@mastersthesis {13476,
	title = {Cognitively Stimulating Leisure Activities, Emotional Health, and Cognitive Functions Among Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Longitudinal Analysis},
	year = {2023},
	pages = {89},
	type = {phd},
	abstract = {Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the longitudinal relationship between different levels of Cognitively Stimulating Leisure Activity (CSLA) participation and emotional health and cognitive function among older adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Methods: The current study employed the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) data from 2012 to 2020 (n = 5,932). Three cognitive function tests based on Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) were used to assess three domains of cognition (i.e., memory, working memory, attention and processing speed) and screen whether the respondents have MCI. Using a Repeated-Measured Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (RM-MANCOVA), this study investigated (a) group mean differences in the positive and negative affect and (b) group mean differences in three cognitive functions in three CSLA groups (low, mid, and high participation).Results: (a) The high CSLA group showed higher positive affect and lower negative affect than the mid and low groups. Also, the mid-CSLA group presented higher positive affect and lower negative affect than the low CSLA group. (b) Both positive and negative affect showed significant differences between years and indicated a continuously declining slope year by year without exceptions. (c) The high CSLA group not only presented higher positive affect and lower negative affect during the period but also solely showed a rebounding feature in the declining slope on both emotions. (d) The high CSLA group indicated higher memory, working memory, and attention and processing speed than the mid and low groups. The mid-CSLA group showed higher working memory and attention and processing speed than the low CSLA group but not in working memory. (e) All three cognitive functions displayed significant differences between years and display a declining slope but the differences between the year 2014 and other years are not significant. (f) The high CSLA group always exhibited higher cognitive functions during the period and maintained a similar level of cognitive functions compared to the other groups. Discussion: The findings of this study provide valuable support for the design and implementation of CSLA participation programs and clinical guidelines for older adults with MCI. The results highlight the importance of determining the optimal level of CSLA engagement that is required to promote emotional health and cognitive function in this population. By incorporating the findings of this study into clinical guidelines, healthcare providers are able to offer an optimal level of CSLA programs offered at least four to three times a week. Further, efforts should be made to create strategies to overcome the barriers to CSLA participation, such as caregiver support and financial constraints, by establishing public care services, subsidies, and community support networks. These implications will contribute to the promotion of cognitive function and the potential prevention of dementia in older adults with MCI, and enhance their overall well-being and quality of life.},
	keywords = {0347:Mental health, 0351:Gerontology, 0573:Public health, cognitive functions, cognitive impairment, Emotional Health, Gerontology, Leisure activities, Mental Health, Older Adults, Public Health},
	isbn = {9798380122030},
	url = {https://proxy.lib.umich.edu/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/cognitively-stimulating-leisure-activities/docview/2852386350/se-2},
	author = {Lee,Jungjoo}
}
@mastersthesis {13474,
	title = {Social Isolation, Loneliness, and Accelerated Aging: A Multidimensional Approach Towards Aging},
	year = {2023},
	pages = {139},
	type = {phd},
	abstract = {Background/Objectives: Approximately 24\% of US older adults experience social isolation, while 43\% of those over 60 reports feeling lonely. The health risks of social isolation and loneliness (SI/L) are significant, comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day and potentially shortening one{\textquoteright}s life by 15 years. However, the biopsychological mechanisms by which SI/L are associated with health outcomes are understudied. Furthermore, it{\textquoteright}s unclear how the variability of SI/L (i.e., continuation vs. recovery) may contribute to the aging process. This dissertation aims to model the patterns and joint trajectories of SI/L and examine the biological mechanisms through which they impact accelerated aging. Methods: The study used data from a nationally-representative longitudinal dataset, the US Health and Retirement Study (HRS) 2006-2020, which included 12,709 participants aged 50 and older. Social isolation was measured by the Steptoe{\textquoteright}s Social Isolation Index, while loneliness was measured by the 3-item UCLA Loneliness scale. Biological aging was assessed through DNA methylation-based measures (PhenoAge, GrimAge, and DunedinPoAm) from the HRS Venous Blood Study 2016. Functional aging included measures of physical function, cognitive function, and motoric cognitive risk syndrome. Statistical methods included Cox proportional hazard model, group-based joint trajectory model, and causal mediation model. Results: The findings revealed that chronic loneliness, compared to transient or no loneliness, was associated with a higher risk of functional disability in middle-aged and older adults, especially women (Manuscript 1). Five distinct trajectories of SI/L were identified. The largely unparallel changes of SI/L over time and their separate and joint contributions to accelerated biological aging provide support for the need to treat them differently. Persistently isolated/moderately lonely older adults had the highest biological aging acceleration (PhenoAge, GrimAge, and DunedinPoAm) compared to those who were rarely isolated/rarely lonely (Manuscript 2). Causal mediation analysis found that biological age acceleration mediated 6.7-11.8\% in the effect of social isolation on subjective cognitive complaint, slow gait, and motoric cognitive risk syndrome. (Manuscript 3). Conclusions: The findings indicated that strategies for addressing SI/L could prevent chronic diseases and functional decline via slowing biological aging. The study provides new knowledge by identifying SI/L as the proximate determinants of deficits in healthy aging and informs public health practice and policy advancement by identifying sensitive biological measures and optimal time points for evaluating interventions and supporting healthy aging and longevity.},
	keywords = {0351:Gerontology, 0493:Aging, 0569:Nursing, Aging, biological aging, Dementia, Epigenetic, Gerontology, Geroscience, Nursing, social network, social relationship},
	isbn = {9798379963408},
	url = {https://proxy.lib.umich.edu/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/social-isolation-loneliness-accelerated-aging/docview/2845354981/se-2},
	author = {Qi,Xiang}
}
@mastersthesis {13523,
	title = {Three Essays on Intergenerational Transfers},
	volume = {Ph.D.},
	year = {2023},
	pages = {163},
	school = {Syracuse University},
	type = {phd},
	address = {New York},
