Semmy Op den Camp, Julie Schulkens, Sebastiaan van Alphen, Ellen Gielkens, Silvan Licher, Therèse van Amelsvoort, Sjacko Sobczak
{"title":"Adverse Childhood Events, Personality Disorders, and Multimorbidity in Older Adults: Exploring the Connections.","authors":"Semmy Op den Camp, Julie Schulkens, Sebastiaan van Alphen, Ellen Gielkens, Silvan Licher, Therèse van Amelsvoort, Sjacko Sobczak","doi":"10.1080/07317115.2025.2487673","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/07317115.2025.2487673","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>We investigated the association between adverse childhood events, personality disorders and multimorbidity in older adults.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This is a cross-sectional analysis in a population of older adults including 40 people with a personality disorder and 75 healthy controls. The Childhood Traumatic Events Scale was used to assess adverse childhood events. Multimorbidity was defined as the presence of 2 or more predetermined chronic somatic and psychiatric disorders. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between adverse childhood events, personality disorders and multimorbidity.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>No significant association was found between adverse childhood events and multimorbidity (OR = 1.03, 95% CI = 0.96-1.09). The presence of a personality disorder was significantly associated with multimorbidity (OR = 12.95, 95% CI = 4.28-39.14).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Overall, we did not find an association between adverse childhood events and multimorbidity in older adults. Multimorbidity was more prevalent in subjects with personality disorders compared to healthy controls.</p><p><strong>Clinical implications: </strong>The findings suggest that personality disorders are associated with both mental and physical health challenges, underscoring the importance of integrated care approaches to address both aspects in clinical practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":10376,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Gerontologist","volume":" ","pages":"1-12"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143810716","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Later Life Depression Knowledge Questionnaire (LLD-KQ): Development and Initial Validation.","authors":"Abigail J Laine, Kamila S White, Ann M Steffen","doi":"10.1080/07317115.2025.2488953","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/07317115.2025.2488953","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Later life depression is an important mental health concern requiring knowledge and skill competencies for behavioral health providers. This study developed and evaluated the initial validity of the Later Life Depression Knowledge Questionnaire (LLD-KQ) as a measure of clinical knowledge of later life depression.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Domain identification, item generation, and content validity were first explored with five geropsychologists. Initially drafted questions were pre-tested with 10 additional geropsychologists. A pool of prospective survey items was administered to licensed masters-level social workers (<i>n</i> = 300) for individual item examination, confirmatory factor analyses testing 1- and 3-factor models, and initial estimates of reliability and validity.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>From the pool of items pertaining to three identified domains (i.e. psychopathology, assessment/diagnosis, and treatment), 25 items were retained for the final LLD-KQ. The three-factor CFA model did not demonstrate adequacy above that of the single factor CFA model. The results provide initial support for internal consistency and construct validity.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Initial psychometric support for the LLD-KQ was observed while further research on scale dimensionality is warranted.</p><p><strong>Clinical implications: </strong>The LLD-KQ may advance research on behavioral health providers' knowledge of later life depression to evaluate the current state of specialized knowledge in mental health and aging.</p>","PeriodicalId":10376,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Gerontologist","volume":" ","pages":"1-12"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143802764","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"New Research to Advance Assessment in Geriatric Mental Health.","authors":"Jennifer Moye","doi":"10.1080/07317115.2025.2486900","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/07317115.2025.2486900","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":10376,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Gerontologist","volume":" ","pages":"1-3"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143779283","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lisa Van Hove, Beau M Nieuwenhuijs, Steven Vanderstichelen, Nico De Witte, Ellen Gorus, Lara Stas, Imke Baetens
