Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
3.5
2.4
Journals
Healthcare
Special Issues
Psychological Health and Social Wellbeing Among Older Adults
share announcement

Psychological Health and Social Wellbeing Among Older Adults

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 March 2025) | Viewed by 8555

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Doreen Wing Han Au

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Nursing and Health Sciences, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Interests: ageing; mental health; integrative and complementary medicine; health economics; health and healthcare policy; technology impact analysis, and digital game-based learning

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The current global demographic transition is characterized by a significant rise in the proportion of older individuals within the population.  This demographic shift holds significant implications for the development of a "wellbeing economy", particularly with respect to the psychological health and social wellbeing of older adults.

To further comprehend and measure these aspects of wellbeing, innovative measures and approaches are necessary. Such developments have significant implications for reviewing the internationally agreed development objectives, including those featured in the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA) and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

We welcome contributions that explore various aspects of Psychological Health and Social Wellbeing Among Older Adults. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Theoretical frameworks for integrating the concept of psychological health and social wellbeing;
  • Novel assessment tools or the validation of existing ones in order to evaluate living conditions and arrangements, productive and other contributions to society, social protection, and healthcare needs;
  • Innovative interventions to promote psychological health and social engagement and wellbeing in later life;
  • The role of technology in enhancing Psychological Health and Social Wellbeing Among Older Adults;
  • The environmental impact on the psychological health and social wellbeing of older adults and their caregivers;
  • The cultural and societal factors that influence psychological health and social wellbeing during the later stages of life.

Submissions from diverse academic disciplines, such as psychology, sociology, gerontology, social work, environmental health, health economics and public health, are encouraged. Original research articles, reviews, meta-analyses, and theoretical papers are all welcome.

Dr. Doreen Wing Han Au
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • ageing 
  • psychological health
  • social wellbeing
  • gerontechnology
  • environmental health
  • health economics

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (6 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Other