	abstract = {Intergenerational transfers of money, time, and other resources are major drivers of wealth inequality in the United States (U.S.). Wealth confers a wide array of advantages, from financial security to social prestige, power, and health. Wealth also can be used to accumulate more wealth. Given that intergenerational transfers generate economic inequality, this three-essay dissertation will seek to examine the causes and consequences of intergenerational transfers in the U.S. The first two essays are devoted to the understanding of the precedents of intergenerational transfers, while the last essay assess the consequence of intergenerational transfers on mental health.Essay 1: Cumulative inequality theory (CIT) posits that disadvantage experienced in early life may not only adversely affect one{\textquoteright}s life course, it may also shape one{\textquoteright}s ability to provide assistance to the next generation. Since intergenerational exchanges can either promote or set back the next generation{\textquoteright}s success, this study therefore aims to determine how childhood disadvantages of parents are associated with the inter vivos downward transfers. Data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics Childhood Retrospective Circumstances Survey and Rosters and Transfers Module were used to estimate linear regression models. Childhood experiences were measured in the following ways: an aggregate index, categorical variables, or as separate domains. Following CIT, domains included were economic, psychosocial (family, peer), environmental, and health. Downward transfers considered in this study were measured in terms of time transfers and money transfers in the past year, for aid in schooling, for home purchase, and for other purposes. Controlling for adult children{\textquoteright}s characteristics that reflect needs for parental assistance, and upward time and money transfers to account for reciprocity, the results indicate that parent{\textquoteright}s assistance to their adult children vary by their early-life experiences, and some childhood domains matter more (i.e., economic, family, environmental) than others (i.e., peer, health). Those with less affluent upbringing gave significantly more time transfers but less money to their adult children. Money earmarked for schooling purposes were at most $9,000 less for those with the worst level of childhood misfortunes. The forces that shape parental assistance to adult children, therefore, date as far back as the grandparent generation.Essay 2: Whether private intergenerational transfers crowd out or crowd in public welfare, have been subject to debate for almost half a century. Crowding out considers public and private transfers as substitutes, whereas when crowding in occurs the public sector frees up family{\textquoteright}s resources via social welfare provisions, allowing families to transfer resources amongst their members. Often, studies on this topic either use cross-country variation from different welfare regimes or average social welfare expenditure per capita, without consideration of the varied social welfare experiences among givers and receivers. This is the first study to document how parental financial transfers and time transfers in the form of grandchild care are associated with the relative welfare experiences of the parent (giver) and the adult child (beneficiary) by exploiting the heterogeneity of public welfare across U.S. states. Parent-child dyadic data come from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a longitudinal and nationally representative study of older adults in the U.S. I linked data from the HRS respondent file and the child-level file constructed by the RAND Corporation with state-specific public welfare expenditures per capita from the Government Finance Database. Controlling for parent, adult child, and reciprocity related determinants of downward transfers, mixed effects logistic regressions clustered by households showed that compared to dyads who both live in a state with low levels of welfare generosity: (1) dyads whose parents live in a less generous state compared to their children have lower odds of downward money and time transfers and (2) dyads whose parents live in a more generous state while the child lives in a relatively less generous states have lower odds of providing both money and time transfers. The results from this study provide partial support for both crowding out and crowding in while implying support for both altruistic and selfish transfer motives. These mixed results call for scholars to reevaluate the consensus of the crowding in hypothesis as the main explanation of downward transfers of money and time from aging parents to adult children, and suggest that better data on both givers{\textquoteright} and receivers{\textquoteright} public welfare experiences are needed to fully contextualize family transfers.Essay 3: Intergenerational transfers are potential social determinants of health, as multiple generations coexisting has become a commonplace in aging societies and austere social protections push families to support their members. This study therefore aims to assess the association between intergenerational transfers between parents, adult children, and other kin, and depressive symptoms among U.S. older adults aged 51+ using data from the Health and Retirement Study waves 2010-2018. Two subsamples were constructed to account for the effect of kin: (1) respondents with at least one adult child and deceased parents/ parents-in-law, and (2) respondents with at least one adult child and one living parent/ parent-in-law throughout the study period. Transfers were categorized as either giving or receiving money and time. Net of relevant sociodemographic factors, random effects logistic regression models revealed that for both subsamples, the odds of having high depressive symptoms were greater for those who have given money transfers. Receiving money transfers and time transfers were also found to be detrimental for mental health. The findings are consistent with the stress process model and also provide partial support for economic exchange theory and contingency exchange. Understanding the factors that are related to older adult well-being is vital as this age group is at risk of mental health decline due to the life course challenges that typically occur in advanced ages like social isolation, bereavement, as well as illnesses and functional limitations.},
	keywords = {0347:Mental health, 0351:Gerontology, 0626:Sociology, 0938:Demography, childhood circumstances, Demography, depression, Gerontology, Intergenerational transfers, life course, Mental Health, Older Adults, Sociology, Transfer motives},
	isbn = {9798380339124},
	url = {https://proxy.lib.umich.edu/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/three-essays-on-intergenerational-transfers/docview/2864812703/se-2},
	author = {Cheng,Kent J. G.}
}
@mastersthesis {10342,
	title = {Discovery and Characterization of Genetic Variants Associated with Extreme Longevity},
	volume = {PhD},
	year = {2019},
	note = {Copyright - Database copyright ProQuest LLC; ProQuest does not claim copyright in the individual underlying works; Last updated - 2019-10-16},
	pages = {133},
	school = {Boston University},
	type = {phd},
