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1.
JAMA Netw Open ; 7(6): e2416767, 2024 Jun 03.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38888923

ABSTRACT

Importance: Older adults are particularly vulnerable to loneliness and its physical and psychosocial sequelae, but scalable interventions are lacking, especially during disasters such as pandemics. Objective: To compare the effects of layperson-delivered, telephone-based behavioral activation and mindfulness interventions vs telephone-based befriending on loneliness among at-risk older adults. Design, Setting, and Participants: This assessor-blinded, 3-arm randomized clinical trial screened Chinese older adults through household visits and community referrals from April 1, 2021, to April 30, 2023, in Hong Kong. Eligible participants (≥65 years of age) who were lonely, digitally excluded, living alone, and living below the poverty line and provided consent to participate were randomized into behavioral activation, mindfulness, and befriending groups. Assessments were conducted at baseline, 1 month, and 3 months. Intervention: As part of the Helping Alleviate Loneliness in Hong Kong Older Adults (HEAL-HOA) dual randomized clinical trial, 148 older laypersons were trained to deliver a twice-weekly 30-minute intervention via telephone for 4 weeks. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was loneliness measured by the UCLA Loneliness Scale (range, 20-80) and the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale (range, 0-6), with higher scores on both scales indicating greater loneliness. Secondary outcomes were depression, perceived stress, life satisfaction, psychological well-being, sleep quality, perceived social support, and social network. Results: A total of 1151 participants (mean [SD] age, 76.6 [7.8] years; 843 [73.2%] female) were randomized to the behavioral activation (n = 335), mindfulness (n = 460) or befriending (n = 356) group. Most were widowed or divorced (932 [81.0%]), had primary education or below (782 [67.9%]), and had 3 or more chronic diseases (505 [43.9%]). Following intention-to-treat principles, linear mixed-effects regression model analyses showed that loneliness measured by the UCLA Loneliness Scale was significantly reduced in the behavioral activation group (mean difference [MD], -1.96 [95% CI, -3.16 to -0.77] points; P < .001]) and in the mindfulness group (MD, -1.49 [95% CI, -2.60 to -0.37] points; P = .004) at 3 months compared with befriending. Loneliness measured by the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale was not significantly reduced at 3 months in the behavioral activation group (MD, -0.06 [95% CI, -0.26 to 0.13] points; P > .99]) but was in the mindfulness group (MD, 0.22 [95% CI, 0.03 to 0.40] points; P = .01) at 3 months compared with befriending. In the behavioral activation and mindfulness groups, sleep quality improved compared with befriending, but perceived stress increased. Psychological well-being and perceived social support improved in the behavioral activation group. No statistically significant between-group differences were observed in depression, life satisfaction, or social network. Conclusion and Relevance: In this randomized clinical trial, scalable psychosocial interventions delivered remotely by older laypersons appeared promising in reducing later life loneliness and addressing the pressing mental health challenges faced by aging populations and professional geriatric mental health workforce shortages. Further research should explore ways to maximize the clinical relevance and cost-effectiveness of these interventions. Trial Registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry Identifier: ChiCTR2300072909.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Loneliness , Poverty , Telephone , Humans , COVID-19/psychology , COVID-19/epidemiology , Female , Aged , Male , Loneliness/psychology , Hong Kong , Poverty/psychology , Mindfulness/methods , SARS-CoV-2 , Pandemics , Aged, 80 and over
2.
Contemp Clin Trials Commun ; 38: 101275, 2024 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38435428

