Suchergebnisse

In light of the existing knowledge gap in this research area (particularly based on representative samples and research conducted during the pandemic), the objective of this study was to explore the association between perceived ageism and psychosocial outcomes (i.e., in terms of life satisfaction, loneliness, social isolation, aging satisfaction and depressive symptoms) among middle-aged and older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic based on nationally representative data.

(1) The aim of this study was to identify the association between post-materialism and health care use (in terms of the frequency of doctor visits and the reason for doctor visits). (2) Data were taken from the German General Social Survey (a representative sample of individuals aged 18 years and over, n = 3338). The Inglehart's post-materialist index was used to quantify post-materialism. The doctor visits (self-reported) in the past three months served as an outcome measure. The reasons for seeing a doctor served as an additional outcome measure (acute illness; chronic illness; feeling unwell; requesting advice; visit to the doctor's office without consulting the doctor (e.g., need to get a prescription); preventive medical check-up/vaccination). (3) After adjusting for several covariates, negative binomial regressions revealed that compared with materialism, post-materialism was associated with decreased doctor visits (total sample; women). Moreover, the likelihood of visiting the doctor for reasons of chronic illnesses was lower in post-materialistic women, whereas the likelihood of visiting the doctor for reasons of preventive medical check-up/vaccination was higher in post-materialistic women. (4) Study findings identify an unexplored link between post-materialism and doctor visits in women. One may conclude that in the long-term, the increased likelihood of preventive medical check-ups in post-materialistic women will be beneficial in decreasing the need for doctor visits for reasons of chronic illnesses. However, future research is required to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

Background: The reason for doctor visits associated with bad working conditions (and workplace bullying) remains unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the association between perceived working conditions as well as workplace bullying and the number of doctor visits as well as the reason for seeing a doctor.

Methods: Data were derived from the German General Social Survey, a representative cross-section of the population in the year 2014. Self-reported doctor visits in the last 3 months were used as outcome measure. Self-rated working conditions (noise, bad air; time/performance pressure; bad working atmosphere; overtime; hifts/night work; hard physical labour) and workplace bullying were assessed. The reason for seeing a doctor was also recorded (acute illness; chronic illness; feeling unwell; requesting advice; visit to the doctor's office without consulting the doctor (e.g., need to get a prescription); preventive medical check-up/vaccination). Regression analysis stratified by sex was conducted.

Results: Adjusting for various potential confounders, Poisson regressions showed that workplace bullying was associated with increased doctor visits in men, but not in women. Contrarily, time/performance pressure at work was only associated with increased doctor visits in women, but not in men. Furthermore, the probability of visiting the doctor for reasons of acute illness or feeling unwell increased with workplace bullying in men. The probability of visiting the doctor because of feeling unwell increased with time/performance pressure in women.

Conclusions: Our findings stress the association between adverse working conditions (workplace bullying as well as time/performance pressure at work) and doctor visits, with remarkable gender differences. Longitudinal studies are required to confirm the present findings and to obtain further insights into this relationship.

We analysed whether care time, burden and range of caregiving tasks were associated with informal caregivers' subjective views of ageing (measured as attitudes towards own age (ATOA), subjective age (SA), and onset of old age (OOA)), and whether these associations differed as a function of the caregivers' age and gender. Adjusted cluster-robust fixed effects regression analyses were conducted with gender and age as moderators using data of informal caregivers (≥ 40 years) of the population-based German Ageing Survey (2014, 2017). All three aspect of care intensity were associated with changes in subjective views of ageing and this pattern was a function of the caregiver's age and gender. Care time was significantly associated with higher SA. Care tasks were significantly associated with more positive ATOA and earlier OOA. Age moderated the association between burden and ATOA, with older adults reporting more positive ATOA. Gender moderated the association between care time and ATOA; women reported less positive ATOA than men with increasing care time, but also felt subjectively younger than men with a broader range of care tasks. Age- and gender-stratified analysis indicated further differences. Our findings suggest to reduce care time, especially among older and female caregivers, to prevent a worsening of views of ageing, while being involved in a broad range of care tasks seems to (only) benefit female caregivers.