	abstract = {Over the last decade, there have been multiple genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of human extreme longevity (EL). However, only a limited number of genetic variants have been identified as significant, and only few of these variants have been replicated in independent studies. There are two possible reasons for this limitation. First, genetic variants might have a varying effect on EL in different populations, and GWAS applied to a dataset as a whole may not pinpoint such differences. Second, EL is a very rare trait in a population, and rare and uncommon variants might be important factors in explaining its heritability but GWASs have focused on the analyses of variants that are relatively common in the population. In this dissertation, I present three projects that address these issues. First, I propose PopCluster: an algorithm that automatically discovers subsets of individuals in which the genetic effects of a variant are statistically different. PopCluster provides a simple framework to directly analyze genotype data without prior knowledge of subjects ethnicities. Second, I investigate ethnic-specific effects of APOE alleles on EL in Europeans. APOE is a well-studied gene with multiple effects on aging and longevity. The gene has 3 alleles: e2, e3 and e4, whose frequencies vary by ethnicity. I identify several ethnically different clusters in which the effect of the e2 and e4 alleles on EL changes substantially. Furthermore, I investigate the interaction of APOE alleles with the country of residence. Results of this analysis suggest possible interaction of this gene with dietary habits or other environmental factors. For the third project, I perform a GWAS of rare variants and EL in a case-control dataset with median age of cases 104 years old. I analyze 4.5 million high-imputation quality rare SNPs imputed with HRC panel with minor allele frequency < 0.05. The analysis replicates all previous genome-wide level significant SNPs and identifies a few more potential targets. Additionally, I use serum protein data available for a subset of subjects and find significant pQTLs which have potential functional role. Based on these analyses, both genetic and environmental factors appear to be important factors for EL.},
	keywords = {0308:Biostatistics, 0351:Gerontology, 0493:Aging, 0715:Bioinformatics, 0719:Physiology, Aging, Bioinformatics, Biostatistics, Dietary habits, Gerontology, Human extreme longevity, Physiology, PopCluster, Serum protein data},
	isbn = {9781085779098},
	url = {https://open.bu.edu/handle/2144/37092},
	author = {Gurinovich,Anastasia}
}
@mastersthesis {10345,
	title = {Exploring Disability Outcomes among Aging Latinos in the United States: A Mixed Methods Approach},
	volume = {PhD},
	year = {2019},
	note = {Copyright - Database copyright ProQuest LLC; ProQuest does not claim copyright in the individual underlying works; Last updated - 2019-09-20},
	pages = {153},
	school = {The University of Chicago},
	type = {phd},
	abstract = {The population of older adults in the United States is currently growing at unprecedented rates, as is the proportion of those older adults who are of Latino descent. Despite a diversifying population of older adults, much of the research exploring the social context of health and aging does not consider the ways in which the sociocultural environment may differ by ethnicity. The objective of this dissertation is to explore and document the ways in which the social environment and cultural context are related to health and disability outcomes among aging Latinos. This examination explores how the social world of disabled Latinos differs from their non-Latino counterparts, how those differences may drive differential experiences of care receipt upon the onset of disability, and how older Latinos themselves articulate their desires for {\textquotedblleft}aging well{\textquotedblright} and care receipt in old age. Ultimately, I argue that the relationship between social context and physical and psychological health outcomes varies according to the cultural values and preferences of the community in which an individual is embedded. For Latinos in particular, the cultural values of familismo and respeto can produce social relationships that are protective against adverse health outcomes in old age, but these values can also paradoxically produce their own anxieties and present unique challenges to {\textquotedblleft}aging well{\textquotedblright} among Latinos.},
	keywords = {0351:Gerontology, 0573:Public health, 0626:Sociology, 0737:Hispanic American studies, ADL disability, Aging, ethnicity, Gerontology, Hispanic American studies, Public Health, Social context, Social determinants of health, Sociology},
	isbn = {9781085558570},
	url = {https://knowledge.uchicago.edu/record/1831?ln=en},
	author = {Howard,Alexis L.}
}
@mastersthesis {10285,
	title = {Exploring Ethnoracial Disparities in Planning for End-of-Life Care},
	volume = {PhD},
	year = {2019},
	note = {Copyright - Database copyright ProQuest LLC; ProQuest does not claim copyright in the individual underlying works; Last updated - 2019-04-12},
	pages = {113},
	school = {University at Buffalo},
	type = {phd},
	address = {Buffalo, NY},
	abstract = {Over the last 35 years, high profile court cases have drawn attention to planning for end-of-life care. Despite strong opinions about life-sustaining medical treatment, expressed through public protests and political debates, the majority of Americans do not have advance directives, which state preferences for end-of-life care. Rates are significantly lower for blacks and Hispanics than for non-Hispanic whites; however, the reasons for these disparities remain unclear. Using data from the 2012 and 2014 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), I examine ethnoracial differences in completing three types of advance care planning: (1) having discussions about life-sustaining treatment preferences; (2) designating a proxy{\textemdash}legally called a durable power of attorney for health care (DPAHC){\textemdash}to make end-of-life care decisions on one{\textquoteright}s behalf; and (3) writing a living will that states treatment preferences. Specifically, I conduct an exploratory descriptive analysis, estimate logistic regression models, and apply Fairlie{\textquoteright}s decomposition technique{\textemdash}an extension of the Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition method for nonlinear models{\textemdash}to investigate the likelihood of planning for end-of-life care and to quantify the reasons for ethnoracial differences in advance care planning among non-Hispanic black, non-Hispanic white, and Hispanic adults age 65 and older. Findings suggest that education, wealth, income, and having a last will and testament predict the likelihood of and account for most of the explained ethnoracial gap in advance care planning. This study helps to improve our understanding of population characteristics that influence advance care planning. Additionally, while research generally presumes that advance care planning is beneficial, this study also discusses the potential flaws with this view.},
	keywords = {0351:Gerontology, 0573:Public health, 0626:Sociology, Advance care planning, Advance directives, Aging, End of life care, Ethnoracial difference, Gerontology, health, Health and environmental sciences, Public Health, Social Sciences, Sociology},
	isbn = {9780438944572},
	url = {https://ubir.buffalo.edu/xmlui/handle/10477/79346},
	author = {Tompkins,Joanne}
}
@mastersthesis {10299,
	title = {The Impact of Adult Children{\textquoteright}s Education on Elderly Parents{\textquoteright} Health and Old-Age Support: Evidence from the United States and China},
	volume = {PhD},
	year = {2019},
	note = {Copyright - Database copyright ProQuest LLC; ProQuest does not claim copyright in the individual underlying works; Last updated - 2019-05-03},
	pages = {120},
	school = {Columbia University},
	type = {phd},
	abstract = {The aim of this dissertation is to study the effect of adult children{\textquoteright}s education on the health and economic wellbeing of their parents in old age. This dissertation contributes to the field of human capital theory through enhancing the understanding of the connections between adult children and parents in old age. It studies large nationally representative data sets in the US and China. The findings highlight the potential importance of pathways through which children{\textquoteright}s human capital affects parents in later life and suggest that offspring{\textquoteright}s human capital (education) is important for parental health and old-age support. This research has important implications for the amelioration of health disparities related to intergenerational inequality in both the U.S and China.},