{"title":"Biopsychosocial Profile of Community-Dwelling Older Adults at Risk for Direct and Indirect Self-Harm.","authors":"Lisa Van Hove, Beau M Nieuwenhuijs, Steven Vanderstichelen, Nico De Witte, Ellen Gorus, Lara Stas, Imke Baetens","doi":"10.1080/07317115.2025.2487003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/07317115.2025.2487003","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>A biopsychosocial model of self-harm risk factors in older adults was explored, distinguishing between direct and indirect self-harm.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional, matched pair sample was drawn from a community-dwelling sample of 625 adults aged 60 years and over, including 44 participants with and 44 without self-harm. Mean age was 68.7 years (age range = 60-91). Data were gathered using a survey composed of validated instruments and additional self-developed items.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>From our total sample, 8.2% had engaged in self-harm at age 60 and over. Indirect methods (e.g. substance misuse, not eating) were most common. The presence of a mental disorder, emotional loneliness, cognitive and physical frailty, and a lack of resilience were identified as potential risk factors. Those who have engaged in direct or both types of self-harm exhibit higher levels of these factors. A stepwise regression model showed that only emotional loneliness and mental disorder(s) were significantly associated with self-harm in old age.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Investigating self-harm (subtypes) among community-dwelling older adults is vital, especially in those with a mental disorder and emotional loneliness.</p><p><strong>Clinical implications: </strong>Clinicians should be vigilant for self-harm in older adults, particularly for indirect methods and among those with a mental disorder and who experience emotional loneliness.</p>","PeriodicalId":10376,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Gerontologist","volume":" ","pages":"1-12"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143763252","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A Novel Virtual Reality-Based Nature Meditation Program for Older Adults' Mental Health: Results from a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.","authors":"Isabel Sadowski, Marianne Meilleur-Bédard, Bassam Khoury","doi":"10.1080/07317115.2025.2482089","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/07317115.2025.2482089","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The rapid aging of the global population necessitates innovative interventions to address older adults' mental health. This pilot study evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a 4-week, 8-session nature-mindfulness-compassion program using immersive virtual reality (Embodied-and-Embedded-Mindfulness-Compassion-Framework - Virtual-Reality (EEMCF-VR)) for older adults' mental health.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Following a mixed-methods, two-arm, open-label RCT design, 24 older adults (M<sub>age</sub> = 75.1, SD = 6.58) were randomly assigned to EEMCF-VR (<i>n</i> = 12) or a psychoeducational pamphlet control group (<i>n</i> = 12). Participants completed self-report assessments of stress, positive and negative emotions, coping self-efficacy, psychosocial well-being, mindfulness, and nature connectedness at baseline (T1), midpoint (T2), post-intervention (T3), and 4-week follow-up (T4). Additionally, the EEMCF-VR group completed program feedback (T3) and simulator sickness (T1-T3) questionnaires.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>EEMCF-VR met feasibility benchmarks (recruitment targets achieved, attrition < 15%) and was well-tolerated (minimal simulator sickness). Participant feedback indicated high acceptability. The EEMCF-VR group reported significantly lower stress and negative emotions at T2 and T4 compared to controls. Qualitative analysis highlighted perceived benefits and components to retain (e.g. video content) or refine (e.g. headset weight).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>EEMCF-VR demonstrated feasibility and acceptability, with promising effects on stress and mood, warranting investigation in larger trials.</p><p><strong>Clinical implications: </strong>EEMCF-VR shows potential as a scalable intervention to reduce older adults' emotional distress.</p>","PeriodicalId":10376,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Gerontologist","volume":" ","pages":"1-21"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143728782","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Role of Chronic Tinnitus in Hearing Loss-Related Depression: Insights for Middle-Aged and Older Adults.","authors":"Ying Cui, Huimin Du","doi":"10.1080/07317115.2025.2482877","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/07317115.2025.2482877","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study examines whether chronic tinnitus mediates the relationship between hearing loss and depression in middle-aged and older adults, providing insights into the pathways linking auditory impairment and mental health challenges.