and without social health insurance (SHI)

Building on the seminal definition of “healthy aging” by the World Health Organization (WHO, 2015; 2020), we present a model of motivation and healthy aging that is aimed at identifying the central psychological constructs and processes for understanding what older persons value, and how they can attain and maintain these valued aspects of their lives. This model places goals at its center, and then

AbstractThis article highlights key health issues, contemporary research topics, and opportunities for advancing aging research with sexual and gender minority (SGM) older adults, or individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, non-binary, or who exhibit attractions and behaviors that do not align with heterosexual or traditional gender norms. Using

With age, decision makers rely more on heuristic and affect-based processing. However, age differences have not been quantified with respect to the affect heuristic which derives judgments based on positive and negative feelings towards stimuli and concepts. The present study examined whether reliance on the affect heuristic is associated with age, whether these patterns vary by task type, and which

Older versus younger adults are at greater risk from COVID-19, but descriptive data show they are less likely to seek out related information in the media, although underlying mechanisms remain unclear.

Although researchers have linked intergenerational emotional cohesion (IEC) to psychological well-being (PWB) among older adults, the mechanisms and conditions under which IEC is related to PWB—particularly in rural areas—are less well understood. This study analyzed data from rural China to examine whether loneliness mediated the relation between IEC and PWB, and whether friendship ties moderated

Uncertainty about receiving care and assistance in the future has been increasing among older adults in Korea. This study examines whether expectations about receiving care from various sources (i.e., formal and/or filial caregivers) are related to life satisfaction among older adults in Korea.

Our goal was to extend research on within-family differences in mother-child relations in later-life by focusing on two social structural characteristics of mothers and offspring that may play important roles in shaping the impact of maternal favoritism on adult children’s depressive symptoms—mother’s marital status and child’s gender.

This research tested whether performing an action themselves leads young and older adults to false memory for having seen that action performed by another person. It also tested whether observing another person perform an action leads to false memory for self-performance of that action.

Perceptions of time are shaped by sociohistorical factors. Specifically, economic growth and modernization often engender a sense of acceleration. Research has primarily focused on one time perception dimension (perceived time pressure) in one subpopulation (working-age adults), but it is not clear whether historical changes extend to other dimensions (e.g., perceived speed of time) and other subpopulations

Despite the enormous advances in the field, most evidence about functional ability trajectories in old age comes from studies conducted in developed and high-income countries. This research aims to build on these previous advances to examine functional ability trajectories in Chile.

Research has extensively documented the concurrent benefits of being a volunteer (versus a non-volunteer), but little is known about older adults who once served as a volunteer but then stopped at some point in their lives (i.e., former volunteers). The current study tracked changes in older adults’ overall life satisfaction and compared these changes among former volunteers, continuous volunteers

Understanding why older adults (including those in very old age) use or do not use the Internet can build on the technology acceptance model (TAM). In this cross-sectional study, we translate the TAM to the Internet and assume that perceived usefulness of the Internet (PUI) and perceived ease of use of the Internet (PEUI) will be revealed as major predictors of behavioural intention to use the Internet

Abstract ObjectivesThe Gateway to Global Aging Data (Gateway; g2aging.org) is a data and information platform developed to facilitate cross-country analyses on aging, especially those using the international family of Health and Retirement studies. We provide a brief introduction to the Gateway to Global Aging Data, discussing its potential for cross-national comparisons of family, social environment

Abstract ObjectivesIncreased social engagement in older adults has been linked to positive cognitive outcomes; however, it is unclear if the social engagement of husbands and wives influences their own cognition as well as each other’s cognition. Moreover, it is unknown if any such patterns persist in different country contexts. MethodsData from the 2001 Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS) and the

Abstract ObjectivesThis study aims to examine the relationship between childhood socioeconomic position (SEP) and cognitive function in later life within nationally representative samples of older adults in the United States and England, investigate whether these effects are mediated by later-life SEP, and determine whether social mobility from childhood to adulthood affects cognitive function and

Abstract ObjectiveTo study the role of gender and marital status as risk factors for nursing home entry in the United States. MethodThe paper uses data from the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative survey of the older population in the United States. Multivariate logit models of the risk of nursing home entry over a 2-year follow-up period were estimated for noninstitutionalized

Cross-national research offers a unique opportunity to improve our understanding of how social and economic contexts influence health and well-being among older adults. Examining the role of social factors in aging across countries with different sociocultural and policy contexts can help us understand which elements of the aging experience are universal, and thus more likely to be “normal” or fundamental