	keywords = {0351:Gerontology, 0452:Social work, Aging, Education, Gerontology, Human capital, Inter-generational relationship, Social Sciences, Social work},
	isbn = {9781392078761},
	url = {https://academiccommons.columbia.edu/doi/10.7916/d8-hfpz-rr25},
	author = {Nan Jiang}
}
@mastersthesis {10314,
	title = {Linking Communicative Interaction to Cognitive Functioning: Implications for Older Adults},
	volume = {Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership},
	year = {2019},
	note = {Copyright - Database copyright ProQuest LLC; ProQuest does not claim copyright in the individual underlying works; Last updated - 2019-09-19},
	pages = {130},
	school = {Pepperdine University},
	type = {phd},
	abstract = {As the percentage of older adults within the U.S. steadily increases, long-term care options are being impacted with growing numbers of seniors to provide for. The reality of these elevated numbers have sparked an interest in researchers to conduct studies on human development, plasticity in the brain, and training and intervention programs in search for ways to halt or lessen the cognitive and communicative decline, in older adults.As an alternative path to help older adults maintain quality of life, this study proposes to examine the link between communicative interaction and cognitive functioning to educate family members and healthcare providers on how communicative interactions and language influence cognition. Data (n = 3130) used in this study was retrieved from the University of Michigan{\textquoteright}s Health and Retirement Study (HRS) 2014 for participants 65 years and older. Examination of the link between communicative interaction and cognition encompassed all factors of the learning process such as socio-emotional influences, environmental experiences, health and nutrition, and cognitive and physical development. Analysis of the study also included exploratory studies on social cognitive neuroscience and how brain training affects dementia.Findings in this study revealed that cognitive functioning declines with age, but rises with higher levels of education. Results also indicate that increased communicative interaction is significantly associated with improved cognitive functioning, when controlling for age, gender, and education. Considering other influential factors, determining the degree of association may require further investigation.},
	keywords = {0351:Gerontology, 0493:Aging, 0516:Adult education, Adult education, Aging, Cognition, Communication, Communicative interaction, Dementia, Gerontology, Memory, Neuroscience},
	isbn = {9781085631990},
	url = {https://search.proquest.com/docview/2284211091?pq-origsite=gscholar},
	author = {Denise Calhoun}
}
@mastersthesis {10295,
	title = {Risk Factors for Loneliness and Social Isolation among Black Older Adults},
	volume = {PhD},
	year = {2019},
	note = {Copyright - Database copyright ProQuest LLC; ProQuest does not claim copyright in the individual underlying works; Last updated - 2019-09-20},
	pages = {153},
	school = {Washington University in St. Louis},
	type = {phd},
	abstract = {There are limited empirical research studies examining loneliness and social isolation among Black older adults. Studying loneliness and social isolation among older Black populations is important given the projected growth of the Black older adult population in coming years, Black older adults disproportionately experience life situations associated with greater loneliness and social isolation compared to White older adults, Black older adults are significantly less likely to use health and social services compared to older Whites, and Black Americans are more likely to live in environments that lack economic and social resources, and have severe hazards in terms of the built environment. Given the limited knowledge in this area and significance of this topic, the purpose of my dissertation is to determine risk factors for loneliness and social isolation among Black older adults and whether risk factors for loneliness and social isolation among Black older adults vary by sex, age, and environmental context. I utilize the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) to address my study aims. The HRS is a nationally representative longitudinal panel survey of adults 50 and older living in the United States of America. Loneliness was operationalized using the Hughes 3-item loneliness scale. Social isolation was operationalized using a social network index. Risk factors for loneliness and social isolation included demographic factors (e.g., age, education), health factors (e.g., self-rated health, depressive symptoms), and environmental factors (e.g., neighborhood social cohesion, neighborhood physical disorder). In addition to main effect regression models, I tested the moderating effects of sex (women and men), age, and environmental context (living in an urban, suburban, or rural environment) to determine if these factors moderated the relationships between the risk factors and loneliness/social isolation. A variety of demographic, health, and environmental factors were associated with loneliness and social isolation among Black older adults. Risk factors for loneliness were younger age, greater years of education, lower total household income, worse self-rated health, greater depressive symptoms, less neighborhood social cohesion, and greater social isolation. Risk factors for social isolation were lower total household income, worse self-rated health, living in an urban community (compared to living in a suburban community), and greater loneliness. Additionally, several of these risk factors varied according to sex, age, and environmental context. This is one of the first studies to examine risk factors for loneliness and social isolation among a nationally representative sample of Black older adults. I found that there was little overlap in risk factors for loneliness and social isolation among Black older adults, further indicating these are distinct conditions. Study implications include the need to raise awareness of loneliness and social isolation among Black older adults and to further explore and intervene upon risk factors for these conditions. Finally, evidence that several risk factors vary by sex, age, and environmental context underscores the heterogeneity with the older Black population. Strengths, limitations, and future research directions are discussed.},
	keywords = {0325:Black studies, 0351:Gerontology, 0452:Social work, Black older adults, Black studies, Gerontology, Loneliness, social isolation, Social work},
	author = {Harry Owen Taylor}
}
@mastersthesis {10366,
	title = {Social Relationships and Progression of Frailty: Exploring the Reciprocal Association of Social Ties and Physical Vulnerability in Later Life},
	volume = {PhD},
	year = {2019},
	note = {Copyright - Database copyright ProQuest LLC; ProQuest does not claim copyright in the individual underlying works; Last updated - 2019-10-03},
	pages = {140},
	school = {Michigan State University},
	type = {phd},