27 pages, 885 KiB  
Article
Preliminary Study and Pre-Validation in Portugal of New Farmers’ Mindfulness and Life Satisfaction Scale (FMLSS)
by Artur Morais, Raquel P. F. Guiné, Cristina A. Costa and Cátia Magalhães
Healthcare 2025, 13(9), 1027; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13091027 - 29 Apr 2025
Viewed by 132
Abstract
Background/Objective: Besides the common risks associated with agriculture, recently, there has been growing concern about the impact of agriculture on farmers’ mental health, due to high stress levels, depression, anxiety, and increasing rates of suicide, especially complex considering that many of these farmers [...] Read more.
Background/Objective: Besides the common risks associated with agriculture, recently, there has been growing concern about the impact of agriculture on farmers’ mental health, due to high stress levels, depression, anxiety, and increasing rates of suicide, especially complex considering that many of these farmers are older people. The potential of the practice of mindfulness to minimize mental health problems and improve people’s sense of well-being has been studied in recent decades, although there is a dearth of literature related to farmer populations. This study aimed to correlate the presence of mindfulness traits with general life quality and well-being and assess the levels of mindfulness and life satisfaction among family farmers, as well as to evaluate which characteristics might be associated with them. Method: The sample was composed of 30 farmers from the region of Viseu—Portugal, who were randomly selected for a survey consisting of an adaptation of the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), with some new items specific to the context of agriculture. A proposed Farmers’ Mindfulness and Life Satisfaction Scale (FMLSS) was validated through factor analysis and internal reliability analysis. Result: The results showed a relatively high average score for the 10 items of the mindfulness scale (4.23 ± 0.56) and the global sum of scores for the 5 items of the life satisfaction scale (26.67 ± 4.76). Factor analysis revealed six factors, globally explaining 77% of the variance, with values of alpha varying from 0.640 to 0.874. The FMLSS was validated with 19 items of the 20 initially considered (α = 0.672). Cluster analysis revealed two typologies of participants, “Pleased” and “Accommodated” family farmers. These two clusters had global values for the FMLSS of 5.19 ± 0.51 and 4.37 ± 0.59, with the higher value obtained for the “Pleased” family farmers, who were mostly of male gender and worked more hours per week and whose agricultural activities had higher significance for their family income. Conclusions: Overall, we observed a relatively high level of mindfulness and satisfaction with life among family farmers. This suggests the importance of future research on mental health among family farmers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychological Health and Social Wellbeing Among Older Adults)
11 pages, 230 KiB  
Article
Unequal Burdens: Gendered and Socioeconomic Dimensions of Occupational Health Among Hong Kong’s Informal Waste Pickers
by Siu-Ming Chan, Yuen-Ki Tang, Heng Xu, Jasmine Zhang, Kim Kwok, Wai-Yiu Tam and Wing-Him Tang
Healthcare 2025, 13(6), 683; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13060683 - 20 Mar 2025
Viewed by 309
Abstract
Background: This study explores the multifaceted inequalities faced by informal waste pickers in Hong Kong, focusing on the impacts of gender and socioeconomic status in shaping their working environment, income, and psychological health. Recognizing that social stratification encompasses a series of structural [...] Read more.
Background: This study explores the multifaceted inequalities faced by informal waste pickers in Hong Kong, focusing on the impacts of gender and socioeconomic status in shaping their working environment, income, and psychological health. Recognizing that social stratification encompasses a series of structural factors, i.e., gender, race, and socioeconomic status, we aim to fill the gap in existing literature regarding the precarious employment of this population. Methods: Utilizing a comprehensive, territory-wide survey, we analyzed the experiences of male and female waste pickers across different socioeconomic backgrounds. Differences between genders for continuous variables were assessed using the independent samples t-test. Differences across categories defined by gender and socioeconomic status were analyzed using one-way ANOVA, followed by post hoc comparisons with the least significant difference (LSD) method. Results: Our findings indicate that both gender and socioeconomic status significantly influence working environment, occupational income, and psychological health outcomes. Specifically, female waste pickers from lower socioeconomic backgrounds face more adverse working environments, lower income levels, and heightened psychological health risks compared to their higher-status counterparts. Conclusions: These results underscore the urgent need for targeted outreach and tailored healthcare services for vulnerable female waste pickers, as well as social support systems that empower them to negotiate with intermediaries and recycling shop owners. By recognizing their essential role in Hong Kong’s urban recycling ecosystem, this study advocates for policies that address these disparities and promote psychological health and social well-being among this marginalized group. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychological Health and Social Wellbeing Among Older Adults)
14 pages, 1396 KiB  
Article
An International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health Model-Based Analysis of Suicidal Ideation among 9920 Community-Dwelling Korean Older Adults
by Haewon Byeon
Healthcare 2024, 12(5), 538; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12050538 - 23 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1480
Abstract
Background: Many complex factors contribute to suicide in older adults. The suicidal ideation that precedes suicide is an especially direct predictor of suicide. This study aimed to identify the effects between variables affecting suicidal ideation among older adults using the International Classification of [...] Read more.
Background: Many complex factors contribute to suicide in older adults. The suicidal ideation that precedes suicide is an especially direct predictor of suicide. This study aimed to identify the effects between variables affecting suicidal ideation among older adults using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) model and understand the causal relationships to systematize complex factors. Methods: This study used data from 9920 community-dwelling older adults who completed a national survey in 2020 to classify predictors of suicidal ideation (e.g., depression, subjective health status, sociodemographic factors, health factors, social support, instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), and social participation) by using the ICF model. To determine the causal relationship between variables, this study examined significance based on the critical ratio (C.R.) and squared multiple correlation (SMC) by using a path model. Results: Gender, education level, economic level, age, IADL, relationship satisfaction with a child, depression, and the number of chronic diseases significantly affected suicidal ideation, while age, employment status, participation in social groups, formal and informal support, satisfaction with a friend/neighbor relationship, and subjective health status did not significantly influence it. Moreover, depression mediated the relationship between each of these variables and suicidal ideation. Conclusions: It was found that depression was the most direct and mediating factor in suicidal ideation among many factors affecting the suicidal ideation of community-dwelling older adults. Additional studies should be conducted to develop community-level strategies based on these factors and understand causal relationships. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychological Health and Social Wellbeing Among Older Adults)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 230 KiB  
Article
Purposes of Internet Use and Its Impacts on Physical and Psychological Health of Korean Older Adults
by Gyeong-Suk Jeon and Kyungwon Choi
Healthcare 2024, 12(2), 244; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12020244 - 18 Jan 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2102
Abstract
Older adults engage in online activities for various purposes. An increasing number of studies are establishing connections between the purposes of internet use and their impacts on health outcomes. This study aimed to examine how the purposes of internet use affect self-rated health [...] Read more.
Older adults engage in online activities for various purposes. An increasing number of studies are establishing connections between the purposes of internet use and their impacts on health outcomes. This study aimed to examine how the purposes of internet use affect self-rated health and depressive symptoms among Korean older adults. A nationally representative survey of community-dwelling older adults in Korea was used in the analysis (n = 5094). Instrumental internet use (using the internet to access various forms of information, services, and other resources) in Korean older adults was as common as interpersonal communication use, and the purposes of internet use were mainly for information seeking for everyday needs and engaging in various activities for enjoyment. Internet use for interpersonal communication and instrumental purposes was significantly associated with depressive symptoms and self-rated health. Internet use for instrumental purposes had a greater impact on self-rated health (β = −0.186) and depressive symptoms (β = −0.160) compared with the impacts of interpersonal communication internet use on self-rated health (β = −0.101) and depressive symptoms (β = −0.047). The findings highlighted the necessity of designing interventions that take into account the different purposes of internet use for older adults in order to maximize its benefits, paying special emphasis for information seeking online. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychological Health and Social Wellbeing Among Older Adults)
10 pages, 259 KiB  
Article
A Study on the Longitudinal Relationship between Changes in Depression and Cognitive Function among Older Adults Living Alone
by Soyoung Park, Kyuhyoung Jeong and Seoyoon Lee
Healthcare 2023, 11(20), 2712; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11202712 - 11 Oct 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2108
Abstract
Background: As South Korea faces unprecedented population aging, this longitudinal study examined the relationship between depression and cognitive function changes in older individuals living alone. Methods: The study used data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA). A total of 1354 participants [...] Read more.
Background: As South Korea faces unprecedented population aging, this longitudinal study examined the relationship between depression and cognitive function changes in older individuals living alone. Methods: The study used data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA). A total of 1354 participants with data available over a period of at least three years, from 2016 (wave 1) to 2020 (wave 8), were included, and latent growth modeling (LGM) was used for analysis. Results: Depression levels increased gradually among older individuals living alone and cognitive function declined over time among older adults living alone. Moreover, higher initial depression levels were associated with lower initial cognitive function levels and a more rapid cognitive decline over time. Therefore, it is imperative that depression be addressed as a potential cause of cognitive impairment and dementia. Furthermore, rapid increases in depression corresponded to rapid declines in cognitive function, indicating the need for continuous monitoring and intervention in cases of escalating depression, as it may negatively affect cognitive abilities. Conclusions: These findings highlight the complex interplay between depression and cognitive function among older individuals living alone. Policy support to encourage participation in these programs is crucial to enhance the well-being of this vulnerable population. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychological Health and Social Wellbeing Among Older Adults)

