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- Dobrosavljevic, Maja, 1986-
(författare)
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Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Beyond the Young Age : Investigation of the Prevalence of ADHD in Older Adults and the Risk of Age-related Disorders
- 2023
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairing levels of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity. Symptoms of ADHD, which typically emerge in childhood, may persist until older age with a substantial adverse impact on health and functionality. Yet there is a notable knowledge gap in research on ADHD in older age and the potential associations of adult ADHD with disorders that are common in older age (i.e., age-related disorders). Thus, this thesis aimed to investigate the prevalence rates of ADHD in older age and whether ADHD in adulthood is associated with an increased risk of age-related disorders. Study I, a systematic review and meta-analysis, suggests that a considerable number of older adults report elevated levels of ADHD symptoms, while the prevalence of treated ADHD is less than half of the prevalence of clinically diagnosed ADHD. In Studies II, III, and IV, we used data from Swedish population registers. We found that ADHD is associated with an increased risk of dementia and mild cognitive impairment (Study II), which substantially attenuates after controlling for psychiatric comorbidity. Further, ADHD symptoms in adulthood are associated with an increased risk of subsequent cardiometabolic disorders (Study III). The associations attenuate after controlling for educational attainment, psychiatric comorbidity, and lifestyle factors, and they are confounded by genetic factors. Finally, the prediction of cardiovascular risk in adults initiating pharmacological treatment for ADHD may improve by considering novel risk factors (i.e., psychiatric comorbidity and use of other psychotropic medications) in addition to traditional predictors (Study IV). Overall, the findings indicate that a substantial number of older adults have increased levels of ADHD symptoms and that ADHD in adults is associated with an increased risk of age-related disorders. Further longitudinal studies, based on both community samples and epidemiological data, are needed to explore the risk of age-related disorders in ADHD, and the underlying mechanisms, until a more advanced older age.
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| 2. |
- Solares Canal, Carmen, 1987-
(författare)
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The impact of criminal and externalizing behaviors on aging : Long-term associations with health and dementia
- 2024
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Previous studies have shown that criminal and other externalizing behaviors are associated with several adverse outcomes, but very little is known about the impact of these behaviors beyond middle adulthood. Few studies have explored how a life-course background of criminal and externalizing behaviors influence aging and more specifically, whether it is associated with the onset and development of different neurodegenerative, mental, and physical health disorders when aging. The overarching aim of this dissertation is to advance the knowledge about the long-term influence that criminal and other externalizing behaviors along the lifespan may have on health and neurodegeneration while individuals age. This aim was explored throughout three studies: Study I, a systematic review and meta-analysis performed to investigate the prevalence of several mental and physical health problems of older offenders; Study II, a Swedish population-based register study which examined how the severity of the criminal background associated with dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and how several life-course factors influenced these associations and; Study III, a multi-generation cohort study investigating whether externalizing behaviors and dementia co-aggregate in families. The main findings suggest that older adults with criminal and externalizing behavioral backgrounds, and overall, those with a severe criminal history, exhibit an increased liability to develop physical and mental health problems as well as MCI and dementia when aging. This increased risk is influenced by life-course health and psychosocial problems as well as genetic and familial environmental factors. In general, findings from this thesis point towards a better understanding of the aging process of individuals with this background, and to further the scientific knowledge about the influence of life-course adverse behaviors on aging. This knowledge may promote the development of preventive and interventive strategies for individuals with a criminal and externalizing behavioral background.
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| 3. |
- Golovchanova, Nadezhda, 1983-
(författare)
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Older and Feeling Unsafe? Unravelling the Role of Perceived Unsafety in the Well-being of Older Adults Residing in Senior Apartments
- 2023
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Feeling safe in one’s place of residence is important for the well-being of older adults when ageing in place; in contrast, feeling unsafe is likely to have negative consequences for well-being while ageing. Although substantial knowledge of perceived unsafety has been accumulated within various disciplines, there are certain knowledge gaps related to perceived unsafety in older age. What perceived reasons for feeling unsafe are the most central to older adults? Can emotion regulation strengthen or buffer the negative effects of perceived unsafety on the well-being of older people? What differences exist among older adults regarding why they feel unsafe?This dissertation aimed to address these questions while investigating perceived unsafety and its associations with well-being in the context of ageing, focusing on senior apartment residents. This dissertation adopted an interdisciplinary approach integrating knowledge of perceived unsafety from psychology, gerontology, and criminology. The findings suggest that perceived unsafety in advanced age is a multifaceted phenomenon. Specifically, perceived unsafety could be explained by different perceived reasons (i.e., fear of crime, unattractive social climate in the neighbourhood, and inconvenient infrastructure at home; Study I). Furthermore, maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies were associated with fear of crime and strengthened its negative association with life satisfaction (Study II). Moreover, distinct profiles of older adults could be identified based on compromises in their key life domains. Older adults belonging to different profiles differed in their perceived unsafety and well-being (Study III).Overall, this dissertation findings indicate that feeling unsafe is associated with being less satisfied with life, experiencing more anxiety and depressive feelings, and relying on more maladaptive emotion regulation strategies. Therefore, safety-promotion efforts are considered an important investment in the quality of life of older adults living in senior apartments.
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| 4. |
- Golovchanova, Nadezhda, 1983-, et al.
