Given the facilitating conditions and the characteristic qualities of worry, the elderly seem to be particularly susceptible to the experience of worry. The Worry Scale was developed in response to the concerns expressed about life events measures and as an attempt to address the needs of elderly people directly. Older adults (N=94) from 11 senior…

One of the most significant factors in accounting for death attitudes is religious beliefs, yet this factor has been little studied or understood. This study examined the relationship between death anxiety, religiosity, and life satisfaction among a sample of retired older individuals. Sixty retired subjects between the ages of 60 and 84 years…

Any attempt to discuss psychotherapy with the elderly must be cognizant of the broad spectrum of personality style, life experience, and health status that exists among older adults. This diversity holds true in the specific realm of time perspective as well. Older clients may bring to psychotherapy an active engagement with the present, a…

Research has shown that the majority of Americans believe in the concept of life after death in some form. To investigate the effects of afterlife anxiety on wellness in the elderly, 293 Los Angeles elderly were interviewed. An afterlife anxiety measure and measures of physical and psychologial health were administered. Pearson correlations failed…

A computer confidence course designed to teach the fundamentals of computer literacy was offered to 19 members of the Las Vegas (Nevada) Senior Center (mean age = 63.9 years). Computer anxiety and computer literacy measures were taken before and after the 12-hour course. The course curriculum included sections on computer knowledge, computer…

The negative sequelae that relocation to a nursing home has on the elderly is well documented. This study evaluated the effects of stress reduction information on the newly admitted patients' state anxiety based on self-reported distress using the Stresses in Institutional Care Scale. Anxiety was assessed using the Anxiety State Scale of the…

This study was undertaken to determine the effects of different ways of coping on caregivers' physical health and symptoms of depression and anxiety. Sixty persons living with and caring for a spouse with Alzheimer's disease (n=58) or multi-infarct dementia (n=2) were interviewed and evaluated by a series of instruments. Independent variables…

In previous research, two major sets of variables have been identified as correlates of emotional well-being among the elderly: measures of physical health and of social support. To suggest variables predictive of in-hospital discharge planning, and of emotional well-being after a severe incident of ill health, the Posthospital Support Study…

People who decide or are forced to relocate often undergo a lengthy waiting period before they can move. This waiting period may be a highly stressful time for individuals anticipating relocation. This study explored relocating older adults' (N=63) coping strategies and the impact of these strategies on health, cognitive functioning, and well…

Though many theories of the greater impact of a spouse's death on men than on women derive some support from role theory, little empirical data exist to support the hypotheses. Behavioral studies of widowhood have focused on social participation as a determinant in coping, without studying the survivor's degree of social involvement before the…

It is often assumed that old age is a time of numerous losses, irritants, and stress. Although researchers have examined the interrelationship of stress, health, and happiness in old age, stress is usually operationalized as a response to major life events; however, stress can also be operationalized as a response to the everyday experiences of…

In the absence of data, pharmacotherapy with benzodiazepines has become the mainstay of anxiety management in the elderly population. However, the use of benzodiazepines in the elderly has many problems. Elderly persons are more sensitive to anti-anxiety medications and are subject to a variety of increased risks, including cognitive impairment,…

The social, behavioral, and physiological effects of episodic crowding on children and elderly adults are reported in this paper. Children ranging in ages from 9 to 16 and elderly adults ranging in ages from 60 to 90 were grouped by age into small and large rooms. Each group sat silently for 30 minutes in the rooms while skin conductance equipment…