Wissenschaftli­che Publikationen

Hier halten wir Sie über aktuelle Fachveröffentlichungen aus dem Projekt "Individuelle Lebens-, Gesundheits- und Pflegesituation von Seniorinnen und Senioren in Dresden ab dem 60. Lebensjahr (LAB60+)" auf dem Laufenden.

A Social Cure in Times of Pandemic Distancing. Multiple Group Membership and Well-Being in Senior Citizens

Uhlmann, L. M., Wegge, J. (2023). A Social Cure in Times of Pandemic Distancing. Multiple Group Membership and Well-Being in Senior Citizens. European Journal of Health Psychology, 0.
https://doi.org/10.1027/2512-8442/a000133

Abstract: Background: Being a member of multiple social groups (multiple group membership, MGM) has beneficial effects on several health outcomes as stated by the social identity theory. MGM can also buffer the negative influences of life-altering events on well-being. The COVID-19 pandemic can be characterized as such an event. Aims: The present study investigated whether MGM is associated with better well-being for older people during the pandemic and if it has a buffer effect on the relationship between pandemic-induced fear and well-being. Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with a representative sample (N = 2,062) of citizens of Dresden, Germany aged 60 or older during the COVID-19 pandemic. MGM was operationalized in two different ways: as a self-assessment of the number of different social groups participants considered themselves a member of and as the number of formal groups people participated in, such as sports groups, clubs, or religious groups. Results: It was found, as expected, for both indicators that people who were members of multiple social groups reported better well-being than people with just one group membership. Participants with no group memberships had the lowest psychological well-being. MGM did, however, not buffer the negative impact of the pandemic-induced fear on well-being. Limitations: Limitations are based on our measurement methods (cross-sectional design and self-reported data). Conclusion: MGM is an important resource for older people even during a pandemic. Potential limitations of the social cure imposed by social distancing rules are discussed and related suggestions for practice are presented.

Health and Care Dependency of Older Adults in Dresden, Germany: Results from the LAB60+ Study

Romero Starke, K., Hegewald, J., Schmauder, S., Kaboth, P., Uhlmann, L. M., Reissig, D., Kaufmann, K. K., Wegge, J., Marquardt, G., & Seidler, A. (2022). Health and care dependency of older adults in Dresden, Germany: Results from the LAB60+ study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(18), 11777. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191811777

Abstract: As the population in Europe ages, an increased focus on the health of older adults is necessary. The purpose of the population-based LAB60+ study was to examine the current health and care situation of the population of older adults in Dresden, Germany, and to assess the effect of age, gender, and socioeconomic status (SES) on health outcomes. In the first half of 2021, 2399 out of 6004 randomly sampled residents of Dresden aged 60 years or older answered questions on their chronic conditions, care dependency, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and well-being, among others. Of the participants, 91.6% were afflicted with at least one chronic condition, and 73.1% had multimorbidities. More than one-tenth (11.3%) of participants were care dependent. Lower levels of HRQoL and well-being were observed compared to a published German reference population, perhaps because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Gender differences were observed for some chronic health conditions, and women had a higher risk for lower HRQoL, well-being, and depressivity compared to men. A low SES was associated with a higher risk of the vast majority of health outcomes. Particularly, socioeconomic factors and gender-related inequalities should be considered for the development of prevention and health-promoting measures during late life.