Sofia von Humboldt
@ispa.pt
Instituto Universitario
Scopus Publications
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Scopus Publications
Gail Low, Gloria Gutman, Zhiwei Gao, A. França, S. von Humboldt, L. M. Vitorino, Donna M Wilson and Hunaina Allana
BACKGROUND
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, older Canadians were the most at risk of severe physical harm, including death, and their return to post-COVID life was expected to be especially anxiety-provoking. A study was conducted to obtain nationally representative evidence of older Canadians' self-perceived anxiety levels and their strategies to manage or mitigate it as public health restrictions were lifting.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This study had a cross-sectional descriptive design. An e-survey was used to collect data from 1327 Canadians aged 60+ stratified by age, sex, and education to resemble the larger general population. Participants completed the Geriatric Anxiety Scale (GAS-10) and indicated which of the 16 Centre for Addictions and Mental Health's (2022) Coping with Stress and Anxiety strategies they were using to manage or mitigate their anxiety when social distancing was lifting. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression analysis were used to explore the data.
RESULTS
While, on average, older Canadians were mildly anxious, nearly one-quarter of responders rated their anxiety as severe. Age, sex, perceived health, were statistically significant correlates of anxiety. Six coping strategies were associated with significantly lower anxiety scores. Moreover, accepting some fear and anxiety as normal, challenging worries and anxious thoughts, and practising relaxation/meditation appeared to increase anxiety.
CONCLUSION
Older Canadians used multiple strategies to manage or mitigate their anxiety, and seemingly, with more successful than detrimental tries. Practitioners have much to learn and understand about older people's mental health promotion efforts after social distancing, now and for future pandemics.
Sofia von Humboldt, Sara Silva, and Isabel Leal
Informa UK Limited
Isabel Miguel, Sofia von Humboldt, and Isabel Leal
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Abstract Introduction Sexual satisfaction is relevant to aging well, throughout the lifespan. This study aims to compare the perspectives of sexual satisfaction and adjustment to aging (AtA) in three age cohorts across the lifespan and to analyze whether sexual satisfaction influences the perceptions of AtA. Methods This cross-sectional study comprised 619 participants from three different age cohorts (18–44, 45–64, and 65 + years). Three measures were used to meet the defined objectives: (a) Adjustment to Aging Scale (ATAS), (b) New Sexual Satisfaction Scale (NSSS-S), and (c) sociodemographic, health, and lifestyle questionnaire. Data were subject to MANOVAs and hierarchical regression analyses. Results Social support emerged as the most relevant dimension in the multifactorial nature of AtA. Generational differences were found in sense of purpose and ambitions [F(2, 616) = 14.203, p < .001], zest and spirituality [F(2, 616) = 3.175, p = .042], body and health [F(2, 616) = 8.732, p < .001], and social support [F(2, 616) = 10.646, p < .001], with participants aged 65 and older showing significantly lower levels in all dimensions. Younger participants showed the highest score for body and health. Age-related decreases in sexual satisfaction were also found, as younger participants showed statistically higher levels of sexual satisfaction, followed by middle-aged and older participants. Sexual satisfaction predicts all the dimensions of AtA, exception made for aging in place and stability. Ego-centered sexual satisfaction positively predicted sense of purpose and ambitions (β = .225, p = .015) and social support (β = .297, p < .001), while partner/sexual activity–centered sexual satisfaction was a positive predictor of zest and spirituality (β = .243, p = .010) and body and health (β = .243, p = .008). Conclusions Sexual satisfaction decreases with age and is positively related to dimensions of AtA. Sexual satisfaction is a relevant variable for effective approaches to promoting healthy aging and overall well-being among (older) adults. Policy Implications Gerontological program policies and interventions with older people would strongly benefit of including sexual satisfaction as a relevant variable for aging well along the lifespan.