ABSTRACT

Background: Interventions to reduce loneliness in older adults usually do not show sustained effects. One potential way to combat loneliness is to offer meaningful social activities. Volunteering has been suggested as one such activity - however, its effects on loneliness remain to be tested in randomized controlled trials (RCT). Methods: This planned Dual-RCT aims to recruit older adults experiencing loneliness, with subsequent randomization to either a volunteering condition (6 weeks of training before delivering one of three tele-based loneliness interventions to older intervention recipients twice a week for 6 months) or to an active control condition (psycho-education with social gatherings for six months). Power analyses require the recruitment of N = 256 older adults to detect differences between the volunteering and the active control condition (128 in each) on the primary outcome of loneliness (UCLA Loneliness Scale). Secondary outcomes comprise social network engagement, perceived social support, anxiety and depressive symptoms, self-rated health, cognitive health, perceived stress, sleep quality, and diurnal cortisol (1/3 of the sample). The main analyses will comprise condition (volunteering vs. no-volunteering) × time (baseline, 6-, 12-, 18-, 24-months follow-ups) interactions to test the effects of volunteering on loneliness and secondary outcomes. Effects are expected to be mediated via frequency, time and involvement in volunteering. Discussion: If our trial can show that volunteers delivering one of the three telephone-based interventions to lonely intervention recipients benefit from volunteer work themselves, this might encourage more older adults to volunteer, helping to solve some of the societal issues involved with rapid demographic changes.

3.
Am J Geriatr Psychiatry ; 32(5): 598-610, 2024 May.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38199937

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determine the beneficial effects of volunteering as lay counselor via telephone on own loneliness, social network engagement, perceived social support, stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms among Chinese older adults in Hong Kong during the COVID-19 pandemic. DESIGN, SETTING, INTERVENTION, AND PARTICIPANTS: "Helping Alleviate Loneliness in Hong Kong Older Adults" (HEAL-HOA), a dual randomized controlled trial, was implemented to test effects of telephone-based psychosocial interventions delivered by older-adult volunteers for low-income lonely older adults. To evaluate the effects of volunteering on loneliness, we randomized 375 individuals ages 50-70 into a volunteering condition versus an active control (psychoeducation with social gatherings). Following a 6-week training, participants in the volunteering condition, delivered tele-interventions to older intervention recipients. MEASUREMENT: The primary outcome was loneliness measured with the UCLA Loneliness Scale. Secondary outcomes were loneliness measured with the De Jong Gierveld Scale (DJG), social network engagement, perceived social support, perceived stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Assessments were completed before training (baseline) and immediately after the 6-month volunteering period. RESULTS: Results from linear mixed models show significant positive effects of volunteering (significant interactions of condition × time) on both measures of loneliness (dppc2 = -0.41 ULCA Loneliness score, dppc2 = -0.70 total DJG score), social network engagement, stress and depressive symptoms as compared to control participants. CONCLUSIONS: The HEAL-HOA trial demonstrates beneficial effects of volunteer-delivered tele-interventions on decreasing loneliness on the volunteer interventionists themselves. Communicating these benefits for volunteers may attract more older adults into volunteering. This effective tele-based volunteer program is scalable for wider implementation. SUMMARY: This RCT tested effects of volunteering on loneliness in Hong Kong during the COVID-19-pandemic. Three hundred seventy-five individuals ages 50-70 were randomized into volunteering (delivering tele-interventions against loneliness) versus an active control condition. After 6 months, volunteers compared to controls, showed benefits on loneliness, social network engagement, stress and depressive symptoms. A program engaging lonely older adults in loneliness intervention delivery has beneficial effects on volunteers themselves and could be a scalable solution for our loneliness epidemic.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Loneliness , Aged , Humans , Loneliness/psychology , Outcome Assessment, Health Care , Pandemics , Volunteers/psychology , Middle Aged
4.
J Elder Abuse Negl ; 35(2-3): 121-138, 2023 03.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37489649

ABSTRACT

This study adopted an experimental design to evaluate the effectiveness of an anti-scam education program for older adults. Participants in the experimental group (n = 55) first participated in an anti-scam board game and then joined another board game featuring local tea restaurants two weeks later, whereas such order was reversed for the control group (n = 54). Compared with the control group, participants in the experimental group reported significant increases in their self-efficacy in fraud prevention and awareness of scam situations, and a significant decrease in perceived susceptibility to scams immediately and two weeks after the intervention, demonstrating the immediate and the short-term effects of the anti-scam education program in reducing fraud victimization risk of older adults.


