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.

Older adults experience higher risks of getting severely ill from COVID-19, resulting in widespread narratives of frailty and vulnerability. We test: (1) Whether global aging narratives have become more negative from before to during the pandemic (Oct’19 to May’20) across 20 countries; (2) Model pandemic (incidence and mortality), and cultural factors associated with the trajectory of aging narratives

Multimorbidity is common among older adults from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Social participation has a role in protecting against negative health consequences, yet its association with multimorbidity is unclear, particularly in LMICs. Thus, this study investigated the relationship between physical multimorbidity and social participation among older adults across six LMICs.

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.

Amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), a prodromal stage of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, is characterized by episodic memory impairment. Recent evidence has shown inhibitory control deficits in aMCI, but the extent of these deficits across inhibitory domains (i.e., response inhibition and interference control) and aMCI subtypes (i.e., single- versus multiple-domain) remains unclear

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.

This report seeks to examine income-related inequalities in informal care among older people with functional limitations in China.

We investigated whether there was a “high outmigration penalty” for psychological health among older adults in rural China by assessing two potential community stressors associated with major sociodemographic changes in the community – increased outmigration and older adult density. We also investigated whether disparities in community economic conditions moderated the association between community

Later adult work attachments and exits are in flux, suggesting the need for understanding both the range of contemporary population-level pathways of work and non-work and variations by overlapping social locations. We document patterned continuity and change in monthly work attachments and analyze the intersecting effects of age, gender, education, and race/ethnicity.

Neighborhood built environments (BEs) are increasingly recognized as being associated with late-life depression. However, their pathways are still understudied. This study investigates the mediating effects of physical, social activities (PA & SA) and functional ability (FA) in the relationships between BEs and late-life depression.

Older adults engage in excessive sedentary behaviors which holds significant health implications. Examining affect responses during sedentary behavior is not well understood despite the wealth of evidence linking affect and motivation. Contextual influences (i.e., social, physical) likely influence affective responses during sedentary behavior and therefore warrant further investigation.

The Balancing Incentive Program (BIP) was an optional program for states within the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to promote Medicaid-funded home and community-based services (HCBS) for older adults and persons with disabilities. Twenty-one states opted to participate in BIP, including several states steadfastly opposed to the health insurance provisions of the Affordable Care Act. This

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

Abstract ObjectiveRetirement is a potential trigger for cognitive aging as it may be a stressful life event accompanied by changes in everyday activities. However, the consequences of retirement may differ across institutional contexts which shape retirement options. Comparing memory trajectories before and after retirement in 17 European countries, this study aims to identify cross-national differences

The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a worldwide impact in all domains of functioning including health, psychological well-being, financial stability, and social connection. At the time of this writing (November, 2020), the number of COVID-19 infections had escalated significantly since the summer months and many countries were reinstating mandatory use of face masks and social distancing

Abstract ObjectivesThe current study aims to examine how social exclusion is related to subjective well-being in older adults across different European regions. MethodsEuropean population-based cross-sectional study design was employed using data sampled from the eighth round of the European Social Survey (ESS). Multiple items for social exclusion were used in this round, including household income

It is an exciting time to be studying the social worlds in which we grow up and grow older. We have an unprecedented amount of information from high-quality panel and cohort studies that in some cases stretch over many decades. Such studies are not just limited to the United States and Europe; these types of studies are appearing in Africa, South America, and Asia. A great number of methodological

Although the adverse link between rumination and sleep quality is well established, much of the literature neglects the role of social factors. This study examined the role of older adults’ perceived social support from spouses and from family/friends in modifying the association between trait rumination and sleep quality. Existing hypotheses suggest that social support may play three unique roles

Abstract ObjectivesWe examine whether socioeconomic inequalities in home-care use among disabled older adults are related to the contextual characteristics of long-term care (LTC) systems. Specifically, we investigate how wealth and income gradients in the use of informal, formal, and mixed home-care vary according to the degree to which LTC systems offer alternatives to families as the main providers

Abstract ObjectivesThe goal of this paper was to examine associations between personality traits and resilience to neuropathologic burden. MethodUsing data from the Religious Orders Study and the Rush Memory and Aging Project, we identified a total of 1,375 participants with personality, cognitive, and post-mortem neuropathology data. We regressed cognition onto pathology and extracted the residuals

Abstract ObjectivesPersonality traits have been related to concurrent memory performance. Most studies, however, have focused on personality as a predictor of memory; comparatively less is known about whether memory is related to personality development across adulthood. Using 4 samples, the present study tests whether memory level and change are related to personality change in adulthood. MethodParticipants

Abstract ObjectivesThis study explored associations between birth region, sociodemographic predictors, and advance care planning (ACP) uptake. MethodsA prospective, multicenter, cross-sectional audit study of 100 sites across 8 Australian jurisdictions. ACP documentation was audited in the health records of people aged 65 years or older accessing general practice (GP), hospital, and long-term care