Gail Low, Alex Bacadini França, Donna M. Wilson, Gloria Gutman, and Sofia von Humboldt
MDPI AG
This cross-sectional e-survey study examines the suitability (reliability and validity) of the 12-item Attitudes to Aging Questionnaire Short Form (AAQ-SF) for use among adults in their 50s. The AAQ-SF instrument was originally designed to capture subjective perceptions of physical change, psychosocial loss, and psychological growth by asking people aged 60 and beyond how they feel about growing older. Our sample comprised 517 people residing in three Canadian provinces. Respondents completed the Attitudes to Aging Questionnaire Short Form, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and a short sociodemographic profile. Our findings replicate the original AAQ-SF structure for physical change, psychosocial loss, and psychological growth, with a promising internal consistency range for the third subscale. In our sample, psychological growth is best represented as ‘Self’ and ‘Generativity’, with a particularly greater capacity to explain variations in scores for item 18 and item 21. Physical change and psychosocial loss scores strongly differed based on perceived health and chronic illness presence. Psychosocial loss and psychological growth were moderately correlated with two aspects of self-esteem. We relate these patterns of findings within the context of prevailing growth and development theory and their perceived implications within the context of COVID-19 and post-pandemic life.
Sofia von Humboldt, Joana Rolo, José Alberto Ribeiro-Gonçalves, Ester Benko, Gail Low, and Isabel Leal
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Sofia von Humboldt, José Alberto Ribeiro-Gonçalves, Andrea Costa, Gail Low, Ester Benko, and Isabel Leal
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Sofia von Humboldt, José Alberto Ribeiro-Gonçalves, Gail Low, and Isabel Leal
Informa UK Limited
ABSTRACT Age and sexual difficulties show a relevant influence in older adults’ sexual well-being (SWB). The objective of this study was to assess sexual issues that affect SWB, revealed by older adults in person-centered therapy, using qualitative research. Interviews with 114 older participants, aged 65 to 82 years, living in the community were submitted to content analysis. Eight main themes emerged from the results of the content analysis: Partner unavailability, family issues, physical changes, worries about hygiene, sexual dysfunctions, fear of physical abuse, and sexual transmitted diseases. This study was relevant toward identifying the sexual issues older adults feel regarding their SWB, as shared in therapy. Older adults referred their greatest issues to be partner unavailability, sexual dysfunctions and physical changes due to aging.
Sofia von Humboldt, Isabel Miguel, Joaquim P. Valentim, Andrea Costa, Gail Low, and Isabel Leal
Informa UK Limited
Sofia von Humboldt, Neyda Ma. Mendoza-Ruvalcaba, Elva Dolores Arias-Merino, José Alberto Ribeiro-Gonçalves, Emilia Cabras, Gail Low, and Isabel Leal
Frontiers Media SA
Background and ObjectiveThe outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has raised increased challenges for older adults’ personal growth in diverse cultural settings. The aim of this study was to analyze negative emotions and their role on older adults’ self-growth in Mexico, Italy, Portugal, and Spain, during the COVID-19 pandemic. For this purpose, a cross-national qualitative research was carried out.MethodsData were collected from 338 community-dwelling participants aged 65 years and older, using a semi-structured interview protocol. Older adults were asked about negative emotions that significantly contribute to their self-growth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Content analysis was used to identify key themes.ResultsSeven main negative emotions (fear, sadness, anger, grief, boredom, loneliness, and shame) significantly contributed to seven themes of self-growth, across the samples: sharing difficult experiences with others, supportive partner, spiritual practices, engagement with life, generativity, volunteering activities, and intimacy and sexual satisfaction. Sharing difficult experiences with others was most pertinent to Mexican (13.9%) and to Italian (3.0%) participants, and a supportive partner to Portuguese (12.1%), and to Spanish participants (6.5%).ConclusionThe findings of this study indicate that negative emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to their older adults’ self-growth. This study highlighted the cultural diversity of experiences during the pandemics and underlined the upside of negative emotions and its relation to older adults’ self-growth during this period.
