High level of preferences for routines is an indicator of psychological vulnerability in older adults. However, the psychometric properties of the Preferences for Routines Scale (PRS) initially ...validated in a small selected sample of older adults revealed a low Cronbach’s α (.50) in the general elderly population. The present study aims to improve the PRS using the data from the “AMI” and “PAQUID” population-based studies. Among 718 older persons, the most discriminative items are identified using item response theory methodology. A short form of the PRS (PRS-S) included five of the ten items of the original scale and showed improved internal consistency and test–retest reliability. The factors associated with the PRS-S are similar to those found in previous studies. Norms are provided according to gender and educational level. The reduction of the number of items tends to facilitate its administration and promote its use in both clinical and epidemiologic research contexts.
To assess the relationship between state anxiety and performance on neuropsychological tests in older adults.
Nine hundred fifty-five community-dwelling individuals without dementia age 66 and over ...were evaluated at home by a psychologist. State anxiety was measured by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Y. Cognitive assessment included general cognitive functioning (Mini-Mental State Examination), verbal fluency (Isaacs Set Test), short-term visual memory (Benton's Visual Retention Test), speed of information processing/visuomotor coordination (Digit Symbol Coding), conceptual knowledge (Similarities), episodic memory (Verbal Paired Associates), and working memory (Digit Span forward/backward). Covariates included age, education, sex, depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale), subjective health, subjective cognitive complaint, chronic diseases, functional abilities in basic and instrumental activities of daily living, and use of medication.
Adjustments for confounders substantially modified the relationship between state anxiety and cognitive performance. Multivariate analyses revealed positive effects of mild and moderate state anxiety for verbal fluency and general cognitive functioning, respectively. High and moderate anxiety also had beneficial influence on short-term visual memory performance in participants with low education level and on the speed of information/visuomotor coordination processing in participants using medications.
These results suggest that when confounders are taken into account, state anxiety in older adults is not necessarily deleterious for cognitive performance and has no appreciable negative effect on many cognitive domains or can even be beneficial. Relationships between state anxiety and cognitive performances are complex because they are influenced by many factors and differ according to anxiety severity and cognitive domains.
When an elderly person suffers from severe memory problems, it is useful to look at the behaviour of those around him or her. Serious "absences" can be observed, revealing an intergenerational memory ...at risk.
The theme of access to care for the elderly brings us into the susceptibility to precariousness-made precarious-precarious debate. The answers are necessarily complex; but the simplest ones are not ...to be overlooked. It is possible to propose some ideas based on the experience of the DomCare team.
Routinization reflects how older people cope with the health problems. It remains to be seen whether it should be considered as a risk factor of negative health outcomes, or rather, a mechanism of ...adjustment to health issues: mortality, institutionalization, dementia, disability, cognitive decline, depression and subjective health.
From longitudinal data of two large-scale French epidemiological studies, the study sample consists of 961 participants aged 77 years on average, living at home and with no neurocognitive disorder. The relationship between the level of routines measured by the Preferences for Routines Scale-Short form and the adverse health outcomes are studied considering the level of routines at baseline and in time-dependent using Cox proportional hazards models and Latent process mixed models.
After adjustment for sociodemographic variables, the routinization score at baseline is not associated with any health outcomes while the routinization score as a time-dependent variable is significantly associated with an increased risk of dementia (hazard ratios (HR) = 1.08, 95% confidence intervals (CI) = 1.02-1.15, p = 0.016) and institutionalization (HR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.03-1.36, p = 0.019), greater global cognitive decline (β = -0.02, p = 0.001) and depressive symptoms (β = 0.02, p = 0.023) and a decrease in subjective health (β = 0.02, p = 0.008).
The level of routines measured at a given time is not associated with long-term prediction of negative health outcomes, while in time-dependent, it reveals to be a significant predictor. It should be seen as a marker of adjustment process.
Abstract Whereas clinical insight in schizophrenia has been consistently associated with personal factors (i.e. sociodemographic characteristics, symptoms or cognition), little is known about its ...relationships with interpersonal factors (i.e. close environment and personal characteristics involved in social interactions). Most of the few studies available have focused on one particular interpersonal factor, such as social cognition, contact frequencies or therapeutic alliance. To date, no study has explored the specificity of associations between clinical insight and different levels of interpersonal factors, neither if these associations are independent of personal factors. Associations between insight and interpersonal factors were explored through multiple regression in a sample of 80 outpatients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Lower insight was associated with lower interpersonal functioning, independently from personal factors such as age, gender, age at first hospitalization, executive functioning and symptoms. Our findings replicate previous studies with regard to the associations between clinician-rated insight and social cognition or social contact frequencies. They also provide new information about specific associations between clinician-rated insight and perceived social support as well as between patient-rated insight and therapeutic alliance. Finally, models of insight based on personal factors were significantly improved by the inclusion of interpersonal factors. These results strongly support the crucial role of interpersonal factors in insight, both from the clinician's and the patient's point of view. These exploratory data require further replication.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to develop short forms of the STAI-Y trait and state scales and associated norms suitable for the screening of anxiety in elderly populations.
Method: This study ...was based on population-based cohorts of older persons from two epidemiological French studies that each included one subscale of the STAI-Y, i.e. state and trait anxiety scales. For both scales, the most discriminative items were retained and their factorial structure was examined using principal components analysis. Internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) was estimated and cut-offs and norms were computed.
Results: A 10-item STAI-Y version produced scores similar to those obtained with the full form of the STAI-Y. The factorial structure of the shortened form is comparable to that of the full scales. Results showed good internal consistency (alpha coefficients were 0.92 and 0.85 for short STAI-Y state and trait scales, respectively). Moreover, both short STAI-Y state and trait scales correctly classified 88% of the participants using a cut-off point of 23. Norms for both short trait and state anxiety scales are provided according to age, gender, educational level and depressive symptoms.
Conclusion: Both shortened scales have similar factorial structure and internal consistency to the longer scales and classify anxious/non-anxious elderly with acceptable accuracy. The shorter form is likely to be more acceptable to elderly persons through reduction of fatigue effects.
In current discussions on the lengthening of human lifespans, considering and even rethinking the ways we live together has become a vital issue, especially with respect to intergenerational ...solidarity. What meaning should be imparted to the various ages in life as part of the complex process of growing and ageing and to the perceptions we have of that process? Based on an investigation of the management of interdependences consistent with the perceptions of autonomy of each age group, this study focuses on the stance of different age groups, from 18 to 98, relative to the need for interdependent relations. The findings of an exploratory survey led in 2015-2016 with 610 people from the general population were interpreted using linear regression models to identify a number of variables corresponding to perceptions of the degree of interdependency. The individuals who feel the most concerned by the question appear to be older, male, and preoccupied by a dependency situation, particularly where it affects or could affect one of their elderly parents. The results are discussed in relation to the issue of autonomy as well as aid, two major issues to be developed in a world where individuals are encouraged to remain autonomous for as long as possible. The consequences of this work could be developed to inform discussions on the future choices of public policies on social protection.
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