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data from 3,241 adults aged 50 and older were obtained from the 2011-2012, 2015-2016, and 2017-2018 NHANES cycles and analyzed. Logistic regression assessed the hearing loss - depression association, and mediation analysis tested the mediating role of chronic tinnitus. Subgroup analyses explored age differences.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Hearing loss increased the odds of depressive symptoms, with chronic tinnitus mediating 16.83% of this effect. In middle-aged adults, chronic tinnitus served as a full mediator in the hearing loss - depression pathway, acted as a partial mediator in adults aged 60-69, and showed no mediating effect in those aged 70 and older.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Hearing loss, chronic tinnitus, and depression are closely linked in middle-aged and older adults. Age-sensitive screening and integrated care addressing both hearing and mental health are crucial to improve well-being.</p><p><strong>Clinical implications: </strong>Combining hearing rehabilitation with tinnitus counseling and mental health support may improve psychological outcomes in older adults.</p>","PeriodicalId":10376,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Gerontologist","volume":" ","pages":"1-17"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143699857","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Marwa Ibrahim Mahfouz Khalil, Reem Said Shaala, Mayar Elnakeeb, Enas Fouad Sayed Mousa, Feten Fekih-Romdhane, Souheil Hallit
{"title":"Psychometric Evaluation of an Arabic Language Version of the Geriatric Sleep Questionnaire-6 Items (GSQ-6) in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.","authors":"Marwa Ibrahim Mahfouz Khalil, Reem Said Shaala, Mayar Elnakeeb, Enas Fouad Sayed Mousa, Feten Fekih-Romdhane, Souheil Hallit","doi":"10.1080/07317115.2025.2481118","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/07317115.2025.2481118","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Assessing sleep quality and patterns in later life is essential for accurately diagnosing and effectively treating sleep problems and their associated consequences. The Geriatric Sleep Questionnaire-6 (GSQ-6) is a widely used self-report questionnaire that assesses sleep quality and disturbances specifically among older adults. This study aimed to translate the scale into Arabic and evaluate its psychometric properties in an older Arabic-speaking adults' population.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The GSQ-6 was translated into Arabic using forward and backward translation procedures, and was administered to a convenience sample of 539 older adults.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The CFA results supported the unidimensional factor structure proposed by the developers. The McDonald's omega value was of 0.70, indicating acceptable internal consistency. The measurement model had an equivalent factor structure across sex. GSQ-6 scores correlated negatively with quality of life and resilience, and positively with neglect and abuse scores, supporting the validity of our Arabic translation.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The Arabic GSQ-6 demonstrated good psychometric properties. The findings support its use as a valid and reliable measure for evaluating sleep quality among the Arabic-speaking older adult population.</p><p><strong>Clinical implications: </strong>The Arabic GSQ-6 now provides clinicians with an evidence-based means of incorporating routine sleep quality evaluation as part of their patient assessments.</p>","PeriodicalId":10376,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Gerontologist","volume":" ","pages":"1-12"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143691167","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Joanna McHugh Power, Eimíle Holton, Brian A Lawlor, Frank Kee, Thomas Scharf, Seán Moynihan, Michelle E Kelly, Caoimhe Hannigan
{"title":"Befriending, Loneliness, and Quality of Life of Older Adults: A Pilot Evaluation Study.","authors":"Joanna McHugh Power, Eimíle Holton, Brian A Lawlor, Frank Kee, Thomas Scharf, Seán Moynihan, Michelle E Kelly, Caoimhe Hannigan","doi":"10.1080/07317115.2025.2481124","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/07317115.2025.2481124","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>An aggregated interventional N-of-1 or single-case design was used to assess the impact of a befriending intervention on a) health-related quality of life (HR-QoL), and b) the association between loneliness on HR-QoL among older adults.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Participants were <i>n</i> = 33 new users of the service, aged 60 + . Outcomes were measured at 13 timepoints across 26 weeks, and data were analyzed using generalized additive modeling (GAM) with a subset of data analyzed using supplementary visual analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Results indicate that the befriending service may reduce decline of HR-QoL (i.e. HR-QoL declined in the baseline phase over time: edf = 3.893, F = 3.0, <i>p</i> = .002, while in the treatment phase, HR-QoL remained more stable: edf = 5.98, F = 2.98, <i>p</i> = .008). The intervention also suppressed the impact of loneliness on HR-QoL.