(författare)
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Affective Fear of Crime and Its Association with Depressive Feelings and Life Satisfaction in Advanced Age : Cognitive Emotion Regulation as a Moderator?
- 2021
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Ingår i: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. - : MDPI. - 1661-7827 .- 1660-4601. ; 18:9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Fear of crime is a substantial problem for older adults and is associated with reduced subjective well-being. However, less is known about factors that could moderate the associations between fear of crime and mental health problems and well-being in advanced age. Cognitive emotion regulation could serve as a potentially buffering factor for adverse health outcomes related to fear of crime due to its potential importance in managing feelings when facing threatening situations. The current study investigated the associations between affective fear of crime with depressive feelings and life satisfaction and examined whether adaptive and maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies moderated these associations in a sample of older adults (age 64–106) in Sweden (N = 622). The results showed that affective fear of crime was associated with more depressive feelings, less life satisfaction, and more frequent use of such maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies as rumination, catastrophizing, and blaming others. Moreover, rumination and self-blame moderated the associations between affective fear of crime and life satisfaction. Adaptive emotion regulation strategies were not associated with affective fear of crime and did not decrease the strength of its association with depressive feelings and with life satisfaction. These findings allow us to conclude that maladaptive emotion regulation could be considered a vulnerability factor in the association of fear of crime with life satisfaction.
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| 8. |
- Golovchanova, Nadezhda, 1983-, et al.
(författare)
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Older and feeling unsafe? Differences in underlying vulnerability, anxiety and life satisfaction among older adults
- 2023
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Ingår i: Aging & Mental Health. - : Routledge. - 1360-7863 .- 1364-6915. ; 27:8, s. 1636-1643
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives: Feeling safe in the daily environment is important in late life. However, research on configuration of vulnerability factors for perceived unsafety in older adults is scarce. The current study aimed to identify latent subgroups of older adults based on their vulnerability for perceived unsafety.Method: We analyzed the data from a cross-sectional survey of residents in senior apartments in a mid-sized Swedish municipality (N = 622).Results: The results of the latent profile analysis based on frailty, fear of falling, social support, perceived neighborhood problems, and trust in others in the neighborhood indicated the presence of three profiles. These profiles were labelled as compromised body and social networks (7.2%), compromised context (17.9%) and non-vulnerable (74.9%). Profile membership was statistically predicted by age, gender, and family status and profiles differed in perceived unsafety, anxiety and life satisfaction.Conclusion: Overall, the study findings suggested the existence of latent subgroups of older people based on patterns of vulnerability.
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| 9. |
- Golovchanova, Nadezhda, 1983-, et al.
(författare)
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Perceived reasons of unsafety among independently living older adults in Sweden
- 2022
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Ingår i: Nordic Journal of Criminology. - : Taylor & Francis. - 2578-983X .- 2578-9821. ; 23:1, s. 44-60
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Feeling safe is important for quality of life in advanced age. The current study aimed to investigate whether different perceived reasons for unsafety uniquely contribute to the feelings of unsafety in the neighbourhood and at home while ageing. Data from a cross- sectional survey study on older adults living independently in Sweden were analysed (N = 622, age range 64–106 years, 60.6% female). Binary logistic regressions revealed unique associations between fear of crime, unattractive social climate in the neighbour-hood, and inconvenient infrastructure at home with experienced feelings of unsafety, while controlling for socio-demographic fac-tors. When distinguishing between reasons for feeling unsafe in the neighbourhood and at home, different associations with socio- demographic factors emerged. Higher age was positively asso-ciated with health-related unsafety both in the neighbourhood and at home and was not related to fear of crime neither in the neighbourhood nor at home. Female gender was associated with both health-related unsafety and fear of crime in the neighbour-hood and with health-related unsafety at home. Overall, the find-ings highlight the presence of a range of perceived reasons of unsafety relevant for older adults and the importance to consider these subjective unsafety reasons in further research and practice.
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| 10. |
- Golovchanova, Nadezhda, 1983-, et al.
(författare)
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Presence of Meaning in Life in Older Men and Women : The Role of Dimensions of Frailty and Social Support
- 2021
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Psychology. - : Frontiers. - 1664-1078. ; 12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Presence of meaning in life is an important component of eudemonic wellbeing while aging. While subjective health and interpersonal relationships are among important sources of meaning for older adults, less research has explored the gender differences in the potential contribution of these sources to the presence of meaning in late life. The current study aims to examine the associations of frailty dimensions (daily activities, health problems, and psychosocial functioning) and social support with the presence of meaning in late life, and whether these associations differ for older men and women. The study employs the data from the 65+ and Safe Study – a cross-sectional survey of residents of senior apartments. The data were collected in 2019 in a mid-sized Swedish municipality (N = 618; age range from 64 to 106 years, 60.5% female). Results showed significant associations of health problems, psychosocial functioning, and social support with the presence of meaning in life. Further, the results demonstrated no statistically significant gender differences in the associations between frailty dimensions, social support, and presence of meaning. However, since the interaction between health problems and gender approached statistical significance, this association was further explored indicating a more detrimental role of health problems in relation to the presence of meaning in life among older men than among older women. Overall, the study highlights the importance of physical and psychosocial health and social support for the presence of meaning in life among older adults and warrants further research on possible gender differences in the relation between health problems and meaning in late life.
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