@article {11741, title = {Does Perceived Loneliness Matter for Diverse Older Men and Their Prostate-Specific Antigen Testing Behaviors?}, journal = {Social Work Research}, volume = {45}, year = {2021}, pages = {117{\textendash}128}, abstract = {Loneliness is associated with poorer health practices and fewer health-promoting behaviors and may be associated with greater use of the health care system. Given national conversations about aging in context, this investigation explored the relationship between perceptions of loneliness in 2008 and prostate cancer screening participation in 2008 and 2012. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study, authors examined the relationship between loneliness and prostate cancer screening in 2008 and 2012 among Black, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic White men, ages 50 to 74 years (N = 4,875) using a series of logistic regression models. Findings indicate that White men who indicated being more lonely were less likely to participate in screening in 2008 and 2012. For Black men, there was a reduced likelihood of screening in 2012 with one aspect of decreasing loneliness. Social workers have unique training focusing on the person-in-environment model. Use of the person-in-environment model can help health care providers understand men{\textquoteright}s experiences and their feelings or needs related to cancer screening participation. Given the lack of focus on men{\textquoteright}s health-promoting behaviors related to loneliness, this study provides formative data to test interventions to increase the well-being of older men.}, keywords = {Antigens, Men, perceived loneliness, prostate}, isbn = {1070-5309}, doi = {10.1093/swr/svab002}, author = {Tamara J. Cadet and Shanna Lynn Burke and Mitchell, Jamie and Conner, Kyaien O and Frances R. Nedjat-Haiem} } @article {12058, title = {Music Engagement and Episodic Memory among Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A National Longitudinal Analysis }, journal = {Innovation in Aging}, volume = {5}, year = {2021}, pages = {707}, abstract = {Recent research suggests that engagement with particular activities, such as music, can influence age-related changes in episodic memory. However, it is unclear whether, and to what, extent music engagement is associated with the trajectory of episodic memory. The objective of this study is to examine how passive (i.e., listening to music) and/or active (i.e., singing or playing an instrument) music engagement influences episodic memory over a period of 12 years. Secondary data analysis of a sample (N=5095) of cognitively healthy adults from the Health and Retirement Study were used for this study. Linear mixed effects models were used to examine the independent effect of different levels of music engagement (i.e., low, medium, and high) on changes in performance on episodic memory tasks, while controlling for confounding factors. Compared to those with low engagement (i.e., neither listening nor singing/ playing an instrument), respondents who reported being engaged at the medium (i.e., either listening or singing/ playing an instrument) or high (i.e., both listening and singing/ playing an instrument) level performed 0.24 (p=0.003) and 0.52 (p<0.001) points better, respectively. We found evidence that music engagement attenuated the decline in episodic memory. The findings suggest that music engagement may be a protective factor against aged-related decline in episodic memory. Therefore, music engagement may offer a promising non-pharmacological intervention for dementia risk mitigation among community-living middle-aged and older adults. Future research should examine whether interventions to increase music engagement can affect the trajectories of aged-related decline in cognition in this large and growing population.}, keywords = {Episodic Memory, Music}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igab046.2625}, author = {Rouse, Hillary J and Hueluer, Gizem and Torres, Mia and Du, Yan and Conner, Kyaien O and Meng, Hongdao} }