Subject(s)
Bullying , Crime Victims , Elder Abuse , Aged , Humans , Elder Abuse/prevention & control , Fraud/prevention & control
5.
Curr Psychol ; : 1-15, 2023 Mar 21.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37359655

ABSTRACT

The present research reports the findings of three studies, with objectives to demonstrate the impacts of health-promoting behaviors on psychological well-being as well as the mediating roles of sense of control (SOC) and perceived severity of COVID-19 in these relationships. Study 1 was a cross-sectional survey conducted in 473 middle-aged and older Chinese adults before the COVID-19 pandemic to assess their health-promoting behaviors, personal mastery and perceived constraints, life satisfaction, and depressive symptoms. Study 2 was conducted during the second wave of the COVID-19 outbreak in Hong Kong (between March to April 2020), in which 292 participants from Study 1 were successfully contacted to report their emotional responses to the pandemic. Using a different sample, Study 3 was a longitudinal study that measured 495 participants' health-promoting behaviors, personal mastery and perceived constraints at baseline, and their perceived severity and mental health outcomes during the outbreak of omicron cases in Hong Kong (i.e., the fifth wave of the COVID-19 outbreak) in March 2022. All three studies demonstrate that the beneficial effects of health behaviors can be extended to psychological well-being and reveal possible underlying mechanisms through enhancing one's SOC and lowering perceived severity of the COVID-19 outbreak. These results provide important insights to future health promotion programs for improving psychological resources and psychological well-being of middle-aged and older adults in face of disease-related threats.

6.
Front Psychol ; 14: 1063440, 2023.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37008844

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Existing caregiver assessment tools were long criticized for focusing on the needs and burden while neglecting the importance of the resources. The current study aimed to develop a multidimensional and time-effective assessment tool that measures both needs and resources of non-paid family caregivers of older adults for screening and service-matching purposes. Methods: Items of the Caregiver Needs and Resources Assessment (CNRA) were developed from extensive literature reviews and focus group interviews of family caregivers and social workers in the field. In addition, we collected 317 valid responses from family caregivers of older adults from local non-government organizations in examining the psychometric properties of the CNRA. Results: The results revealed a 12-factor structure that fitted nicely into the conceptual frame of needs and resources domains. Need factors were positively associated with mental health symptoms, while resource factors were positively associated with peace in mind, meaning-making, and personal gain measures. The 36-item CNRA revealed good internal reliability and convergent validity. Discussion: The CNRA has the potential to be used as a compact yet balanced assessment tool for understanding both the needs and resources of caregivers for human service professionals.

7.
BMC Geriatr ; 22(1): 125, 2022 02 14.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35164704

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupts the daily routine and increases the caregiving load of the family carers of older adults. This study examined how the pandemic may impact mental health and investigated the prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms in family carers of older people. METHODS: Two hundred and thirty-six family carers of older adults participated in this cross-sectional survey study. Outcome measures included their symptoms of anxiety and depression, pandemic-related psychosocial factors, external factors, and the practice of preventive behaviours. RESULTS: Caseness prevalence of anxiety and depression among family carers was 25 and 56% respectively. Working carers were more depressed than non-working, while younger carers reported more anxiety and depression symptoms than older. Hand hygiene and getting drugs from the hospital positively predicted depression while healthy lifestyle negatively predicted depression. These variables, together with perceived risk and severity and the worry of getting infected, predicted anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of mental health symptoms was alarming. Telemedicine practice, including online pharmaceutical services and the Internet Hospital plus Drug Delivery platform, could be a solution in alleviating the burden and worry of infection of family carers. Tailored-made interventions by age and working status of the family carers are recommended.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Pandemics , Aged , Anxiety/diagnosis , Anxiety/epidemiology , Caregivers/psychology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Hong Kong/epidemiology , Humans , Independent Living , SARS-CoV-2
8.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35162252