Sofia von Humboldt, Gail Low, and Isabel Leal
MDPI AG
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the access of older adults to health services. The two objectives of this study are understanding the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on older adults’ access to health services and exploring how health service accessibility during the pandemic influenced older adults’ mental health and self-reported changes in behavior. This study included 346 older adults. Content analysis produced five themes: (1) decreased physical accessibility to health care providers (78%); (2) increased use of online health services and other virtual health care (69%); (3) growth in the online prescription of medication (67%); (4) difficulty obtaining information and accessing non-communicable disease and mental health indicators (65%); and (5) postponement of medical specialist consultations (51%). Regarding mental health, three themes emerged: (1) increased symptoms of anxiety, distress, and depression (89%); (2) the experience of traumatic situations (61%); and (3) the augmented use of alcohol or drugs (56%). Finally, the following changes in behavior were indicated: (1) frustrated behavior (92%); (2) emotional explosions (79%); and (3) changes in sleeping and eating behaviors (43%). Access to health services may have influenced the mental health and behavior of older adults, hence interventions in a pandemic must address their interactions with health services, their needs, and their well-being.
Sofia von Humboldt, José Alberto Ribeiro-Gonçalves, and Isabel Leal
SAGE Publications
Significant demographic changes and a growing aging population increasingly emphasize the importance of assessing phenomena of violence against older adults, who constitute a vulnerable population. Therefore, bullying in old age is a poorly studied phenomena, but of growing importance. This study aims to analyze the perspectives of bullying in old age, using qualitative research at a cross-national level. We interviewed 173 older participants aged 65–91 years. Participants were Portuguese and English and lived in the community. Participants were subjected to semi-structured interviews. All the interviews went through a process of content analysis. Sample recruitment occurred through initial telephone contact, followed by a request to participate. Outcomes of content analysis produced seven themes, all of them associated with bullying experiences such as compromised learning capacity, loss of sense of agency and decision-making, asexuality, less attractive appearance, less social skills, gender discrimination, and less financial resources. Portuguese older adults felt mostly bullied for their loss of sense of agency and decision-making, less attractive appearance, less social skills, and less financial resources, while English participants mostly felt bullied for their compromised learning capacity, gender discrimination, and asexuality. The themes identified as being the most prominent in bullying are valuable guidelines for social policies and interventions toward bullying among older adults. Considering the scarcity of studies on bullying in older adults, this study is relevant for understanding the experience of older adults in relation to being bullied and for implementing psychosocial intervention programs including bullying situations that affect community-dwelling older adults.
Sofia von Humboldt, Francis Carneiro, and Isabel Leal
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Build a structural model to explore whether socio-demographic, health and lifestyle-related variables are correlates of adjustment to aging (AtA) in a group of older lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adults. The sample comprised 287 community-dwelling older LGB adults aged 75 years and older. Convenience sampling was used to gather questionnaire data. Measures encompassed the Adjustment to Aging Scale, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, demographics (sex, age, professional and marital status, education, household, and family annual income), and lifestyle and health-related characteristics (self-reported spirituality, leisure, physical activity, perceived health, and medication). Structural equation modeling was used to explore a structural model of the self-reported AtA, comprising all the above variables. Outcomes revealed satisfactory goodness of fitness indices in both the measurement and structural model. The study variables contributed towards a high percentage of AtA variability. Perceived health and leisure were the strongest correlates of AtA. The results of this study indicate that policy making and community interventions with older LGB adults may benefit from including variables such as perceived health and leisure, income, education, spirituality, sex, physical activity, satisfaction with life, and marital status.
Sofia von Humboldt, Neyda Ma Mendoza-Ruvalcaba, José Alberto Ribeiro-Gonçalves, Alejandro Chávez-Rodríguez, Gail Low, and Isabel Leal
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Sexual well-being (SWB) refers to the subjective emotional and cognitive evaluation of the quality of the individual's sexuality. SWB plays a relevant role in quality of life and health promotion on old age and has cross-cultural implications. In addition to the scarcity of in-depth qualitative studies in this area and studies with cross-cultural samples, no studies have compared perceptions of SWB among Portuguese and Mexican older adults. The aim of this study was to comparatively analyze perspectives on SWB among older adults residing in Portugal and Mexico. Data were collected from 86 Portuguese and 80 Mexican community-dwelling participants aged 65 years and older, using a semi-structured interview protocol. Older adults were asked about factors that significantly contribute to their SWB. Sociodemographic data were also gathered. Content analysis was used to identify key themes. Eight themes were identified across both studied samples: eroticism, supportive relationship, positive self-concept, health and self-care, romance, active life, tenderness and care, and no pain and no pregnancy restrictions. Eroticism was most pertinent to Portuguese participants (31.4%). Health and self-care was most frequently reported by Mexican participants (26.5%). The findings of this study indicate that SWB is strongly influenced by sociocultural and psychosocial values. Cross-cultural comparisons between older Portuguese and Mexican people provide a broader understanding of SWB in older age and suggest a scenario for future culture-adapted interventions and comprehensive policies.