Media sources have consistently described older adults as a medically vulnerable population during the COVID-19 pandemic, yet a lack of concern over their health and safety has resulted in dismissal and devaluation. This unprecedented situation highlights ongoing societal ageism and its manifestations in public discourse. This analysis asks how national news sources performed explicit and implicit

Abstract ObjectivesCumulative burden of vascular risk factors (VRFs) has been linked to an increased risk of depressed mood. However, the role of age in this association is still unclear. Here, we investigated whether VRF burden is associated with levels and changes in depressed mood and whether these associations become stronger or weaker from mid- to later life. MethodWe used longitudinal data from

Intergenerational support between aging parents and adult children is important to the well-being of both groups, especially during public health emergencies. However, few previous studies have examined the effects of daily support between parents and children on their well-being during public health emergencies. To fill in this gap, we examined the association between daily support and well-being

Childhood abuse is positively associated with adult mental health problems and adult interpersonal relationships have been previously suggested to be a mediator. The role of marital partners, however, is less well understood. The current study will investigate marital quality as a mediator linking childhood abuse and positive and negative affective symptoms.

Older adults tend to have poorer Theory of Mind (ToM) than their younger counterparts, and this has been shown in both Western and Asian cultures. We examined the role of working memory (WM) in age differences in ToM, and whether this was moderated by education and culture (UK versus Malaysia).

As the U.S. population ages, the prevalence of disability and functional limitations, and demand for long-term services and supports (LTSS), will increase. This study identified the distribution of older adults across different residential settings, and how their health characteristics have changed over time.

The present study examines the associations among mental, social, and physical demands of work with cognitive functioning among older adults in the United States.

Abstract ObjectivesWe investigated whether spousal caregivers’ greater perception of being appreciated by their partner for their help was associated with caregivers’ better mental health, and whether caregivers’ higher role overload was related to their poorer mental health. We further evaluated whether spousal caregivers’ greater perceived gratitude buffered the association between their role overload

Maintaining cognitive function is an important component of healthy aging. There is increasing recognition that extraneous factors expedite the typical cognitive aging process. Risk factors for cognitive decline cluster around inequalities and disproportionally affect minority and vulnerable groups. Taking a minority stress approach, we examined the relationship between proxy measures of minority stress

During the COVID-19 pandemic, stigmatization of older persons has increased in traditional and social media. It was unknown whether this negative messaging could be detrimental to the mental health of older individuals, and whether the relatively uncommon positive messaging about older individuals could benefit their mental health.

Abstract ObjectivesThe public relies on various media sources and communication platforms for receipt of COVID-19 information. Therefore, identifying the primary sources of COVID-19 information among older adults can be valuable, as it can enable information on life-saving measures to be effectively disseminated to this population. MethodsWe analyzed the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey COVID-19

Abstract ObjectivesThe COVID-19 pandemic is an ongoing stressor that may have detrimental effects on mental health. Theoretical and empirical literature implies that individuals who are characterized by catastrophic appraisals of somatic cues, a tendency known as anxiety sensitivity, as well as by older subjective age, might be particularly vulnerable to depression and anxiety during the pandemic.

The current study examined within-person associations of self-reports of impaired current memory functioning and perceived decline with depressive symptoms in older adults without cognitive impairment, and whether these associations were moderated by individuals’ levels of neuroticism, conscientiousness, and extraversion.

Abstract ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to determine substance use among older adults based upon their social isolation and loneliness profiles. MethodsData were derived from the New Jersey Older Adult Survey on Drug Use and Health (OASDUH). Latent profile Analysis (LPA) was used to determine the profiles of older adults (N = 801) based on five dimensions of social isolation and loneliness. Logistic

Abstract ObjectiveDyadic perspective is scarce in existing advance directive (AD) literature. Particularly, the significance of one’s own and/or one’s partner’s cognitive function on AD remains unknown. This study investigates the relationship of cognitive function and other factors with AD completion within the spousal context. MethodsData from the Health and Retirement Study (2014-2015) were used

Abstract ObjectivesSocial relationships are important for older adults' well-being, including those who live in assisted living (AL) communities. This study explores co-resident networks within an AL community and identifies factors associated with residents’ social ties. MethodsAcquaintance and companionship networks within the community are described using cross-sectional survey data (N=38). We use

Abstract ObjectivesConnections to the gay community may elicit negative self-appraisals among men who have sex with men (MSM), which may be exacerbated for people with HIV (PWH). Fitness engagement may mediate self-appraisals by maintaining or improving appearance and health. We hypothesized that gay community connections would be positively related to negative self-appraisal and explored whether this

Physical distancing to reduce the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 has increased alone time, with unintended mental health ramifications including increased loneliness, which may be particularly detrimental for older adults. We investigated time-varying associations between daily time to oneself and loneliness, and the role of everyday creativity as a resource.