ABSTRACT

While the majority of studies on the fear of crime focus on the impact of violent and property crimes at the population level, financial fraud against senior citizens is often under-investigated. This study uses data collected from 1061 older citizens in the community through a cross-sectional survey in Hong Kong to examine the levels of fear and perceived risk among Chinese senior citizens toward financial fraud and the factors behind them. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess the explanatory power of four theoretical perspectives (vulnerability, victimization, social integration, and satisfaction with police) on fear and perceived risk of fraud victimization. The results indicate significant predictive effects of victimization experience and satisfaction with police fairness and integrity on both the fear and the perceived risk of fraud among respondents. The findings not only confirm the differential impact of theoretical explanations on these constructs but can also contribute to crime prevention policy and practice in an aging society.


Subject(s)
Crime Victims , Aged , Crime , Cross-Sectional Studies , Fear , Fraud , Hong Kong , Humans
9.
Front Psychol ; 12: 604717, 2021.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34163392

ABSTRACT

Intergenerational conflict occurs commonly in the workplace because of age-related differences in work attitudes and values. This study aimed to advance the current literature on aging and work by examining whether younger and older workers differ in their visual attention, emotional responses, and conflict strategies when observing hypothetical conflict vignettes involving a coworker from a similar or dissimilar age group. The indirect effect of age group on emotional responses and conflict strategies through visual fixation on conflict scenes was also examined. Utilizing eye tracking, the visual attention of younger and older workers while watching two hypothetical workplace task conflict videos was recorded and compared. The participants were also asked to imagine how they would respond if they were the main actor in the vignettes. A total of 94 working adults, including 48 younger workers and 46 older workers, participated in the eye tracking experiment. Older workers reported fewer negative and more positive emotions than their younger counterparts after watching the conflict videos, particularly those on the non-intergenerational conflict. Younger workers used more dominating in the intergenerational conflict than in the non-intergenerational conflict; such discrepancy between conflict types was relatively small in older workers. Compared with younger workers, older workers fixated significantly less on the coworker during the intergenerational conflict scenes. A significant indirect effect of age group through visual fixation on the coworker was observed for positive emotions and avoiding. Results revealed that older workers may regulate their emotional reactions and conflict strategies to workplace conflicts by reducing their attention to negative stimuli.

10.
BMC Geriatr ; 21(1): 128, 2021 02 17.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33596829

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Middle-aged and older adults are more vulnerable to hospitalization and mortality if they are infected with the COVID-19 virus. The present study investigates the longitudinal effects of subjective successful aging on middle-aged and older adults' emotional and coping responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, and explores an underlying mechanism through perceived time limitation during the pandemic. METHODS: A sample of 311 Hong Kong Chinese middle-aged and older adults (Mage = 64.58, SD = 10.14, Range = 45-90 years) were recruited from an Adult Development and Aging Project and participated in a questionnaire study via an online platform or phone interview. Their levels of subjective successful aging, perceived time limitation, and emotional and coping responses to the pandemic were measured. RESULTS: The respondents who perceived themselves as more successful in aging process reported more positive and fewer negative emotions compared with their counterparts with lower levels of subjective successful aging. The mediation analysis showed that perceived time limitation could partially account for the effects of subjective successful aging on emotional and coping responses. CONCLUSIONS: Findings of this study unveil the beneficial effects of subjective views of successful aging on emotional and coping responses to the pandemic through alleviating their perception of time limitation.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Pandemics , Adaptation, Psychological , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Aging , Emotions , Hong Kong/epidemiology , Humans , Middle Aged , SARS-CoV-2
11.
Int J Aging Hum Dev ; 93(1): 584-600, 2021 07.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32468835

ABSTRACT

Recent findings on retirement preparation found a positive impact on the psychological and physical well-being of retirees. However, the types of mental resources that are driving the relationship, such as attitudes toward retirement, only received limited attention. Reasoning from previous findings, we posit that attitudes toward retirement would explain the relationship between retirement preparation and well-being over time after retirement. A three-wave study was conducted in a sample of 130 Hong Kong Chinese retirees over a period of 1.5 years. Data were collected 6 months prior to retirement (T1) and 6 and 12 months after retirement (T2 and T3, respectively), in which preretirement preparation, attitudes toward retirement, and psychological and physical well-being were measured. The positive effect of T1 retirement planning on T3 physical and psychological well-being was partially mediated by T2 attitudes toward retirement. These results remain significant even after controlling for gender, education level, preretirement occupation, and well-being at T1. These findings reveal the role of attitudes toward retirement in driving postretirement adjustment over time.