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Befriending interventions may prevent declines in HR-QoL, and may moderate the impact of loneliness on HR-QoL.</p><p><strong>Clinical implications: </strong>Our preliminary findings suggest that befriending services may be useful if clinicians have concerns about the health impacts of loneliness for older people. It is difficult to evaluate community-based services, and we consider the challenges we faced, with a view to assisting others planning similar evaluations.</p>","PeriodicalId":10376,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Gerontologist","volume":" ","pages":"1-10"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143669182","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A Six Year Longitudinal Study of Older Korean Women with Functional Limitations, Chronic Pain, and Depressive Symptoms Who are Living Alone or in Multi-Person Households.","authors":"Ji-Young Choi","doi":"10.1080/07317115.2025.2479046","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/07317115.2025.2479046","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study examines not only the effects of functional limitations and chronic pain on depressive symptoms in older South Korean women, but also the moderating effect of living arrangements on these relationships.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study employed a Correlated Random Effects model using panel data from Wave 5 to Wave 8 of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing. The final sample included 2,443 individuals and 8,360 observations.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The more severe the degree of functional limitations and chronic pain, the higher the level of depressive symptoms in older Korean women. Furthermore, the results of the Correlated Random Effects model showed that the associations between functional limitations and depressive symptoms were more positive among women living alone.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Given the variation in depressive symptoms by living arrangement among older women with functional limitations, the findings underscore the potential importance of living arrangements in the quality of life of older adults in South Korea.</p><p><strong>Clinical implications: </strong>With an increase in the older population, the number of older women living alone is also growing. To enhance the quality of life in old age, interventions related to geriatric primary care or home care would be needed for older women living alone.</p>","PeriodicalId":10376,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Gerontologist","volume":" ","pages":"1-12"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143633677","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Elizabeth Cousins-Whitus, Erin Burke, Mary Beth Spitznagel
{"title":"Self-Mastery and Dementia Caregiver Burden: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.","authors":"Elizabeth Cousins-Whitus, Erin Burke, Mary Beth Spitznagel","doi":"10.1080/07317115.2025.2477588","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/07317115.2025.2477588","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Dementia caregiving often results in caregiver burden, but self-mastery may buffer against burden's negative impact. This work explores the link between these variables, examining potential moderators, through systematic review and meta-analysis.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A PubMed, PsychInfo, Scopus, and Medline search in April 2024 resulted in 25 eligible studies. The Appraisal tool for Cross-Sectional Studies assessed bias risk. Meta-regression via continuous random effects model was conducted in R to examine the relationship between dementia caregiver burden and self-mastery as well as moderating variables.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A medium strength meta-correlation, <i>r</i>=-.347 (95% CI: -.413, -.278, <i>p</i> < .0001) was detected. Percent of extended family caregivers (e.g. nieces, cousins, grandchildren; β=-1.01, 95% C.I. (-1.71, -.32), <i>p</i> < .01) and percent of cases with frontotemporal dementia (β=-.67, 95% C.I. (-1.20, -.13), <i>p</i> < .05) attenuated the relationship.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Results may support the role of self-mastery in mitigating effects of caregiver burden, though experiences unique to extended family or frontotemporal dementia may weaken that relationship. The current review was limited by lack of diversity in potential moderator variables, pointing to needs for future research.</p><p><strong>Clinical implications: </strong>Findings highlight the robustness of the relationship between self-mastery and caregiver burden, possibly informing self-mastery-based interventions and helping clinicians identify and treat at-risk caregivers.</p>","PeriodicalId":10376,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Gerontologist","volume":" ","pages":"1-20"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143604139","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}