Longitudinal trajectories of depression and quality of life in a cohort of cancer survivors and individuals without cancer in Europe.

BACKGROUND: The long-term effects of cancer on psychological symptoms and quality of life (QoL) have been widely reported, but they were seldom examined over time compared to the general population. AIMS: To investigate trajectories of depression and QoL over time among cancer survivors compared to individuals without cancer throughout Europe and identify associated factors. METHODS: Data from five waves of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe study were used. The study sample featured 1066 cancer survivors and 9655 individuals without cancer from 13 European countries. Group-based trajectory modeling was used to identify depression and QoL trajectories, and a linear mixed-effects model was used to characterize their correlates. RESULTS: Four depression trajectories-stable low, stable high, increasing, and decreasing-and four QoL trajectories were identified. All QoL trajectories were stable over time, but differed in their levels: low, low-medium, medium-high, and high. Depression and QoL trajectories were similar between cancer survivors and individuals without cancer. However, significantly more cancer survivors had high-depression and low-QoL trajectories. Further, better perceived health, activities of daily living, physical activity, and income adequacy levels were significantly associated with changes in depression and QoL levels over time. CONCLUSIONS: Although depression and QoL trajectories did not differ between cancer survivors and individuals without cancer, more cancer survivors were characterized by high-depression and low-QoL life trajectories. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Providers should be aware and screen for cancer survivors with elevated depression and low QoL, and promote relevant psychosocial interventions. Modifiable factors associated with depression and QoL can be targets for cancer survivors' long-term care plans.

The Short and Long-Term Correlates of Change in Loneliness Status: The Role of Epidemic Control Measures During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic and corresponding measures taken to control it seem to have had negative effects on the well-being of older people. The present study regressed short and long-term loneliness scores on the degree of stringency of epidemic control policies in Europe and in Israel, and on other pandemic-related variables, controlling for a range of possible confounders. The longitudinal sample numbered 18,265 persons, aged 65 and older. The analysis revealed that loneliness rose at both post-outbreak time measurement points. Moreover, stringency was related to change for the worse in loneliness status. Electronic-based communication did not reduce loneliness, while face-to-face contact did. The findings underscore that pandemic-related policy measures have unintended social consequences that need to be addressed.

Support for Older Parents in Need in Europe: The Role of the Social Network and of Individual and Relational Characteristics.

Background and Objectives: Adult children form the backbone of informal care for older parents. To date, limited attention has been paid to the complex mechanism of providing support to older parents. The present study investigated mezzo- and micro-level correlates of provision of support to older parents. The focus was on the child-parent relationship in childhood and in the present. Research Design and Methods: Data were derived from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). The analytic sample comprised respondents who participated in SHARE Waves 6-8 and reported having an unhealthy mother (N = 1,554) or father (N = 478). We used hierarchical logistic regression to address 3 models including individual resources, child-parent characteristics, and social resources. We conducted separate analyses for mothers and fathers. Results: Providing support to a parent depended primarily on personal resources followed by the quality of the relationship with the parent. A larger social network of the care provider was also related to increased likelihood of providing support. Support to a mother was associated with positive evaluations of the relationship with her in the present and in childhood. At the same time, negative evaluations of the relationship with the father in childhood were negatively related to providing support to him. Discussion and Implications: The findings point to a multidimensional mechanism, in which adult children's resources are a prominent factor in shaping caregiving behaviors toward their parents. Clinical efforts should focus on adult children's social resources and the quality of the child-parent relationship.

Short- and Medium-Term Effects of Ageism on Loneliness Experienced During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Loneliness, common in old age, may be partially attributed to ageism. The present study explored the short- and medium-term effect of ageism on loneliness experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic using prospective data derived from the Israeli sample of the Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) (N = 553). Ageism was measured before the COVID-19 outbreak and loneliness in the summer of 2020 and 2021 using a direct single question. We also tested for age differences in this association. In both the 2020 and 2021 models, ageism was related to increased loneliness. This association remained significant after adjusting for a host of demographic, health, and social variables. In the 2020 model, we also found that the positive association between ageism and loneliness was significant only in people aged 70+. We discussed the results with reference to the COVID-19 pandemic, which drew attention to two global social phenomena: loneliness and ageism.

Benefiting From Digital Use: Prospective Association of Internet Use With Knowledge and Preventive Behaviors Related to Alzheimer Disease in the Israeli Survey of Aging.

BACKGROUND: Previous work documented the beneficial association between internet use and improved cognition, functional capacity, and less cognitive decline among people in late adulthood. This work focused on potential mechanisms of such an association: knowledge on Alzheimer disease (AD) and preventive behaviors related to AD. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine prospective associations of internet use and perceived computer skills with knowledge on AD and preventive behaviors related to AD. METHODS: The sample included 1232 older adults (mean age 71.12 [SD 9.07]) drawn from the Israeli branch of the Survey of Health, Aging, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE-Israel). The sample is representative of Israeli households of adults aged 50 or older and their spouses. Data analyzed were collected in person during 2015 (Wave 6), and in a drop-off questionnaire following the in-person 2017 data collection (Wave 7). RESULTS: Although both internet use and perceived computer skills were prospectively associated with knowledge and behaviors related to AD in bivariate analyses, after controlling for sociodemographics, only internet use was associated with more such knowledge (ß=.13, P<.001) and behaviors (ß=.22, P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Internet use emerged as a prospective predictor of protective factors against AD. Policymakers should advance digital engagement so as to enhance knowledge on AD and preventive behaviors among older adults.

The Complex Association Between Fear of Falling and Mobility Limitation in Relation to Late-Life Falls: A SHARE-Based Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This study examines fear of falling (FOF) in relation to falls in light of mobility limitation. METHOD: Data on community-dwelling older Europeans, aged 65+, were drawn from two consecutive waves of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). The analysis regressed fall status in 2013 on reported FOF 2 to 3 years earlier, controlling for previous falls. RESULTS: FOF predicted subsequent falls when mobility limitation was low to moderate. However, the effect of FOF on fall probability was reversed when mobility limitation was high. DISCUSSION: The analysis underscores a complex association between FOF and mobility limitation in relation to late-life falls. People who are worried about falling tend to fall more. Those having high mobility limitation but lacking FOF are also more likely to fall. In cases of considerable mobility limitation, FOF may act as a protective buffer. The less worried in this group, however, may be subject to greater falling, and thus require greater attention.