Sofia von Humboldt, José Alberto Ribeiro-Gonçalves, Andrea Costa, Gail Low, and Isabel Leal
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Objective This study aims to analyze how older adults express themselves sexually. For this purpose, a qualitative research was carried out, which analyzes their perspectives at a cross-cultural level. Methods Four hundred ninety-five older participants, aged 65 to 98 years, were interviewed. Participants were of three different nationalities and lived in the community. All the interviews went through the process of verbatim transcription and subsequent content analysis. Results A content analysis produced nine themes: tenderness and care ( k = .91, p < .01); altruism and gratitude ( k = .81, p < .01); attractiveness ( k = 94, p < .01); positive communication ( k = .89, p < .01); sexual activity ( k = .88, p < .01); good health and physical condition ( k = .96, p < .01); supportive relationship ( k = .84, p < .01); eroticism ( k = .94, p < .01); and feeling active and alive ( k = .92, p < .01). Conclusions This study stressed different ways on expressing sexuality in old age and underlined the importance of tenderness and care and eroticism for older adults who are sexually active.
Sofia von Humboldt, Isabel Leal, and Gail Low
Springer International Publishing
Sofia von Humboldt, Andrea Costa, Mariline Fernandes, Sara Silva, and Isabel Leal
Informa UK Limited
ABSTRACT This study aims to analyze the perspectives of intergenerational relationships between older adults and adult children. For this purpose, a qualitative research was carried out, which analyzes these relations at a cross-national level. Four hundred and twenty four older participants aged 65–97 years, were interviewed. Participants were of three different nationalities and lived in the community. All the interviews went through the process of verbatim transcription and subsequent content analysis. Two dimensions of generational ambivalence were revealed from the study; support and the conflict dimensions. Findings of content analysis produced six themes, which represent intergenerational relations between older adults and adult children: older adults-adult children interaction quality; family integration; care and support; definition of limits; distance and alienation; and communication difficulties. This study highlighted the diversity of experiences in old age, in relation to intergenerational relationships and underlined the conflicting expectations from older adults in relation to their adult children.
Sofia von Humboldt, Gail Low, and Isabel Leal
Informa UK Limited
ABSTRACT The present study intends to analyze older adult perspectives on what determines sexual satisfaction in old age. Four hundred and twenty-one non-institutionalized older parti- 10 cipants from three different nationalities aged 65 to 97 years were interviewed. All narratives were submitted to content analysis. This study’s outcome originated five themes: positive communication (k =.94, p <.01); supportive partner (k =.82, p <.01); feeling attractive (k = 81, p <.01); good sexual activity (k =.97, p <.01); and eroticism (k =.98, p <.01). 15 This study highlighted different determinants of sexual satisfaction in old age and emphasized the importance of positive communication and a supportive partner for older adults.