	abstract = {Frailty is described as a state of heightened vulnerability and functional impairment due to the cumulative declines across multiple physiological systems. When faced with stressor events, older adults with frailty are in higher risk of adverse health outcomes. While the prevalence of frailty generally increases with age, there are considerable heterogeneity in onset and progression of frailty among older population. Growing attention is given to identifying the psychosocial factors related to the development of frailty. Social relationships often serve as a vital context of health, where older adults experience multidimensional and dynamic exchange with close others as they age. In this dissertation, two studies are conducted to investigate complex and reciprocal nature of social relationships and frailty progression in older adulthood. The data are from the six waves (2006-2016) of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a nationally representative study of older adults in U.S. aged 50 and older. The first study utilized the convoy model of social relations to provide comprehensive investigation of how different aspects of social relations are associated with frailty progression over a decade. There were three distinctive subpopulations following a different frailty progression trajectory. When social network and relational quality with spouse, children, family, and friends were examined, higher frequency of contact with friends were associated with lesser frailty. Negative relationship quality with social ties were detrimental to frailty progression, such that strain with spouse and kin (children and extended family) had an additive effect on belonging to high frailty or steep increase frailty trajectory groups. The perceived loneliness partially explained the negative effect of spousal strain, but the negative effect of large family size and strain with kin were independent from loneliness. The second study explored the health contexts of older couple{\textquoteright}s marital quality, specifically focusing on the presence of frailty and depression within- and across-person in the marital relationship. Using three waves of dyadic data from HRS, I found that one{\textquoteright}s own and partner{\textquoteright}s higher frailty and higher depression all had independent associations with one{\textquoteright}s higher marital strain. For one{\textquoteright}s marital support, one{\textquoteright}s own higher frailty, higher depression, and partner{\textquoteright}s higher depression had negative effects. There was an across-person interaction effect of frailty, such that one{\textquoteright}s marital quality was affected by their partner{\textquoteright}s higher level of frailty only when their own health was good. Having a husband with higher frailty was associated with higher marital strain for wives. Most effects were stable over time. Overall, the findings illustrate the significance of social relationship context as a predictor for different trajectory of frailty progression. The size, frequency of contact, positive, and negative quality were linked to frailty differentially by relationship type, underscoring the benefits of comprehensive examination of social experiences. Further, the level of frailty and depression were linked to perceived marital quality of both members of the couple, especially in damaging manner when healthier spouse is faced with partner{\textquoteright}s health problems. Taken together, my dissertation demonstrated the importance of studying linked lives in context of health conditions prevalent in older adulthood. The findings can be useful to practitioners and policy makers in understanding the intricate link between social relations and frailty as well as in identifying modifiable factors for frailty prevention.},
	keywords = {0344:Social research, 0351:Gerontology, 0621:Psychology, Aging, Frailty, Gerontology, Health and Retirement Study, Marriage, Older Adults, Psychology, Social Relationships, Social research},
	isbn = {9781085749725},
	url = {https://search.proquest.com/docview/2296357161?pq-origsite=gscholar},
	author = {Ji Hyun Lee}
}
@mastersthesis {10344,
	title = {Aging in America: Exploring the Long-Term Care Puzzle and Barriers to Private Insurance Coverage},
	volume = {PhD},
	year = {2018},
	note = {Copyright - Database copyright ProQuest LLC; ProQuest does not claim copyright in the individual underlying works; Last updated - 2018-07-20},
	pages = {219},
	school = {George Mason University},
	type = {phd},
	abstract = {The role of the long-term care insurance intermediary is a crucial but little-examined factor in the decision to purchase insurance coverage. In this mixed methods study, geographic analysis of trained intermediaries is associated with greater take-up of private ownership of long-term care insurance. Quantitative results suggest that access to a trained insurance intermediary increases the odds of obtaining coverage by four percent. Qualitative results highlight the classical market inefficiencies associated with low long-term care insurance take-up stemming from information asymmetry and the crucial demand-side factor of trust. Distrust of the delivery layer, underwriters, and government lies at the heart of the non-purchase decision. Policy implications include the improvement of LTCI ownership rates through greater access to trained agents to facilitate trust and understanding among long-term care insurance consumers.},
	keywords = {0351:Gerontology, 0573:Public health, 0630:Public policy, Ageing, Aging, Elderly, Gerontology, Health and environmental sciences, Long-term Care, Long-term services and supports, Public Health, Public Policy, Social Sciences},
	isbn = {9780438115132},
	url = {https://search.proquest.com/docview/2070392044?pq-origsite=gscholar},
	author = {O{\textquoteright}Loughlin,Johanna C.}
}
@mastersthesis {10341,
	title = {The Association of Computer Usage and Cognitive Function in Older Adults},
	volume = {PhD},
	year = {2018},
	note = {Copyright - Database copyright ProQuest LLC; ProQuest does not claim copyright in the individual underlying works; Last updated - 2018-07-11},
	pages = {83},
	school = {Palo Alto University},
	type = {phd},
	abstract = {Computers are a ubiquitous part of American culture. While older adults (65 years and over) are often among the last adopters of new technology (Pew Research Center, 2014), those who are more willing to utilize new technologies may be at a cognitive advantage over those who do not use them (Wright, 2000). This dissertation examines the cognitive functioning associated with computer use in older adults. It was hypothesized that due to the complex nature of computer usage, older adults who utilize a computer often, would have better preserved cognitive functioning than older adults who do not use the computer as often. This study utilized archival data from the Aging, Demographics, and Memory Study (ADAMS) in a quasi-experimental, cross-sectional design. Adult participants (n = 274) 71 years or older with no dementia were included in the study. All participants and collaterals completed interviews and questionnaires regarding activities of daily living, demographic, and lifestyle information. All participants completed the Trail Making Test (TMT-A; TMT-B); Digit Span Forward (DSF) and Backward (DSB); and Symbol Digit Modalities Task (SDMT). To examine the relationship between computer use, cognitive flexibility, working memory, information processing and processing speed, a hierarchical multiple linear regression was used. Age, years of education, and sex were entered as covariates. TMT-A and DSF were entered as covariates in the models. TMT-B, DSB, or SDMT were entered as the dependent variables in three separate models. Age, years of education, sex, TMT-A, and DSF were all significantly associated with regular computer use in older adults without dementia (p < .01). However, only SDMT was significantly associated with regular computer use in cognitive normal older adults ( p = 0.013). These findings suggest that regular computer use was associated with information processing and processing speed, as measured by SDMT, in older adults without dementia. However, due to the cross-sectional design, causality cannot be determined. Thus, as reported by Kaye et al. (2014), it is possible that the older adults who used the computer regularly had higher cognitive function and were therefore more likely to continue using the computer than those with decreased cognitive functioning.},
