Although it is widely accepted that acculturative processes are influenced by social systems, most studies focus on individual level determinants of acculturation (e.g., behaviours, psychological ...mechanisms, interpersonal/intergroup processes) in isolation from the social conditions of people’s lives. In this article, first I provide a critical analysis of individualizing perspectives using the example of ageing and life course accumulation of disadvantage among migrants. Following this, I offer an alternative approach to studying the determinants of acculturative processes and adaptation. Borrowing from the public health literature, I introduce social determinants of health, also known as the causes of the causes. I highlight that deeply entrenched inequities in societies create the conditions for acculturation. Social structures pattern how migrants acculturate, whether they achieve positive outcomes, and the relationship between acculturative processes and cross-cultural adaptation. Finally, I offer some thoughts on advancing our empirical approach to acculturation by incorporating social determinants, such as inequities in socioeconomic position, along with individual level determinants into our models and interpretations.
This study investigated how migration interrupts self-identity processes and the role of future self-perceptions in psychological adaptation. A longitudinal model was tested, in which self-concept ...clarity mediated the relationship of future self-continuity and positivity with life satisfaction over time. Data were collected three times over a year from 101 adult recent migrants (51.5% female, M
age
= 28.5, SD
age
= 8). The model partially supported the mediational hypothesis. Having a more positive attitude toward one's future self in the host society was associated with increased self-concept clarity six months later, which in turn led to greater life satisfaction another six months later. Findings suggest that migrants who envision a desirable future self in their host environment experience better adaptation outcomes over time.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
BFBNIB, DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Purpose
Maintaining or improving quality of life (QoL) in later life has become a major policy objective. Yet we currently know little about how QoL develops at older ages. The few studies that have ...modelled QoL change across time for older adults have used ‘averaged’ trajectories. However, this ignores the variations in the way QoL develops between groups of older adults.
Methods
We took a theoretically informed ‘capabilities approach’ to measuring QoL. We used four waves of data, covering 6 years, from the New Zealand Health, Work and Retirement Study (NZHWR) (
N
= 3223) to explore whether distinct QoL trajectories existed. NZHWR is a nationally representative longitudinal study of community-dwelling adults aged 50 + in New Zealand. Growth mixture modelling was applied to identify trajectories over time and multinomial regressions were calculated to test baseline differences in demographic variables (including age, gender, ethnicity, education and economic living standards).
Results
We found five QoL trajectories: (1) high and stable (51.94%); (2) average and declining (22.74%); (3) low and increasing (9.62%); (4) low and declining (10.61%); (5) low and stable (5.09%). Several differences across profiles in baseline demographic factors were identified, with economic living standards differentiating between all profiles.
Conclusions
The trajectory profiles demonstrate that both maintaining and even improving QoL in later life is possible. This has implications for our capacity to develop nuanced policies for diverse groups of older adults.
Community grandparenting may promote the well-being of older adults. We examined the impact of non-kin and grandparental childcare on quality of life and loneliness using longitudinal data from 2653 ...older New Zealanders collected over 2 years. Providing both non-kin and grandparental childcare predicted greater self-realisation for women only and was associated with reduced levels of control and autonomy for men. Non-kin childcare was also associated with reduced social loneliness over time independent of gender. Findings suggest that non-kin grandparenting has psychosocial benefits for older adults. Surrogate grandparenting offers promising avenues for those without grandchildren to experience the benefits of grandparenting.
Following introduction of the monoamine oxidase type B inhibitor selegiline for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD), discovery of the action mechanism of Alzheimer’s disease-modifying agent ...memantine, the role of iron in PD, and the loss of electron transport chain complex I in PD, and development of the concept of clinical neuroprotection, Peter Riederer launched one of the most challenging research project neurodevelopmental aspects of neuropsychiatric disorders. The neurodevelopmental theory holds that a disruption of normal brain development in utero or during early life underlies the subsequent emergence of neuropsychiatric symptoms during later life. Indeed, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition and the International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision categorize autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). More and more evidence, especially from preclinical studies, is revealing that neurodevelopmental pathology is not limited to the diagnostic class above, but also contributes to the development of other psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and obsessive–compulsive disorder as well as neurodegenerative diseases such as PD and Huntington’s disease. Preclinical animal research is taking a lead in understanding the pathomechanisms of NDDs, searching for novel targets, and developing new neuroprotective agents against NDDs. This narrative review discusses emerging evidence of the neurodevelopmental etiology of neuropsychiatric disorders, recent advances in modelling neurodevelopmental pathogenesis, potential strategies of clinical neuroprotection using novel kynurenine metabolites and analogues, and future research direction for NDDs.