Previous research showed negative associations between physical activity and loneliness in older adults. However, information on associations among middle-aged adults is scarce. In this prognostic factor study, we investigated if starting or stopping to follow the WHO physical activity recommendations was associated with changes in perceived social exclusion and loneliness in this age bracket.

Abstract
Purpose
To systematically review studies on HRQOL, measured by the WHOQOL-Bref instrument, of refugees in general and clinical populations who are settled in the community of the hosting country, and outline the differences in scores among the two population groups and across the four domains of WHOQOL-Bref (physical, psychological, social relationships and environment domain) as well as factors impacting those outcomes.

Methods
Several databases were systematically searched by using a broad search strategy. Additionally, a hand search for grey literature was performed. Studies had to comply with the following inclusion criteria: (a) population of refugees; (b) living in the community of the country of destination; (c) assessing HRQOL through the WHOQOL-Bref instrument.

Results
15 studies were identified and divided into two subgroups: (a) general population of refugees (b) clinical population of refugees, who were specifically selected for their mental status or because they had experienced relevant past traumas. Although we can outline common patterns among the two groups, in terms of domains scoring the highest and the lowest, heterogeneous values of HRQOL are observed across the studies included.

Conclusions
Individuals who were included in the clinical refugee group have a lower quality of life in respect to the general population of refugees. However, among the two groups different patterns can be outlined considering each domain of HRQOL: higher scores for the Physical and lower for the Environment domain when considering the general population of refugees and higher scores for the Environment and lower for the Psychological domain when referring to the clinical one. These lower scores are probably due to having a higher rate of mental distress and being more exposed to somatization, stigmatization and barriers to access the healthcare system of the hosting country.

"Die demographische Entwicklung lässt erwarten, dass die Zahl pflegebedürftiger Menschen deutlich zunehmen wird. Um die mögliche Dynamik in diesem Bereich aufzuzeigen, werden mit Hilfe des DIW-Bevölkerungsmodells Größenordnung und Struktur der Pflegefälle vorausberechnet. Nach den hier vorgelegten Berechnungen dürfte es im Jahre 2020 rund 1 Million mehr pflegebedürftige Menschen geben - eine Zunahme um mehr als 50%. Im Jahre 2050 wird die Zahl der Pflegebedürftigen mit 4,7 Millionen sogar das 2,5fache des heutigen Niveaus erreichen. Da die Zahl der Schwer- und Schwerstpflegebedürftigen stärker steigen wird als die der "Erheblich Pflegebedürftigen", wird sich der Grad der durchschnittlichen Pflegebedürftigkeit erhöhen; deswegen wird auch die Nachfrage nach stationären Pflegediensten stärker zunehmen als die nach ambulanter Betreuung. Der Versorgungs- und Betreuungsbedarf hat damit eine dynamischere Entwicklung als die Zahl der Pflegefälle. Die Zunahme der Pflegebedürftigkeit stellt einerseits für die soziale Sicherung eine Herausforderung dar, andererseits schafft die Nachfragesteigerung nach ambulanten, teilstationären und vollstationären Pflegediensten auch merkliche Beschäftigungspotentiale. Eine Aufwertung der Pflegediensttätigkeiten scheint erforderlich zu sein, um qualifiziertes Personal für die entsprechenden Berufsfelder gewinnen zu können. Auch wenn es einen politischen Konsens für eine stärkere private Absicherung des Pflegerisikos geben sollte, wird der heute auf 1,7% festgeschriebene Beitragssatz keinesfalls ausreichen." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