	keywords = {0351:Gerontology, 0633:Cognitive psychology, Cognition, Cognitive psychology, Computer use, Executive function, Gerontology, Older adult, Processing speed, Psychology, Social Sciences, Working memory},
	isbn = {9780438025363},
	url = {https://proxy.lib.umich.edu/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/2051806206?accountid=14667},
	author = {Liou-Johnson,Victoria}
}
@mastersthesis {10326,
	title = {Cohort membership and perspectives on aging},
	volume = {PhD},
	year = {2018},
	note = {Copyright - Database copyright ProQuest LLC; ProQuest does not claim copyright in the individual underlying works; Last updated - 2018-05-29},
	pages = {274},
	school = {Adelphi University, The Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies},
	type = {phd},
	abstract = {This study is an investigation into cohort membership and perspectives on aging, specifically whether Baby Boomers, born between 1948 and 1965 and socialized in an era of individualism and youthfulness, view aging differently from previous generations. In an exploratory study, responses to three key outcome variables (Satisfaction with Aging, Subjective Age, and Subjective Life Expectancy) were analyzed using a demographically diverse, nationally representative U.S. sample, age 55 and over (N = 2898) from the Health and Retirement Study (FIRS). Because data were collected at only two time points (2008 and 2012), the ability to distinguish between age, cohort, and period effects was limited. Findings indicate that the group born between 1942 and 1945 (between ages 63 and 66 in 2008 and 67 and 70 in 2012) was most satisfied with aging. Research indicates that people in their sixties report fewer worries than in late midlife; in addition, this group was raised in a time when the clouds of scarcity and war were lifting, thereby coming of age in a time of optimism. The group born between 1938 and 1941 felt significantly younger in 2008 compared to 2012. As this age group moved into their seventies, they may have noticed more of the physical effects of aging. However, given that these two time points squarely bracket the U.S. recession, there may also have been a period effect; that is, someone seeing their retirement savings dwindling might focus more on being old. Including gender, race, and ethnicity in the model added complexity to the findings. For example, among men born between 1934 and 1941, Hispanic men were significantly more satisfied with aging than were Non-Hispanic men, and Hispanic women born between 1950 and 1953 reported significantly greater satisfaction with aging than did Non-Hispanic women. These findings call for more detailed inquiries. As data are collected at more time points, it should become more feasible to disentangle the effects of cohort, period and age. The inclusion of gender, race, and ethnicity suggests that perspectives on aging may vary greatly in different socio-cultural environments, calling for qualitative studies.},
	keywords = {0351:Gerontology, 0621:Psychology, Gerontology, Psychology, Social Sciences},
	isbn = {9780355811919},
	author = {Schoenhammer,Maria}
}
@mastersthesis {10286,
	title = {Cumulative Inequality and Housing Insecurity Severity among Renters in Later Life},
	volume = {Master of Science},
	year = {2018},
	note = {Copyright - Database copyright ProQuest LLC; ProQuest does not claim copyright in the individual underlying works; Last updated - 2018-11-05},
	pages = {88},
	school = {Iowa State University},
	type = {phd},
	address = {Ames, Iowa},
	abstract = {Housing insecurity, lack of access to safe and affordable housing, has become a national public health crisis, especially among vulnerable populations such as renters and the aged. For everyone, housing insecurity is associated with poorer mental and physical health and shortened lifespans. With data from the 2014 Health and Retirement Study and ordered logistic regression models, this study examined housing insecurity severity among renters age 50 and older using a CI framework providing explanation of systemic and individual forces result in differential and unequal outcomes dependent on exposure to risk and opportunity. Over half of respondents experienced any level of housing insecurity. Of housing insecure respondents, three out of five were observed as severely housing insecure. Those from urban areas, less than a high school diploma, widows, and over the age of 80 had enhanced odds of experiencing more severe housing insecurity. Additional research is needed to identify other aspects of cumulative inequality that may be related to housing insecurity to better guide policy change with respect to this important issue.},
	keywords = {0351:Gerontology, 0626:Sociology, Gerontology, life course, Social Sciences, Sociology},
	isbn = {9780438417618},
	url = {https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Cumulative-inequality-and-housing-insecurity-among-True-Funk/76202cef00ce0862db5763d09d821818ddc2ed28},
	author = {True-Funk,Arielle}
}
@mastersthesis {10322,
	title = {Driving and Expectation to Age in Place for Older Adults along the Urbanicity Continuum},
	volume = {PhD},
	year = {2018},
	note = {Copyright - Database copyright ProQuest LLC; ProQuest does not claim copyright in the individual underlying works; Last updated - 2019-01-31},
	pages = {108},
	school = {University of Massachusetts Boston},
	type = {phd},
	abstract = {Many older adults would like to age in place. Expectations can be important and valid predictors of whether an older adult actually does remain in place. Along with health declines that may initiate unwanted relocation, additional factors influence expectation and ability to age in place. Driving is an important factor in aging in place. Many issues (e.g., unsafe driving, safety concerns, financial or physical burden of tending to a car, etc.) may lead to voluntary or involuntary driving cessation. Without access to public transit or access to adequate informal caregiver transportation (i.e., rides from family or friends) to reach target destinations, driving cessation may ultimately initiate unwanted relocation to a supportive housing environment or nursing home. An unwanted move may diminish quality of life among older adults and furthermore, aging in place is typically less expensive than moves to supportive housing. The purpose of this dissertation is to evaluate driving status as a factor in expectation to age in place. It also investigates how expectations to age in place as well as driving behaviors differ for older adults along the urbanicity continuum. Additionally, the impact of health status and physical mobility on the relationship between driving and expectation to age in place is examined. These relationships are evaluated using ordered logistic regression. The sample includes 8,046 older adults in the Health and Retirement Study database. Findings from the ordinal logistic regression indicate that non-drivers are significantly more likely to expect to age in place. The relationship between driving and expectation to age in place is not moderated by urbanicity status in the regression results. Driving represents a mediating factor in the link between health and expectation to age in place. Supplemental analyses mirror similar results to the ordinal logistic regression results. Relocation is a process triggered by a series of events and likely preceded by expectation to age in place. There are many factors related to driving and aging place. Though expectations may be a mainspring for planning, understanding what individuals anticipate regarding their future living situation is an important area of study.},