Sofia von Humboldt, Neyda Ma. Mendoza-Ruvalcaba, Elva Dolores Arias-Merino, Andrea Costa, Emilia Cabras, Gail Low, and Isabel Leal
Informa UK Limited
Abstract The exponential increase of the older segment of the population is coinciding with the growing challenges of a digital society in different socio-cultural contexts. This exploratory study aims to analyze older adult perspectives of how smart technology influenced their meaning in life during the Covid-19 Public Health Emergency period, using qualitative research at a cross-national level. Three hundred and fifty-one community-dwelling older participants aged 65–87 years were included in the study. Participants were Italian, Mexican, Portuguese and Spanish. All the narratives went through a process of content analysis. Findings of content analysis produced six themes: Meaningful relations, rewarding activities, spirituality, health and safety-related support, self-growth, and physical activity. Smart technology was important in promoting significant relations for Mexican older adults (71.3%), rewarding activities for Portuguese older adults (57.1%), spirituality for Spanish older participants (71.6%), and physical activity for Italian older adults (29.5%). This study indicated that smart technology during the Health Emergency period was important for the meaning in life of older populations, mostly by facilitating meaningful relations, rewarding activities and spirituality. Future interventions with older adults during pandemic periods should consider the diversity of themes associated with increasing older adult well-being, from a cross-cultural perspective.
Sofia von Humboldt, Francis Carneiro, and Isabel Leal
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
This study aims to build a structural model to explore the predictors of adjustment to aging (AtA) reported by older women in breast cancer remission. A community-dwelling sample of 771 older women in breast cancer remission aged between 75 and 98 years answered a questionnaire to determine socio-demographic (age, income, marital status, education, household, and living setting), and health-related characteristics (self-reported functional limitations and disabilities, time since remission, other type of cancer, breast reconstruction, perceived health, recent disease and medication). Several measures were employed to assess AtA, sense of coherence and subjective well-being. Structural equation modeling was used to explore a structural model of the self-reported AtA, encompassing all variables. Significant predictors of AtA are self-reported disability (β = .404; p < .001), time since remission (β = .371; p < .001), perceived health (β = .257; p < .001), other type of cancer (β = .231; p < .001), breast reconstruction (β = .153; p = .008), marital status (β = .141; p < .001), sense of coherence (β = .140; p < .001), and living setting (β = .139; p = .006). These variables accounted for 84.3% of the variability of AtA. Self-reported disability and time since remission were the strongest predictors of AtA. Our findings suggest that health care interventions with older women in breast cancer remission still living in the community may benefit from clearly including these predictors of AtA, as they are relevant for promoting older women’ s aging well.
Sofia von Humboldt, Ana Monteiro, and Isabel Leal
Informa UK Limited
ABSTRACT Objective: Intergenerational relationships are central for older adults’ well-being. In spite of the reiterated value of intergenerational interactions between older adults and grandchildren, there is paucity of research that has analyzed these relationships at a cross-national level. The current study purports to analyze how older adults conceptualize intergenerational relationships. Method: In this qualitative study, in-depth interviews were conducted with 316 older adults, aged 65–102, currently living at home representing three different nationalities. Verbatim transcripts were examined. Results: Data analysis generated six themes representing intergenerational relationships: affection and reward; interest and integration; quality of grandparent–grandchild interaction; definitions of privacy and boundaries; provision of support; and obligations regarding childcare, supportive, and conflictual. Conclusions: The empirical findings indicated older adults’ ambivalence over intergenerational relationships and contradictory expectations of support from grandchildren.
S. V. Humboldt, F. Carneiro and I. Leal
Raffles Connect Pte Ltd
espanolObjetivos: Analizar las diferencias significativas entre dos grupos de mujeres mayores con y sin cancer de mama en relacion con el bienestar subjetivo (BS); evaluar a la asociacion de BS con cancer de mama y examinar la asociacion de la dimension afectiva con la cognitiva del BS de ambos grupos. Metodos: Reclutamos 387 mujeres mayores (M = 85.27; SD = 6.59, intervalo 75-100). Los instrumentos incluyeron datos demograficos, la Escala de Satisfaccion con la Vida y la Escala de Afecto Positivo y Negativo. Resultados: Las mujeres con cancer de mama en remision presentaron puntajes de BS significativamente mas altos. Las dimensiones cognitiva y afectiva del BS se correlacionaron con el cancer de mama y se asocian fuertemente en ambos grupos. Conclusiones: La clinica y el desarrollo de programas pueden beneficiarse de abordar el BS de mujeres mayores sobrevivientes de cancer de mama. EnglishObjectives: To analyze significant differences among two groups of older women with and without breast cancer, regarding subjective well-being (SWB); to assess the association of SWB with breast cancer; and to examine the association of the affective with the cognitive dimension of SWB in both groups. Methods: We recruited 387 older women (M = 85.27; SD = 6.59; range 75-100). Measures included demographics, the Satisfaction with Life Scale and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule. Results: Women with breast cancer in remission presented a significantly higher SWB score. Cognitive and affective dimensions of SWB were correlated to breast cancer, and were strongly associated in both groups. Conclusions: Clinical and program development may benefit from addressing SWB of older cancer survivors.
