ABSTRACT
This study analyzes the efficacy of a brief psychoeducational program aimed at preventing older adult infantilization by nursing home professionals. We examined whether an experimental group of professionals reported less infantilization than those of a control group. Changes in stereotypes and humanization were regarded as sub-targets. The sample comprised 154 staff members. Infantilization, humanization, and negative stereotypes toward older adults were assessed before and after the intervention, and repeated measures of ANOVA and one-way ANCOVAs were conducted. Infantilization and negative stereotypes decreased in the experimental group. Significant post-intervention differences were found between the experimental and control groups both in infantilization and negative stereotypes but not in humanization. Results reflect the relevance of developing specific interventions focused on preventing infantilization as well as the need for professionals' training and education to generate a culture of change.
Subject(s)
Elder Abuse , Nursing Homes , Humans , Aged , Skilled Nursing Facilities , Behavior Therapy , Elder Abuse/prevention & controlABSTRACT
Objective: This study aimed to analyse how stereotypes towards older people moderate the relationship between burnout and quality of life (QoL) of professionals working in nursing homes. Method: A total of 312 professionals were asked to complete questionnaires of burnout Maslach Burnout Inventory quality of Life (QPL-35) and aging stereotypes (CENVE). The moderation effects were tested using linear regression models. Results: A negative association was observed between burnout and QoL. It was also found a statistically significant moderator effect of the total score of stereotypes and the health stereotypes, besides a marginally statistically significant moderator effect for motivational stereotypes. The moderator effects were different for people with low and high negative stereotypes. QoL was more affected under conditions of high burnout, in which people with more negative stereotypes tended to present higher QoL than people with lower negative stereotypes. Conclusion: Highly burned-out professionals in nursing homes may avoid their negative feelings projecting them to residents through stereotypes, as a way of coping with burnout and increasing their QoL. However, this mechanism is an "aggressive reaction" and may have negative effects for both the older adult and the professional. The comprehension of these variables is essential for developing adequate intervention programs.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Although several biopsychosocial variables could play an important role as risk and protective factors of mental health, COVID-19 outbreak studies among older people have seldom focused on protective factors. The purpose of this study was to analyze how older adults' personal strengths predict their well-being and emotional distress. METHOD: 783 Spanish people aged 60 and over completed a survey that included sociodemographic characteristics, perceived health, direct or indirect infection by COVID-19, resilience, gratitude, experiential avoidance, family functioning, emotional distress and well-being. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was performed. SEM invariance was also used to analyze whether there were differences between older people affected by COVID-19 and those not affected. RESULTS: The best model supports the mediation effect of resilience, gratitude and experiential avoidance on older people's well-being and emotional distress. Whether participants or relatives had been infected by the virus or not did not affect the results. CONCLUSIONS: Variables used as criteria in older adults are related to well-being and emotional distress, but only indirectly and mediated by resilience, gratitude and experiential avoidance. This confirms the importance of considering psychological strengths in older people's well-being. Interventions focused on these personal resources should be considered.
Subject(s)
Adaptation, Psychological , COVID-19/psychology , Pandemics , Resilience, Psychological , SARS-CoV-2 , Aged , Avoidance Learning , COVID-19/etiology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Family Characteristics , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Models, Psychological , Protective Factors , Psychological Distress , Social Isolation/psychologyABSTRACT
La familia puede ser un recurso fundamental en momentos de pérdidas y crisis vitales. La soledad y el aislamiento en personas mayores provocan consecuencias negativas para su salud mental. La presente investigación analiza el rol de la función familiar en la ansiedad y depresión experimentadas por personas mayores durante la pandemia ocasionada por el COVID-19. Participaron 882 adultos mayores de 60 años evaluándose características sociodemográficas y del coronavirus, salud, función familiar, evitación, depresión y ansiedad. Los datos sugieren un factor amortiguador de la función familiar sobre la ansiedad y depresión durante la pandemia. Además, no estar casado, ser mujer, mayor miedo al COVID-19, una peor salud autopercibida, mayor evitación y una peor función familiar se asociaba con mayores niveles de ansiedad. Mientras que mayor miedo al COVID-19, una peor salud autopercibida, mayor evitación y una peor función familiar se relacionaban con mayor depresión. Los resultados permiten señalar que la disfunción familiar es un factor predisponente para el desarrollo de problemas emocionales de ansiedad y depresión en personas mayores en situaciones potencialmente estresantes y de pérdida (AU)
Family can be an essential resource at times of loss or vital crisis. Loneliness and isolation in older adults might have serious negative consequences for their mental health. For this reason, this research aims to analyze the role of family function in the anxiety and depression experienced by older adults during the pandemic caused by COVID-19. Participants were 882 Spanish community dwelling adults over 60 years of age. Sociodemographic characteristics, characteristics related to the coronavirus, self-perceived health, family function, avoidance, depression and anxiety were analyzed. Data suggest a buffering effect of family function on anxiety and depression during the pandemic. Furthermore, being unmarried or a female, greater fear of COVID-19, worse self-perceived health, greater avoidance, and worse family function were associated with higher levels of anxiety. Likewise, greater fear of COVID-19, poorer self-perceived health, greater avoidance, and poorer family function, were associated with greater depression. These results point out that family dysfunction is a predisposing factor for the development of the emotional problems of anxiety and depression in older people in potentially stressful and loss situations (AU)