Abstract ObjectivesLife experiences are thought to prompt changes in personality. However, existing studies find few replicable mean-level changes in personality following life events. The focus on mean-level change may obscure other types of personality change that are not routinely studied in the context of life events. These are variability in response, structural, and ipsative change. MethodsThe

Abstract ObjectivesAdvance care planning (ACP) typically comprises formal preparations (i.e., living will and/or durable power of attorney for health care) and informal discussions with family members and health care providers. However, some people complete formal documents without discussing them with others. If they become incapacitated, their appointed decision makers may lack guidance on how to

Abstract ObjectivesTheory suggests that individuals with higher neuroticism have more severe negative reactions to stress, though empirical work examining the interaction between neuroticism and stressors has yielded mixed results. The present study investigated whether neuroticism and other Big Five traits moderated the effects of recent stressful life events on older adults’ health outcomes. MethodData

Abstract BackgroundEmerging social genetics research suggests one’s genes may influence not just one’s own outcomes but also those of close social alters. Health implications, particularly in late life, remain underexplored. Using combined genetic and survey data, this study examined such transpersonal genetic associations among older U.S. couples. MethodData were from married or cohabiting couples

Abstract ObjectivesLittle is known about how attachment processes manifest within older adults in daily life and how these processes are associated with daily psychological adjustment. This study examined the within-person associations between states of attachment security and psychological adjustment. It is expected that this association is mediated by higher levels of satisfied needs in daily life

Abstract ObjectivesInequities in access to and utilization of health care greatly influence the health and quality of life of American Indian elders (AIEs). This study explores the importance and perceived prevalence of factors affecting health care use within this population and assesses the changeability of these factors to produce a list of action items that are timely and relevant to improving

Abstract ObjectiveThis study investigates the relationship between bullying victimization in childhood and mental health in old age. MethodsThe study uses data from a nationally representative sample of 9,208 older people aged 60 and older collected through the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) conducted in 2014 and 2015. ResultsOlder people who were bullied in childhood have

Abstract ObjectivesThis study compares estimates and determinants of within-individual changes in mobility across surveys of older U.S. adults. MethodsData come from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study. Measures of mobility comprise self-reported level of difficulty with walking several blocks, going up several flights of stairs, lifting and carrying

Abstract ObjectiveThis article expands on research that links education and frailty among older adults by considering the role of genes associated with education. MethodData come from a sample of 7,064 non-Hispanic, white adults participating in the 2004–2012 waves of the Health and Retirement Study. Frailty was measured with two indices: (a) The Frailty Index which corresponds to a deficit accumulation

Abstract ObjectivesResearch on retirees’ engagement in informal caregiving, formal volunteering, and grandparenting often views retirement as a permanent exit from the workforce. Retirement processes are, however, increasingly diverse: some retire fully while others remain in paid work after retirement from a career job. A relevant but understudied question is how these different retirement processes

The COVID-19 pandemic has threatened the health, longevity, and financial and emotional security of millions of people in the United States and worldwide. As of late November 2020, more than 13 million Americans had contracted COVID-19, and more than 260,000 had died from the disease (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020). Worldwide, more than 60 million cases and 1.4 million deaths were

Abstract ObjectiveThe COVID-19 outbreak and associated physical distancing measures altered the social world for most older adults, but people who live alone may have been disproportionately affected. The current study examined how living alone was associated with daily social contact and emotional well-being among older adults during the pandemic. MethodAdults (N = 226) aged 69+ completed a brief

Abstract ObjectivesA caregiving stress perspective suggests that caregiving harms psychological well-being in informal caregivers, whereas a caregiving rewards perspective suggests that provision of care benefits psychological well-being. This research examines whether both perspectives apply to caregiving experiences, but differently by the primary location of caregiving (i.e., in-home, other residence

Abstract ObjectivesMulti-actor data show that parents’ and adult children’s evaluations of their relation do not necessarily match. We studied disagreement in parent- and child-reported closeness, comparing parent–child dyads involving separated parents, non-separated parents, and stepparents to shed new light on today’s diverse landscape of adult parent–child relations. MethodUsing data from the Parents

Abstract ObjectivesAround the world, aging populations pose significant concerns regarding their community mobility and transportation safety. Most previous studies in the United States have focused on the associations between driver license renewal laws and crash outcomes among older adults (65 years and older). Few studies have evaluated the impact of driver license renewal laws on older adults’

Abstract ObjectivesAlthough the majority of older people are grandparents, little is known on whether and how the transition into grandparenthood affects their well-being. Moreover, evidence on whether the order of the transition, the time since grandchild’s birth, and the sociodemographic characteristics of the offspring modify the grandparental well-being is scarce. Taking into account these factors

Abstract BackgroundResearch investigating the health benefits of social group participation in the retirement transition has provided little insight into the longitudinal effects on cognitive health and the generalizability of these relationships to non-Western samples. The present paper addresses these issues by examining the effects of social group engagement on the cognitive performance and depression

