TY - JOUR T1 - Diagnoses of Chronic Health Conditions and Change in Subjective Age: The Moderating Role of Chronological Age. JF - Gerontologist Y1 - 2022 A1 - Prasad, Anyah A1 - Edward Alan Miller A1 - Jeffrey A Burr A1 - Boerner, Kathrin KW - Chronic Diseases KW - Felt age KW - Perceived age AB -

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Health is a predictor of subjective age, and although inconclusive, the strength of this association is not uniform across different age groups. This study investigates if new diagnoses of chronic health conditions are associated with a change in subjective age and if chronological age moderates this relationship.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Using data from the Health and Retirement Study, residualized change regression analysis was performed for a sample of 5,158 respondents older than 50 years to examine their subjective age in 2014 relative to that reported in 2010. The main predictor was the number of chronic health conditions newly diagnosed between 2010 and 2014. Chronological age in 2010 was the moderator.

RESULTS: Results showed that each new diagnosis of a chronic health condition was significantly associated with a 0.68-year increase in subjective age reported in 2014, compared to subjective age reported in 2010. However, this increase in subjective age was attenuated by 0.05 years for each additional year in 2010 chronological age.

DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: According to Social and Temporal Comparison theories, people compare themselves to their age peers and earlier selves. Given expectations for better health at younger chronological ages, being diagnosed with chronic health conditions may have a stronger association with subjective age among middle-aged persons as compared to older persons. The findings suggest that subjective age may be used as a screening tool to predict how chronic disease diagnosis may influence peoples' sense of self, which in turn shapes future health.

VL - 62 IS - 2 ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Pension Plan Types and Financial Literacy in Later Life. JF - Gerontologist Y1 - 2019 A1 - Li, Yang A1 - Jeffrey A Burr A1 - Edward Alan Miller KW - Financial literacy KW - Pensions KW - Retirement Planning and Satisfaction AB -

Background and Objectives: The ongoing shift from defined benefit (DB) to defined contribution (DC) pension plans means that middle-aged and older adults are increasingly being called upon to manage their own fiscal security in retirement. Yet, half of older Americans are financially illiterate, lacking the knowledge and skills to manage financial resources. This study investigates whether pension plan types are associated with varying levels of financial literacy among older Americans.

Research Design and Methods: Cross-sectional analyses of the 2010 Health and Retirement Study (HRS) (n = 1,281) using logistic and linear regression models were employed to investigate the association between different pension plans and multiple indicators of financial literacy. The potential moderating effect of gender was also examined.

Results: Respondents with DC plans, with or without additional DB plans, were more likely to correctly answer various financial literacy questions, in comparison with respondents with DB plans only. Men with both DC and DB plans scored significantly higher on the financial literacy index than women with both types of plans, relative to respondents with DB plans only.

Discussion and Implications: Middle-aged and older adults, who are incentivized by participation in DC plans to manage financial resources and decide where to invest pension funds, tend to self-educate to improve financial knowledge and skills, thereby resulting in greater financial literacy. This finding suggests that traditional financial education programs may not be the only means of achieving financial literacy. Further consideration should be given to providing older adults with continued, long-term exposure to financial decision-making opportunities.