Subject(s)
Attitude , Emotional Adjustment , Retirement/psychology , Female , Health Status , Hong Kong , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Personal Satisfaction , Psychological Distress
12.
J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci ; 76(Suppl 1): S17-S26, 2021 06 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32324214

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Heterogeneity in successful aging has been found across countries. Yet, comparable evidence is sparse except in North America and Europe. Extending prior research, this study examined the prevalence and correlates of successful aging in East Asia: China, Korea, and Japan. METHOD: We used harmonized data sets from national surveys. A total of 6,479 participants (aged between 65 and 75) were analyzed. Using Rowe and Kahn's (1987, 1997) model, successful aging was defined as having no major diseases, no difficulty performing activities of daily living, obtaining a median or higher score on tests of cognitive function, and being actively engaged. RESULTS: The average prevalence of successful agers was 17.6%. There were variations in the global and specific measures of successful aging within and across countries, even after controlling for individual sociodemographic factors (age, gender, and education). The odds of aging successfully were highest in Japan and lowest in China, especially in the rural areas. Being younger and males were associated with a higher likelihood of successful agers in both global and specific measures. DISCUSSION: This study observed heterogeneity in successful aging in East Asia. To identify policy implications, future research should explore potential societal factors influencing individuals' opportunities for successful aging.


Subject(s)
Cross-Cultural Comparison , Healthy Aging/ethnology , Activities of Daily Living , Age Factors , Aged , China , Cognition , Educational Status , Female , Health Surveys , Humans , Japan , Longitudinal Studies , Male , Multivariate Analysis , Regression Analysis , Republic of Korea , Sex Factors , Social Participation
13.
Int J Psychol ; 56(2): 296-303, 2021 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32700781

ABSTRACT

The Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ; Gross & John, 2003) assesses two emotion regulation (ER) strategies: cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression. Researchers have used the ERQ in cross-national studies, such as with participants in Hong Kong. There is inconsistency in psychometric equivalence data for the ERQ in Chinese among adults, and prior research in Hong Kong contradicted the ERQ's original factor structure (Matsumoto et al., 2008). The present study examined the factor structure, reliability and validity of a translated Traditional Chinese-ERQ and the English-ERQ with Hong Kong college students. Results revealed that both versions replicated the original two-factor structure of the ERQ (Gross & John, 2003). Evidence of the measure's convergent, discriminant and predictive validity was obtained as well. Implications for cross-cultural scale validation particularly with Hong Kong Chinese students are discussed.


Subject(s)
Emotional Regulation/ethics , Psychometrics/methods , Adult , Asian People , China , Female , Hong Kong , Humans , Male , Multilingualism , Reproducibility of Results , Students , Surveys and Questionnaires , Young Adult
14.
Front Psychol ; 11: 571874, 2020.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33224065

ABSTRACT

Socioemotional selectivity theory (SST) stresses that future time perspective (FTP) affects one's goals and behaviors. In the work context, older workers' occupational future time perspective (OFTP) also impacts their work-related behaviors. Two studies investigate whether the two components of OFTP, namely, focus on opportunities and on limitations, could account for the age differences in the use of conflict strategies at work. Study 1 comprises 416 Hong Kong Chinese workers aged between 20 and 68 years who completed an online questionnaire measuring their OFTP and habitual use of five conflict management strategies (integrating, compromising, obliging, avoiding, and dominating). In Study 2, 268 managerial employees and professionals were asked to recall a real-life workplace conflict that happened in the past six months and their use of the five conflict strategies in this incident. The results of Study 1 showed a negative indirect effect of age on all five conflict strategies through focus on opportunities, whereas a positive indirect effect of age was observed on obliging, avoiding and dominating strategies through focus on limitations. These age-related patterns are largely replicated in Study 2. These findings suggest that aging workers' increased perception of limitations make them utilize less constructive strategies when facing conflict at work.