Other

Jump to: Research

14 pages, 1526 KiB  
Study Protocol
An Awareness, Courage, and Love Online Group Intervention for Chinese Older Adults in the Post-Pandemic Era: Study Protocol for a Randomised Controlled Trial
by Stephen Cheong-Yu Chan, Qi-Lu Huang, Wing-Shan Ho, Rachel Chan, Crystal Yeung, Serena Wong and Mavis Tsai
Healthcare 2024, 12(21), 2158; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12212158 - 30 Oct 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1229
Abstract
Background. Social connections not only contribute to psychological and emotional well-being but also positively impact physical health, with social isolation and loneliness linked to early mortality and detrimental health outcomes. Objectives. This study aims to evaluate an online Awareness, Courage, and Love (ACL) [...] Read more.
Background. Social connections not only contribute to psychological and emotional well-being but also positively impact physical health, with social isolation and loneliness linked to early mortality and detrimental health outcomes. Objectives. This study aims to evaluate an online Awareness, Courage, and Love (ACL) group intervention designed to enhance social connectedness and subjective well-being while reducing loneliness, depression, and anxiety among older adults. Methods. This randomised controlled trial (RCT) will involve an intervention group receiving a 2 h ACL session via videoconferencing. Eligible participants selected after screening will be assigned randomly to either a treatment or waitlist-control group. Participants in both conditions will complete the assessments at three time points, including baseline, post-intervention, and one-month follow-up. Tools for assessing the concerned variables include the Inclusion of Other in the Self Scale, de Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalised Anxiety Disorder 2-item (GAD-2) Scale, and World Health Organisation—Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5). Conclusions. This study will offer a robust framework for investigating the impact of the online ACL intervention on loneliness and social connectedness among Chinese older adults. The result of this study will reach theoretical, empirical, practical, and teaching significance on mental health care strategies for Chinese older adults. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychological Health and Social Wellbeing Among Older Adults)
►▼ Show Figures

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-6
Back to TopTop