Sofia von Humboldt and Isabel Leal
Informa UK Limited
ABSTRACT This study aims to compare the correlates of adjustment to aging (AtA) reported by young-old and oldest-old adults and to build two structural models to explore the correlates of AtA for these two age groups. A cross-national study encompassing a community-dwelling sample of 823 older adults aged 65 years and older was undertaken. Several measures were employed to assess AtA, subjective well-being, and sense of coherence. A questionnaire to determine socio-demographic (sex, age, professional and marital status, education, household, adult children, family’s annual income, living setting, and self-reported spirituality), lifestyle and health-related characteristics (perceived health, recent disease, medication, and leisure) was also used. Structural equation modeling was employed to investigate a structural model of AtA, comprising socio-demographic, lifestyle, and health-related variables, as well as SWB and SOC for both groups. Leisure was the most significant correlate of AtA for the young-old (β = .422; p < .001) while self-reported spirituality was the most significant correlate of AtA for the oldest-old (β = .711; p < .001). Significant correlates explain 67.8% and 73.1% of the variability of AtA, respectively. The results presented in this study highlighted different perspectives of AtA, outlined in two structural models, for the groups, and the need of addressing the differences between these, when implementing health care interventions, in particular the relevance of leisure and self-reported spirituality.
Sofia von Humboldt and Isabel Leal
Airiti Press, Inc.
Summary Background Older adults experience varying challenges in old age. This study aims to explore the indicators of adjustment to aging (AtA) and to examine the potential explanatory mechanisms of a correlational model for AtA for the old and oldest-old adults. Methods This qualitative study comprised demographics and semistructured interviews. Complete information on 152 older adults aged between 75 years and 102 years (mean = 83.76 years; standard deviation = 6.458). Data was subjected to content analysis. The correlational model of indicators of AtA was analyzed using a multiple correspondence analysis. Results “Occupation and achievement” was the most mentioned indicator of AtA by the old participants (17.7%), whereas “existential meaning and spirituality” was the most verbalized indicator of AtA for the oldest-old participants (16.9%). AtA was explained by a three-factor model for each age group. For the old participants, the largest factor “occupational and social focus” accounted for 33.6% of total variance, whereas for the oldest-old participants, “spirituality and health focus” represented 33.5% of total variance. Conclusion The outcomes presented in this paper stressed the varied perspectives concerning AtA, contoured in two different models, and the need of considering these when designing and implementing programs in health care for the old and the oldest-old.
Sofia Von Humboldt and Isabel Leal
Informa UK Limited
Dramatic increases in life expectancy within the older population have revealed challenges specific to older adults, yet these are rarely addressed in the person-centered literature. In this paper, we offer the perspective of adults experiencing old age, using the case of a 74-year-old older client as well as research that supports the various challenges expressed by the client. We explore several psycho-emotional challenges experienced by older adults – cognitive capacity, time perspective, autonomy, loss and reminiscing, and the aging body, in order to facilitate understanding of their specific needs. We argue that, for older adults, an empathic approach is key to creating relational depth within a therapeutic relationship so that the older client can deepen his or her personhood and his or her sense of agency. Finally, we assert that a genuine and authentic encounter between an older client and her or his therapist is the key to facilitating growth and development for the older client.
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Torres, M., von Humboldt, S., & Leal, I. (2020). Estudo misto da influência das mudanças sexuais na satisfação sexual dos idosos [Mixed study about the influence of sexual changes in older adults’ sexual satisfaction]. Psicologia, Saúde & Doenças, 21(1), 90-96.