15.
Int J Psychol ; 55(6): 983-994, 2020 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32017064

ABSTRACT

The existing models of emotion regulation (ER) do not make any specific prediction about the differential effects of the same ER strategy among individuals of different ages. However, such assumption may not be necessarily true, given that older adults emphasise emotional goals greater than their younger counterparts. Using a daily diary approach, this study investigated whether the effects of cognitive reappraisal (CR) and expressive suppression (ES) on daily work-related outcomes would vary by age when individuals were experiencing negative events at work. A total of 141 Chinese managerial employees (Mage  = 42.40, SD = 9.16) completed the diary report for 15 consecutive workdays by recording their daily work experiences. The results of the multilevel analyses showed that age moderated the effects of ES on daily negative emotions, perceived work stress, and job satisfaction. More beneficial effects were observed among older workers than among younger workers. By contrast, the use of CR significantly lowered the levels of negative emotions and perceived work stress for both younger and older workers. These findings revealed the importance of considering the role of age in evaluating the effects of ES on work-related outcomes, which provides important implications for future research and training programs in ER.


Subject(s)
Cognition/physiology , Emotions/physiology , Occupational Stress/psychology , Adult , Asian People , Female , Humans , Male
16.
Front Psychol ; 10: 900, 2019.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31073294

ABSTRACT

Wealth inequality is a prevalent social issue. The present study focuses on acceptance of wealth inequality, and considers personal income, perceived upward mobility, and future time perspective as its antecedents, and collective action intention as its outcome. With reference to the social identity literature and socioemotional selectivity theory, we posit a conditional indirect effect of income on collective action intention through acceptance of wealth inequality: only when mobility and future time perspective are relatively high, higher income is associated with higher acceptance of wealth inequality and in turn, lower collective action intention. Moderated mediation findings, based on territory-wide phone survey data from 866 Hong Kong adults, supported this prediction. This work indicates the relevance of an individual-level instrumental perspective to the understanding of acceptance of wealth inequality as well as collective action intention.

17.
Int J Psychol ; 54(1): 108-116, 2019 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28573645

ABSTRACT

With the upsurge of older adults still working, the labour force is becoming increasingly diverse in age. Age diversity in an organisation can increase the likelihood of intergenerational conflict. The present study aims to integrate the dual concern model and social identity theory to explain the underlying mechanisms of intergenerational conflict by examining the effects of social identity salience on motivational orientation and conflict strategies. A 2 (subgroup identity salience: low vs. high younger/older group membership) × 2 (superordinate identity salience: low vs. high organisational group membership) factorial design with a structured questionnaire on motivational orientation and conflict strategies in relation to a hypothetical work conflict scenario was implemented among 220 postgraduate university students in Hong Kong. Results revealed that subgroup and superordinate identities had a combined influence on conflict strategies but not in motivational orientation. Subgroup and superordinate identification promoted integrating and compromising strategies, superordinate identification promoted obliging strategy, subgroup identification promoted dominating strategy and no identification promoted avoiding strategy. Age did not moderate these relationships. This study contributes to the development of the integrated model of conflict.