Abstract ObjectivesThis study sought to assess how framing effects modulate age-related differences in effort-based decision-making. Consistent with the selection, optimization, and compensation (SOC) model’s loss prevention account of aging, we predicted that older adults would be more willing to select high-effort options in loss contexts than gain contexts. MethodOlder and younger adults completed

Abstract ObjectivesAlthough stronger social relationships have been associated with reduced mortality risk in prior research, their associations with favorable health outcomes are understudied. We evaluated whether higher social integration levels were associated with longer life span and greater likelihood of achieving exceptional longevity. MethodWomen from the Nurses’ Health Study completed the

Abstract ObjectivesPrior studies have found that as people age, they value low-arousal positive affect (LAP) to a greater extent and high-arousal positive affect (HAP) to a lower extent. We aimed to investigate whether actually achieving those ideal affects was related to better well-being outcomes, measured in terms of meaning in life. MethodsUsing a time sampling design across 14 days (N = 162),

Abstract ObjectivesThe aim of the current work was to investigate the relationship between avoidance of specific driving situations and on-road driving skills in older drivers considering factors found to be related to both avoidance behavior and driving skills. MethodSeventy-two older drivers (M = 76 years) from the general population were included in this study. Self-reported avoidance behavior,

Abstract ObjectivesExisting scholarship in social gerontology has paid relatively little attention to broader loving emotions, such as compassionate and altruistic love, as potentially meaningful mechanisms for improving later-life psychological well-being outside a family framework. MethodDrawing from a 3-wave longitudinal survey of community-dwelling older residents (n = 334) of Miami, Florida, we

Abstract ObjectivesThis study examines how areas with different older population compositions are affected by Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and whether urban and rural counties face different challenges. MethodsApplying negative binomial regression to a data set of U.S. counties (N = 3,042), we estimated the relationship between older population ratios and the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases

Abstract ObjectivesHealthy aging is associated with impairments in motor functioning. Such functioning is not limited to the physical execution of actions, but also involves cognitive processes that allow for goal-directed behavior. The present study examined whether aging affects 2 of such cognitive components that control motor functioning, namely action planning and action adaptation, and whether

This virtual collection assembled by the Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences includes five articles focusing on language function and use in older adults. These articles examine a broad range of questions relating to language and aging, including age differences in language output, links between language and other cognitive domains, and the impact of speaker characteristics such as bilingualism

Abstract ObjectiveThe primary purpose of this study was to explore the efficacy of robotic pets in alleviating loneliness for older adults. MethodSelf-reported lonely individuals with AARP Medicare Supplement plans insured by UnitedHealthcare who participated in a program with a robotic pet (n = 20) were recruited to participate in semi-structured interviews. Participants were asked to provide feedback

Abstract ObjectivesTo better understand and compare effects of aging and education across domains of language and cognition, we investigated whether (a) these domains show different associations with age and education, (b) these domains show similar patterns of age-related change over time, and (c) education moderates the rate of decline in these domains. MethodWe analyzed data from 306 older adults

Abstract ObjectivesThis study examined challenges experienced by long-term care staff in caring for unbefriended residents who are incapacitated and alone. These residents often are estranged from or have no living family or live geographically distant from them and require a public guardian as their surrogate decision-maker. To date, research on unbefriended older adults has focused on those living

In the article “Death by a Thousand Cuts: Stress Exposure and Black–White Disparities in Physiological Functioning in Late Life” [The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, gbz068, doi:10.1093/geronb/gbz068], since its original publication, an acknowledgment of funding by the Population Research Infrastructure Program of the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH)’s Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute

Abstract ObjectivesThis study considers whether experiencing the death of a child prior to midlife (by parental age 40) is associated with subsequent dementia risk, and how such losses, which are more common for black than for white parents, may add to racial disparities in dementia risk. MethodsWe use discrete-time event history models to predict dementia incidence among 9,276 non-Hispanic white and

Abstract ObjectivesThis study evaluated whether (a) retirement was associated with increased depressive symptoms, (b) four sources social support were associated with decreased depressive symptoms, and (c) whether the relationship between retirement and depressive symptoms varied across four sources social support. MethodHealth and Retirement Study data were used to assess whether four measures of

Abstract ObjectivesStudies show that using information and communication technology (ICT) contributes significantly to elders’ subjective well-being (SWB). Drawing on the Selective Optimization with Compensation (SOC) model, this study aims at exploring the mechanism by which ICT use helps older adults remain engaged in valued life activities and maintain their SWB. MethodInvolving teams from seven

The following funding statement has been added to the article:

Abstract ObjectivesIt is well known that age differentially impacts aspects of long-term episodic memory (EM): Whereas a binding deficit indicates that older adults are less capable than younger adults to encode or retrieve associations between information (e.g., the pairing between two memoranda, such as lock – race), item memory is relatively intact (e.g., recognizing lock without its original pairing)