The WHO "Framework for Policy for Healthy Ageing' (2015) focuses on the broader environment and the support it provides for everyday functioning of older people. The concept of "livability" supports ...this framework by providing a conceptualization of environments that support good quality of life.
This observational study used an ecological framework of livability to assess cross-sectional relationships between living environments and perceived quality of life among 4,028 respondents, aged 50-89 years who were surveyed in 2016. A 4-step hierarchical model regressed quality of life on individual resources (health, chronic conditions, SES), contextual variables (distance to health care; rural/urban setting), perceptions of housing and neighborhood environments (housing satisfaction, neighborhood quality, neighborhood social cohesion), and interactions between these levels of the ecological model.
As predicted, housing and neighborhood perceptions contributed an additional 5% variance to the model which explained 49% of quality of life. There were significant interactions between the contextual variables and qualities of housing and neighborhood.
These findings support the importance of material and social provisions of housing and neighborhoods to quality of life among older people. The ecological model highlights critical information provided by taking different levels of the environment and personal circumstances into account. The concept of "livability," focusing on perceptions of the environment, can assist a shift from seeking the universal ideal neighborhood toward understanding the ways in which different communities may achieve quality of housing and neighborhood facilities that meet community members' needs.
Revealing the underlying pathomechanisms of neurological and psychiatric disorders, searching for new biomarkers, and developing novel therapeutics all require translational research ...
A short form version of the Ethno-Cultural Identity Conflict Scale (ECIS-SF) was developed and validated to address item redundancy in the original scale and to increase its utility in comparative ...studies and applied settings. Construct, discriminant, nomological, and predictive validity of the EICS-SF was tested and supported with five samples in three countries. In Study 1, the EICS-SF was derived and validated using data from Chinese (n = 232) and Greek (n = 139) New Zealanders. Study 2 confirmed the factor structure, measurement equivalence and discriminant validity of the EICS-SF with Chinese Canadians (n = 199) and British Indians (n = 190). Study 3 provided additional evidence for the test–retest reliability and temporal consistency of the EICS-SF’s association with criterion measures in Indian New Zealanders (n = 147). The EICS-SF is psychometrically sound and easy to administer with diverse populations. Potential for application in clinical settings is discussed.
Nearly half a century has passed since the discovery of cytoplasmic inheritance of human chloramphenicol resistance. The inheritance was then revealed to take place maternally by mitochondrial DNA ...(mtDNA). Later, a number of mutations in mtDNA were identified as a cause of severe inheritable metabolic diseases with neurological manifestation, and the impairment of mitochondrial functions has been probed in the pathogenesis of a wide range of illnesses including neurodegenerative diseases. Recently, a growing number of preclinical studies have revealed that animal behaviors are influenced by the impairment of mitochondrial functions and possibly by the loss of mitochondrial stress resilience. Indeed, as high as 54% of patients with one of the most common primary mitochondrial diseases, mitochondrial encephalomyopathy with lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) syndrome, present psychiatric symptoms including cognitive impairment, mood disorder, anxiety, and psychosis. Mitochondria are multifunctional organelles which produce cellular energy and play a major role in other cellular functions including homeostasis, cellular signaling, and gene expression, among others. Mitochondrial functions are observed to be compromised and to become less resilient under continuous stress. Meanwhile, stress and inflammation have been linked to the activation of the tryptophan (Trp)–kynurenine (KYN) metabolic system, which observably contributes to the development of pathological conditions including neurological and psychiatric disorders. This review discusses the functions of mitochondria and the Trp-KYN system, the interaction of the Trp-KYN system with mitochondria, and the current understanding of the involvement of mitochondria and the Trp-KYN system in preclinical and clinical studies of major neurological and psychiatric diseases.