	keywords = {0351:Gerontology, 0493:Aging, 0630:Public policy, Aging, Aging in place, Driving, Gerontology, Health and environmental sciences, Older Adults, Public Policy, Social Sciences, Urbanicity},
	isbn = {9780438807549},
	url = {https://scholarworks.umb.edu/doctoral_dissertations/434/},
	author = {Richardson,Lorilei M.}
}
@mastersthesis {10305,
	title = {Early Social Origins of Premature Aging: How Do Childhood Exposures Shape Aging and Mortality?},
	volume = {PhD},
	year = {2018},
	note = {Copyright - Database copyright ProQuest LLC; ProQuest does not claim copyright in the individual underlying works; Last updated - 2018-10-04},
	pages = {169},
	school = {Purdue University},
	type = {phd},
	abstract = {The early origins of health literature documents a distinct link between early life exposures and a range of pathologies in later life. However, it is still unclear if and which types of childhood events and experiences shape biological aging or increase mortality risk among older adults. The purpose of this dissertation is to examine (1) what types of early life exposures influence biological aging and mortality and for whom and (2) whether biological age acts as a marker of early life stress and a predictor of mortality. Drawing from cumulative inequality theory, this dissertation uses six waves of data (2004-2014) from the Health and Retirement Study, a panel survey of adults age 51 and over, to examine the effect of six domains of childhood exposures on biological age and mortality. This dissertation is divided into three empirical chapters. The first study investigates the influence of childhood exposures on biological age as measured by telomere length. Findings reveal that risky parental behaviors during childhood are associated with shorter telomeres, and thus older biological age, yet in somewhat different ways for men and women. In addition, the impact of childhood impairment and infectious diseases on biological age varies by race. Study two asks which childhood exposure domains increase all-cause or cardiovascular mortality risk. Findings suggest that the positive association between socioeconomic disadvantage and mortality risk likely operates through adult socioeconomic factors. As anticipated, childhood infectious diseases decreased the risk of all-cause mortality. However, unexpectedly, risky parental behavior also decreased the risk of all-cause mortality. Among cardiovascular mortality analyses, risky adolescent behaviors increased the risk and one impairment during childhood decreased the risk of cardiovascular mortality. The last empirical study uses the sample of adults with telomere data to examine the effects of childhood misfortune and telomere length on all-cause, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality. Socioeconomic disadvantage during childhood reduced the risk of all-cause mortality, yet no other childhood exposure or telomere length was related to all-cause, cardiovascular, or cancer mortality. The effect of telomere length on all-cause mortality risk did, however, vary by race where telomere length was positively associated with mortality for Black adults and negatively associated with mortality for White adults. Taken together, these studies demonstrate that early life exposures have long-lasting and latent effects on aging and mortality, yet in distinct ways. Several childhood exposure domains were associated with biological age and/or mortality, underscoring the importance of investigating multiple domains. Despite the negative implications of some types of childhood misfortune, children and adults are capable of adaptation and resilience. This dissertation identified childhood exposure domains that should be targeted in prevention efforts and revealed that some types of early life stressors may promote adaptive strategies.},
	keywords = {0351:Gerontology, 0626:Sociology, Aging and the life course, Childhood exposures, Cumulative inequality theory, Gerontology, Mortality, Social Sciences, Sociology, Telomere length},
	isbn = {9780438332454},
	url = {https://search.proquest.com/docview/2103943004?pq-origsite=gscholar},
	author = {Blakelee R Kemp}
}
@mastersthesis {10346,
	title = {Individual Predictors of Volunteering in Older Adults Using Structural Equation Modeling},
	volume = {PhD},
	year = {2018},
	note = {Copyright - Database copyright ProQuest LLC; ProQuest does not claim copyright in the individual underlying works; Last updated - 2019-02-21},
	pages = {263},
	school = {University of Nebraska at Omaha},
	type = {phd},
	abstract = {The purpose of this study was to evaluate the interplay of both personality and resource theories to explain volunteering outcomes in adults 65 years and older. Structural equation modeling tested Core 2010 data from the Health and Retirement Survey and the Leave Behind, Self-Administered Questionnaire. Personality theory was tested using measures of the Big Five personality domains. Resource theory which combines psychosocial theories using personal, social, and cultural constructs were tested. Results showed that of the Big Five personality domains Extraversion, both directly and indirectly, predicted volunteering. Extraversion also predicted social capital measures of frequency of Meeting with Friends and Email-Write Interactions, and to a lesser extent Religiosity (used as a proxy for cultural capital). Religiosity, measured as Church Attendance and indicators associated with Belief in God, directly predicted volunteering outcomes. Agreeableness predicted Religiosity. Open to New Experience was positively correlated with social capital involving Email-Write Interactions and inversely correlated with cultural capital (Religiosity). As expected, health and income directly predicted volunteering while age was inversely related to volunteering. Understanding the extent to which this new knowledge of how the interplay of social and cultural capital intervene between personality to predict volunteering outcomes may bode well for organizations seeking to engage older adults and/or grow their pool of volunteers. Future applied research testing how this interplay impacts volunteering outcomes could help volunteer organizations develop and promote best practices to enhance engaging older adults and recruiting and retention efforts.},
	keywords = {0351:Gerontology, Aging, Behavior, Gerontology, SEM, Social Sciences, Volunteering},
	isbn = {9780438863781},
	author = {Baumel,Zolana Z.}
}
@mastersthesis {10323,
	title = {Marital Biography and Well-Being in Later Life: The Role of Remarriage, Disruption Pathways, and Duration on Health, Parent-Child Contact, and Ambivalence Toward Children},
	volume = {PhD},
	year = {2018},
	note = {Copyright - Database copyright ProQuest LLC; ProQuest does not claim copyright in the individual underlying works; Last updated - 2018-09-06},
	pages = {170},
	school = {Bowling Green State University},
	type = {phd},