Abstract ObjectiveOnly about one-third of older adults in the United States are vaccinated against shingles, contributing to approximately one million shingles cases annually. This study examines how sociodemographic characteristics, health behaviors, and self-rated health are associated with shingles vaccine uptake. MethodData come from the 2017 wave of the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

Abstract BackgroundProviders who work closely with ethnic minority people with dementia and their families are pivotal in helping them access services. However, few studies have examined how these providers actually do this work. Using the concept of ‘boundary crossers,’ this article investigates the strategies applied by these providers to facilitate access to dementia services for ethnic minority

Social participation is important to the quality of life of older adults, especially widows. This is the first study to test whether older widows’ formal and informal social participation rises or declines using multiple panel observations pre- and post-bereavement. The paper also tests the moderating effects of economic and marital satisfaction, depression, and husband’s illness before death on these

Abstract ObjectivesArterial elasticity and physical fitness are two important cardiovascular health factors that influence cognition in older adults. Working memory capacity (WMC), a core component underlying cognitive aging across many cognitive domains, may be affected by individual differences in cardiovascular health in older adults. The current study aims to identify in older adults: 1) separate

As we get older, we repeatedly construct the way we refer to our age and our aging. This process seems to occur mainly on two levels, the social and cultural levels, where the way our society refers to older adults affects the inner dialogue with ourselves regarding our identity as an aging individual in society. The second process occurs at the inner psychological level, where small biological and

Scientific progress depends on the generosity of reviewers who assist editors by sharing their time and expertise in the peer review process. Deborah Carr, PhD, FGSA, editor of the Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, wishes to thank the following persons for their assistance in reviewing at least one manuscript during 2020.

The dearth of research on age-related differences in risk factors for tobacco use disorder (TUD) among sexual minorities, particularly among older adults, can obscure the differential needs of sexual minority age groups for tobacco prevention and cessation. We examined the association of cumulative ethnic/racial discrimination and sexual orientation discrimination with moderate-to-severe TUD among

Although striking racial and ethnic disparities in health are manifest during later life, they may be rooted in early-life exposures. Drawing from cumulative inequality theory, we investigate whether life course stressors are associated with risk of later life functional limitations and whether this relationship differs by race and ethnicity.

Models of healthy aging highlight the motivating influence of social connections. Social experiences constantly shape our thoughts and behaviors throughout daily life, and these daily processes slowly and consistently influence our health and well-being. In this paper, we discuss research that has moved from cross-sectional laboratory designs emphasizing individual behaviors to more naturalistic within-person

It is commonly argued that older adults show difficulties in standardized tasks of emotional expression perception, yet most previous works relied on classic sets of static, decontextualized, and stereotypical facial expressions. In real-life, facial expressions are dynamic and embedded in a rich context, two key factors that may aid emotion perception. Specifically, body language provides important

Understanding racial/ethnic disparities in late-life cognitive health is a public health imperative. We used baseline data from the Kaiser Healthy Aging and Diverse Life Experiences (KHANDLE) study to examine how age, education, gender, and clinical diagnosis, a proxy for brain health, are associated with cross-sectional measures of cognition in diverse racial/ethnic groups.

Adults around retirement age are especially vulnerable to the effects of the recent economic downturn associated with COVID-19. This study investigated disturbances to working life and mental health among Americans aged ≥55 during early months of the pandemic.

Determinants of mortality may depend on the time and place where they are examined. China provides an important context in which to study the determinants of mortality at older ages because of its unique social, economic, and epidemiological circumstances. This study uses a nationally representative sample of persons in China to determine how socioeconomic characteristics, early-life conditions, biological

Scientific progress depends on the generosity of reviewers who assist editors by sharing their time and expertise in the peer review process. Deborah Carr, PhD, FGSA, editor of the Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, wishes to thank the following persons for their assistance in reviewing at least one manuscript during 2020.