Von der demographischen Entwicklung wird allgemein eine Zunahme der Zahl Pflegebedürftiger erwartet. Um die mögliche Dynamik in diesem Bereich aufzuzeigen, wird mit Hilfe des DIW-Bevölkerungsmodells, das u.a. die weiterhin steigende Lebenserwartung modelliert, die Zahl der Pflegefälle differenziert nach Geschlecht, Altersgruppen und Schweregrad der Pflegebedürftigkeit vorausberechnet. Die Zahl der Pflegefälle umfasst hier sowohl die Leistungsempfänger aus der sozialen als auch aus der privaten Pflegeversicherung. Nach den hier vorgelegten Berechnungen dürfte die Zahl Pflegebedürftiger bis 2020 um 52% oder rund 1 Million steigen. Im Jahre 2050 wird die Zahl der Pflegebedürftigen mit 4,7 Millionen das 2,5fache des heutigen Niveaus erreichen. Da die Zahl der Schwer- und Schwerstpflegebedürftigen stärker steigt als die der "Erheblich Pflegebedürftigen", wird sich der Grad der durchschnittlichen Pflegebedürftigkeit erhöhen. Der Versorgungs- und Betreuungsbedarf weist damit ein dynamischeres Wachstum auf als die Zahl der Pflegefälle. Bereits rein demographisch bedingt wird die Nachfrage nach stationären Pflegediensten stärker steigen als nach ambulanter Betreuung. Diese Tendenz wird durch die veränderten Familien- und Haushaltsstrukturen, die weiterhin steigende Erwerbsbeteiligung der Frauen sowie die Alterung der familiären Pflegekräfte verstärkt. Die Zunahme der Zahl Pflegebedürftiger stellt nicht nur für die soziale Sicherung eine Herausforderung dar, die Nachfragesteigerung nach ambulanten, teilstationären und vollstationären Pflegediensten eröffnet auch merkliche Beschäftigungspotentiale. Diese gilt es durch entsprechende Rahmenbedingungen zu erschließen. Auch wenn es einen politischen Konsens für eine stärkere private Absicherung des Pflegerisikos geben sollte, wird der heute auf 1,7 % festgeschriebene Beitragssatz keinesfalls ausreichen. Erforderlich ist zudem eine Aufwertung der Pflegediensttätigkeiten, um qualifiziertes Personal für die entsprechenden Berufsfelder gewinnen zu können. ; In general, demographic development is expected to increase the number of cases needing nursing care. In order to explore the possible dynamics in this area, this papers employs a demographic model of the DIW which integrates among others a steadily increasing life expectancy. Grouping by sex, age and intensity of nursing care, the model calculates in advance the number of nursing cases. Calculations include patients both from the statutory and from the private nursing care insurance. According to the calculations presented, the number of patients needing nursing care is expected to increase by 52 % or by one million cases by 2020. By the year 2050, the number of patients needing nursing care will reach 4.7 million cases which increases the current level by a factor of 2.5. As the number of cases needing intensive or most intensive nursing care will increase more than the number of cases just needing significant nursing care, the average intensity in care needed will grow. Need for care and assistance will thus grow more dynamically than the number of cases. Demographic factors alone make the need for inpatient nursing care increase more strongly than that for outpatient assistance. This trend is further pushed forward by the changing structure of families and households, by the increasing participation of women in the labour market and by increasing age of those family members who render nursing care. The increase in the number of cases needing nursing care does not only challenge social security. More than that, the increase in demand for outpatient care as well as for partly or full inpatient nursing care makes up a significant potential for new employment. This potential can be realised by setting the respective framework conditions. Even if there is political consensus for an increase in private insurance of the risk of nursing care, the contribution rate currently fixed at 1.7 % will definitely be insufficient. Additionally, it is necessary to increase the valuation of employment in nursing care; only then qualified personnel may be recruited for the respective positions.