Subject(s)
Motivation/physiology , Social Identification , Adult , Aged , Conflict, Psychological , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Surveys and Questionnaires , Young Adult
18.
J Pers Soc Psychol ; 116(6): 966-988, 2019 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29902026

ABSTRACT

While significant research has demonstrated that people's beliefs about a group shape how they judge members of that group, few studies have examined whether people's beliefs and values regarding emotion (their "ideal affect") shape how they socially judge people's emotional facial expressions. We predicted that the more people valued and ideally wanted to feel excitement and other high arousal positive states (HAP), the more affiliative (extraverted, agreeable) they would judge excited (vs. calm) faces. Moreover, because European Americans typically value HAP more than Hong Kong Chinese do, we predicted that European Americans would rate excited (vs. calm) targets as more affiliative than would Hong Kong Chinese. We found consistent support for these hypotheses in four studies. In Studies 1a and 1b, these effects held regardless of target race (White, Asian) and target sex (male, female); emerged for human as well as computer-generated faces; and did not consistently emerge for nonaffiliative social judgments (i.e., dominance, competence). In Studies 2 and 3, we replicated these findings in more realistic contexts. In Study 2, culture and ideal affect predicted participants' extraversion judgments of excited Facebook profiles. In Study 3, culture and ideal affect predicted participants' extraversion and agreeableness judgments of an excited job applicant, which increased their likelihood of hiring that applicant. Together, these findings suggest that people's culture and ideal affect shape how affiliative they judge excited (vs. calm) smiles. We discuss the role these processes may play in perpetuating biases in multicultural settings. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).


Subject(s)
Affect , Cross-Cultural Comparison , Judgment , Smiling/psychology , Adult , Canada/ethnology , Female , Hong Kong/ethnology , Humans , Male , Students/psychology , Students/statistics & numerical data , United States/ethnology , Young Adult
19.
Int J Psychol ; 54(4): 478-486, 2019 Aug.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29611619

ABSTRACT

Past research has often focused on the effects of emotional intelligence and received social support on subjective well-being yet paid limited attention to the effects of provided social support. This study adopted a longitudinal design to examine the sequential mediating effects of provided and received social support on the relationship between trait emotional intelligence and subjective happiness. A total of 214 Hong Kong Chinese undergraduates were asked to complete two assessments with a 6-month interval in between. The results of the sequential mediation analysis indicated that the trait emotional intelligence measured in Time 1 indirectly influenced the level of subjective happiness in Time 2 through a sequential pathway of social support provided for others in Time 1 and social support received from others in Time 2. These findings highlight the importance of trait emotional intelligence and the reciprocal exchanges of social support in the subjective well-being of university students.


Subject(s)
Emotional Intelligence/physiology , Happiness , Students/psychology , Adult , Asian People , Female , Hong Kong , Humans , Longitudinal Studies , Male , Social Support , Universities , Young Adult
20.
Psychol Aging ; 34(1): 106-123, 2019 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30299153

ABSTRACT

Affective experiences at work are a key contributing factor to long-term job-related well-being and effectiveness, yet may systematically change as workers get older. Given the central role of affect in work settings, it is important to obtain a thorough understanding of older workers' strengths and vulnerabilities in affective functioning. This paper's goal was to comprehensively study age differences in mean levels and dynamics of affect (affect stability, occurrence of positive and negative daily work events, and affective reactivity) and to link these with perceptions of global occupational well-being and effectiveness. In three diary studies, employees of different occupational and cultural backgrounds (Hong Kong Chinese managerial employees, German hospital employees, German office workers) reported daily affective work events and affect across multiple workdays. Higher age was associated with more positive and less negative affect (Study 1), more frequent positive daily work events (Study 2 and 3), and lower variability of negative affect (Study 1 and 2). Age was unrelated to frequency of negative work events and positive event reactivity (all studies). There were mixed age differences in negative event reactivity (lower reactivity in Study 1 and on subtypes of affect in Study 2, but higher worry in Study 3). Several of the indicators of affective experience emerged as mediators of positive age differences in work engagement and self-rated task performance. Overall, with one exception, results point at maintenance or improvement of workers' affective functioning with age. Through improved affective functioning, older workers likely contribute to organizational effectiveness. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).


Subject(s)
Affect/physiology , Aging/physiology , Aging/psychology , Motivation/physiology , Workplace/psychology , Adult , Aged , Female , Hong Kong/epidemiology , Humans , Male , Middle Aged
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