VL - 59 IS - 2 U1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28958076?dopt=Abstract ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Stress and inflammation among older adults: The moderating role of religiosity JF - Journal of Religion, Spirituality & Aging Y1 - 2019 A1 - Jane Tavares A1 - Corina R Ronneberg A1 - Edward Alan Miller A1 - Jeffrey A Burr KW - Depressive symptoms KW - Religion KW - Social Factors AB - Chronic stress weakens the immune system and leads to heightened bodily inflammation, which in turn is linked with serious health conditions. This study examined whether religiosity moderates the relationship between stress and inflammation (measured by C-reactive Protein (CRP)). A sample of 4,734 community-dwelling older adults was drawn from the 2006 wave of the Health and Retirement Study. Logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between chronic stress (8-item index), inflammation (high CRP level), and religiosity (organizational, nonorganizational, and intrinsic), controlling for other factors. Higher levels of stress were significantly associated with high inflammation/CRP (p =.039). Further, intrinsic religiosity acted as a moderator of this relationship (p =.024), such that the relationship between stress and inflammation is lessened for persons with higher levels of intrinsic religiosity. Higher intrinsic religiosity attenuated the effects of stress on inflammation, suggesting that individuals with stronger religious commitment/motivation may better cope with stress. VL - 31 UR - https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15528030.2018.1536910https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/15528030.2018.1536910 IS - 2 JO - Journal of Religion, Spirituality & Aging ER - TY - JOUR T1 - A Longitudinal Analysis of Site of Death: The Effects of Continuous Enrollment in Medicare Advantage Versus Conventional Medicare. JF - Res Aging Y1 - 2017 A1 - Elizabeth Edmiston Chen A1 - Edward Alan Miller KW - Aged KW - Aged, 80 and over KW - Decision making KW - Fee-for-Service Plans KW - Female KW - health policy KW - Hospices KW - Hospital Mortality KW - Humans KW - Longitudinal Studies KW - Male KW - Medicare Part C KW - Terminal Care KW - United States AB -

This study assessed the odds of dying in hospital associated with enrollment in Medicare Advantage (M-A) versus conventional Medicare Fee-for-Service (M-FFS). Data were derived from the 2008 and 2010 waves of the Health and Retirement Study ( n = 1,030). The sample consisted of elderly Medicare beneficiaries who died in 2008-2010 (34% died in hospital, and 66% died at home, in long-term senior care, a hospice facility, or other setting). Logistic regression estimated the odds of dying in hospital for those continuously enrolled in M-A from 2008 until death compared to those continuously enrolled in M-FFS and those switching between the two plans. Results indicate that decedents continuously enrolled in M-A had 43% lower odds of dying in hospital compared to those continuously enrolled in M-FFS. Financial incentives in M-A contracts may reduce the odds of dying in hospital.

VL - 39 UR - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27193048 IS - 8 U1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27193048?dopt=Abstract ER - TY - JOUR T1 - The Protective Effects of Religiosity on Depression: A 2-Year Prospective Study. JF - Gerontologist Y1 - 2016 A1 - Corina R Ronneberg A1 - Edward Alan Miller A1 - Dugan, Elizabeth A1 - Frank Porell KW - Adult KW - Aged KW - Aging KW - depression KW - Depressive Disorder KW - Female KW - Health Surveys KW - Humans KW - Male KW - Middle Aged KW - Prospective Studies KW - Religion KW - Religion and Psychology KW - Social Support KW - Spirituality KW - United States AB -

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: Approximately 20% of older adults are diagnosed with depression in the United States. Extant research suggests that engagement in religious activity, or religiosity, may serve as a protective factor against depression. This prospective study examines whether religiosity protects against depression and/or aids in recovery.

DESIGN AND METHODS: Study data are drawn from the 2006 and 2008 waves of the Health and Retirement Study. The sample consists of 1,992 depressed and 5,740 nondepressed older adults (mean age = 68.12 years), at baseline (2006), for an overall sample size of 7,732. Logistic regressions analyzed the relationship between organizational (service attendance), nonorganizational (private prayer), and intrinsic measures of religiosity and depression onset (in the baseline nondepressed group) and depression recovery (in the baseline depressed group) at follow-up (2008), controlling for other baseline factors.

RESULTS: Religiosity was found to both protect against and help individuals recover from depression. Individuals not depressed at baseline remained nondepressed 2 years later if they frequently attended religious services, whereas those depressed at baseline were less likely to be depressed at follow-up if they more frequently engaged in private prayer.

IMPLICATIONS: Findings suggest that both organizational and nonorganizational forms of religiosity affect depression outcomes in different circumstances (i.e., onset and recovery, respectively). Important strategies to prevent and relieve depression among older adults may include improving access and transportation to places of worship among those interested in attending services and facilitating discussions about religious activities and beliefs with clinicians.

VL - 56 UR - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25063937 IS - 3 U1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25063937?dopt=Abstract ER -