"Die demographische Entwicklung lässt erwarten, dass die Zahl pflegebedürftiger Menschen deutlich zunehmen wird. Um die mögliche Dynamik in diesem Bereich aufzuzeigen, werden mit Hilfe des DIW-Bevölkerungsmodells Größenordnung und Struktur der Pflegefälle vorausberechnet. Nach den hier vorgelegten Berechnungen dürfte es im Jahre 2020 rund 1 Million mehr pflegebedürftige Menschen geben - eine Zunahme um mehr als 50 Prozent. Im Jahre 2050 wird die Zahl der Pflegebedürftigen mit 4,7 Millionen sogar das 2,5fache des heutigen Niveaus erreichen. Da die Zahl der Schwer- und Schwerstpflegebedürftigen stärker steigen wird als die der 'erheblich Pflegebedürftigen', wird sich der Grad der durchschnittlichen Pflegebedürftigkeit erhöhen; deswegen wird auch die Nachfrage nach stationären Pflegediensten stärker zunehmen als die nach ambulanter Betreuung. Der Versorgungs- und Betreuungsbedarf hat damit eine dynamischere Entwicklung als die Zahl der Pflegefälle. Die Zunahme der Pflegebedürftigkeit stellt einerseits für die soziale Sicherung eine Herausforderung dar, andererseits schafft die Nachfragesteigerung nach ambulanten, teilstationären und vollstationären Pflegediensten auch merkliche Beschäftigungspotentiale. Eine Aufwertung der Pflegediensttätigkeiten scheint erforderlich zu sein, um qualifiziertes Personal für die entsprechenden Berufsfelder gewinnen zu können. Auch wenn es einen politischen Konsens für eine stärkere private Absicherung des Pflegerisikos geben sollte, wird der heute auf 1,7 Prozent festgeschriebene Beitragssatz keinesfalls ausreichen." (Autorenreferat)

To examine the factors associated with institutionalization among individuals aged 80 years and over in Germany (total sample and stratified by sex).
Methods/Design: We used data from the nationally representative "Old Age in Germany (D80+)" (analytic sample: n = 9572 individuals), including individuals aged 80 years and over in Germany. Institutionalization (private living vs. institutionalization) served as an outcome measure. For the written interview, data collection took place from November 2020 to April 2021. Multiple logistic regressions of the overall sample (also stratified by sex) were applied. Results In the analytic sample, 10.2% (95% CI: 9.2%?11.3%) of the participants were institutionalized. The odds of being institutionalized were positively associated with being female (OR: 2.02, 95% CI: 1.08 to 3.80), being 90 years and over (compared to 80-84 years, OR: 1.67, 95% CI: 1.17 to 2.40), not being married (e.g., being single compared to being married: OR: 14.06, 95% CI: 6.73 to 29.37), higher education (e.g., high education compared to low education: OR: 1.88, 95% CI: 1.25 to 2.84), more favorable self-rated health (OR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.07 to 1.62) and greater functional impairment (OR: 15.34, 95% CI: 11.91 to 19.74). Sex-stratified regressions were also conducted, mostly yielding similar results.
Conclusion Our study highlighted the role of several sociodemographic factors (particularly marital status, e.g., being single) and functional impairment for the risk of institutionalization among the oldest old in Germany. This study confirms findings in studies in younger samples that functional decline is the main factor associated with institutionalization. As functional decline may be modifiable, efforts to maintain functional abilities may be important. This knowledge is important for relevant groups (such as clinicians and policy-makers) because it may guide early intervention and prevention efforts, can help allocate healthcare resources effectively and shape policies to support independent living. Further insights using longitudinal data is recommended.

To clarify the factors associated with loneliness in individuals aged 80 years and older in Germany (also stratified by sex). Methods Data from the nationally representative "Old Age in Germany (D80+)" were employed. The analytic sample equaled 10,031 individuals. The D80+ study included community-dwelling and institutionalized individuals ≥ 80 years in Germany. Multiple linear regressions were used (with sociodemographic and health-related explanatory factors). The collection of data occurred between November 2020 and April 2021 (written questionnaire). Results Higher loneliness was significantly associated with not being married (e.g., widowed compared to being married, β=.37, p<.001), being institutionalized (β=.33, p<.001), low education (high education compared to low education, β=-.07, p<.01), a higher number of chronic conditions (β=.02, p<.001), poor self-rated health (β=-.19, p<.001) and greater functional impairment (β=.15, p<.001). Sex-stratified regressions produced comparable results. However, low education was only associated with higher loneliness among men, but not women (with significant interaction: education x sex). Conclusion Several sociodemographic and health-related factors can contribute to loneliness among the oldest old in Germany, with sex-specific associations between education and loneliness. Overall, such knowledge can aid to address individuals with higher loneliness levels.

While various consequences of belonging to sexual minorities have been examined - it remains completely unclear whether sexual minorities believe that they die earlier. Thus, our aim was to investigate the association between sexual orientation and expected longevity.