	abstract = {In 2015, nearly 30\% of individuals aged 50 and older had two or more marriages compared to 19\% in 1980, indicating that a growing share of older adults either divorced or were widowed during early or midlife and later remarried. Although widowhood remains a common exit from marriage in later life, divorce to people over 50 is also on the rise. Despite increasingly complex marital biographies of older adults, few researchers have examined differences between disruption pathways (i.e., one divorce, one widowhood, or multiple disruptions) and whether remarriage is associated with fewer costs of marital disruption. It is also unclear whether duration remarried or unmarried relates to better or worse health after different disruption pathways. Using the 1992{\textendash}2014 Health and Retirement Study, I investigate the associations of different disruption pathways, subsequent remarriage relative to being unmarried, and duration remarried or unmarried with older adults{\textquoteright} mental and physical health, contact with children, and ambivalence toward children. I also account for gender differences as the health and parent-child ties of men and women often differ in later life. This dissertation underscores the need to pay attention to older people with multiple disruptions, as they are often disadvantaged in health and parent-child relationships relative to older adults with one divorce or widowhood. The findings regarding the role of remarriage for each well-being outcome are mixed. Remarriage is beneficial for the mental health of men relative to being unmarried after any type of disruption, and for the physical health of divorced women. Although remarriage relates to more frequent parent-child contact for divorced men, remarriage relates to less contact among women after one widowhood or multiple disruptions. Remarriage also links to greater ambivalence among men after multiple disruptions. Duration also matters, but not uniformly across outcomes. Remarried men after multiple disruptions have worse mental health with more years remarried men after one divorce, indicating that duration remarried after multiple disruptions links to poorer mental health than duration remarried after one divorce. Although men with multiple disruptions have less contact with children than widowed men, additional years remarried yield more contact for men with multiple disruptions than for men with one widowhood. Moreover, women who remarry after widowhood have less contact with children than their unmarried counterparts, but each year remarried after widowhood is associated with more contact, suggesting these remarried women rebuild ties with children over time. In sum, my dissertation highlights the utility of employing different disruption pathways, subsequent remarriage, and duration remarried or unmarried to capture increasing complexity of marital biographies among older adults and to clarify its association with multiple dimensions of well-being.},
	keywords = {0351:Gerontology, 0493:Aging, 0626:Sociology, 0628:Individual \& family studies, 0938:Demography, Aging, Demography, Families, Gerontology, Health and environmental sciences, Individual \& family studies, Marital disruption, Marital duration, Older Adults, Remarriage, Social Sciences, Sociology},
	isbn = {9780438275652},
	url = {https://etd.ohiolink.edu/pg_10?::NO:10:P10_ETD_SUBID:167588},
	author = {Anna M Hammersmith}
}
@mastersthesis {10318,
	title = {Who{\textquoteright}s In, Who{\textquoteright}s Out: A Descriptive Analysis of Demographic and Contextual Factors Related to Labor Force Participation among Older Adults},
	volume = {PhD},
	year = {2018},
	note = {Copyright - Database copyright ProQuest LLC; ProQuest does not claim copyright in the individual underlying works; Last updated - 2018-06-27},
	pages = {98},
	school = {University of Alabama},
	type = {phd},
	abstract = {As the proportion of older adults in the United States grows, there are significant concerns surrounding economic well-being in retirement. The two major components of the U.S retirement income system, Social Security and employer-sponsored retirement plans, have undergone significant changes that erode financial security in retirement. Working longer has been proposed to help older adults overcome deficits in retirement income. However, even when motivated to work, many older adults face significant challenges in the labor market, particularly those who are unemployed or displaced. In the current study, secondary data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) is used to identify demographic and contextual factors associated with unemployment, displacement, and reemployment (among those who are displaced at Time 2) among older adults. Logistic regression is used to examine the influence of race/ethnicity, gender, education, relationship status, health status, income status, geographical location, eligibility for retirement/age, and sector of employment on unemployment, displacement, and reemployment. Results suggest being of an {\textquotedblleft}other{\textquotedblright} race, being married, being in fair to poor health, and having household income below the poverty threshold increased the odds of employed while being previously employed in the service sector reduced the odds of unemployment. All else equal, being African American and living in the West increases the likelihood of displacement among older adults while being female, living in poverty, and being eligible for retirement (aged 62 and older) reduces an older adult{\textquoteright}s chances of being displaced. Finally, all else equal, being African American, living in the Northeast, and being eligible for retirement (aged 62 and older) reduced the likelihood reemployment at Time 2. The major implications of these findings for research, policy, and practice are discussed.},
	keywords = {0351:Gerontology, 0452:Social work, Gerontology, Older workers, Reemployment, Social Sciences, Social work, Unemployment, Worker displacement, Working Longer},
	isbn = {9780438040755},
	url = {https://books.google.com/books/about/Who_s_In_Who_s_Out.html?id=ouXsvQEACAAJ},
	author = {White-Chapman,Nyshetia}
}
@mastersthesis {10334,
	title = {Essays on healthy aging from the perspective of a health production function},
	volume = {PhD},
	year = {2016},
	note = {Copyright - Database copyright ProQuest LLC; ProQuest does not claim copyright in the individual underlying works; Last updated - 2017-02-11},
	pages = {114},
	school = {Wayne State University},
	type = {phd},
	address = {Detroit, MI},
	abstract = {This dissertation examines the determinants of healthy aging among older adults using Grossman{\textquoteright}s framework of a health production function. Healthy aging is produced using a variety of inputs, including some determined in early life, such as health and socioeconomic status as a child, others determined in young adulthood, such as education, others determined in mid-life, such as household wealth, and still others determined in later-life, such as current health habits. A production function for healthy aging is estimated using nationally representative data from the 2010 Health and Retirement Study on non-institutionalized seniors, and positing a simultaneous equations mediation model, recognizing that childhood outcomes influence adulthood outcomes, which in turn influence healthy aging. I quantify how childhood factors contribute to healthy aging, both directly and indirectly through these effects on mediating adult outcomes. The importance of current health habits to healthy aging are also examined. The results indicate that favorable childhood conditions significantly improve healthy aging scores, both directly and indirectly, mediated through education, income, and wealth. Moreover, good health habits have positive effects on healthy aging that are larger in magnitude than the effects of childhood factors. The findings suggest that exercising, maintaining a proper weight, and not smoking can more than compensate for unfavorable conditions experienced as a child.},
	keywords = {0351:Gerontology, 0501:Economics, 0680:Health education, Childhood, Economics, Education, Gerontology, Health behaviors, Health education, healthy aging, Indirect effects, Production function, Social Sciences, Successful aging},
	isbn = {9781369435030},
	url = {https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/oa_dissertations/1622/},
	author = {Nasim B Ferdows}
}
