Living alone, social support, and feeling lonely among the elderly

This study aimed to describe the characteristics of the elderly population living alone, and to examine how living alone relates to feeling lonely. Interviews were conducted with a stratified random sample of 4,859 elderly individuals living in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Variables collected included demographic information, living alone or not, activities of daily living
(ADL), instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ), chronic conditions, perceived social support, and a subjective measure of feeling lonely. Using logistic regression, it was found that factors associated with living alone included gender, marital status, occupation, source of income, religion, and IADL. Living alone was, in tum, related to decreased levels of both perceived social support
and feeling lonely after adjustment for potential confounders. Managing retired life is important for adult elders, particularly for men. Lack ofsocial support is common among the elderly community who live alone, which could wel1 be a main reason for this group to feel lonely. As loneliness is linked to physical and mental health problems, increasing social support and facilitating friendship should be factored into life-style management for
communities of elderly.

An experimental examination of colonization as a generator of biotic nestedness

Species assemblages of systems of islands and other fragmented habitats frequently show a "nested-subset" structure in which the biotas of sites with low species richness are non-random subsets of the biotas of richer sites. Much literature suggests that extinction is more likely to produce strongly nested patterns than colonization, although very few experiments have been conducted on the generation of nested-subset patterns. Here, we describe an experiment on nestedness of benthic invertebrates occupying rocks in the littoral zone of a lake in western Victoria, Australia. Data collected from previous work indicated that the invertebrate biotas of rocks were nested. We used initially defaunated, different-sized habitat patches (half house-bricks, full house-bricks, double house-bricks) and followed the time-course of occupation to assess whether nested-subset patterns would emerge, and whether extinction or colonization best accounted for the patterns. We predicted that nestedness would increase through time up to the end of the experiment. This was found to be the case with colonization dominating the establishment of a strongly nested system; extinction appeared to be of relatively little importance over the duration of the experiment. These results suggest that at least in some circumstances, differential colonization may be influential in producing nested-subset patterns but experiments conducted over longer times may be needed to more completely understand the respective roles of extinction and colonization in generating nested-subset patterns in this system.

Reconciling colonial memories in Korea and Japan

The Republic of Korea and Japan share a tumultuous history, but arguably no period has caused greater trauma in bilateral relations than the twentieth century. After Japan’s four-decade long colonial occupation of Korea, the two countries took two decades just to establish diplomatic relations. Subsequent interactions have remained seriously compromised by the memory of colonialism. This article reviews the tensions behind the tempestuous bilateral relationship, focusing on the depiction of Japan’s wartime past in school textbooks. We advance three suggestions for reconciliation: viewing reconciliation not as the restoration of a harmonious pre-conflict order, but as an ongoing, incomplete process; expanding promising bilateral dialogues; and accepting that there will always be differences between Korea and Japan, most notably with regard to representations of the past. Rather than being an inevitable source of conflict, these differences should contribute to an ongoing process of negotiation between the two neighbors.

Cigarette smoking is negatively associated with family average income among urban and rural men in regional Mainland China

Socio-economic status (SES) has a strong influence on cigarette smoking behaviour. However, as a more sensitive and realistic index of SES, family average income (FAI) has little studied regarding its association with smoking. With a response rate of 90.1%, a cross-sectional study was conducted among randomly selected urban-rural participants (n  = 29,353) between October of 2000 and March of 2001 in Nanjing, China. The proportion of male participants who were current smokers was 54.7%; for females it was 2.2%. After adjustment for possible confounding variables (area of residence, age, education, occupation) males in the middle (OR 0.76; 95% CI 0.69–0.84) and higher (OR 0.64; 95% CI 0.57–0.71) FAI tertiles had lower odds of being smokers than did males in the lower FAI tertile. There were no differences by FAI category in the odds of being an ex-smoker. Therefore, current smoking among adult males is inversely associated with family average income in a regional Chinese population. FAI may inform the targeting of campaigns or other initiatives, particularly in populations where material prosperity is low in some social groups.

Urban area disadvantage and physical activity: a multilevel study in Melbourne, Australia

Objective: To estimate variation between small areas in the levels of walking, cycling, jogging, and swimming and overall physical activity and the importance of area level socioeconomic disadvantage in predicting physical activity participation.

Methods: All census collector districts (CCDs) in the 20 innermost local government areas in metropolitan Melbourne, Australia, were identified and ranked by the percentage of low income households (<$400/week) living in the CCD. Fifty CCDs were randomly selected from the least, middle, and most disadvantaged septiles of the ranked CCDs and 2349 residents (58.7% participation rate) participated in a cross sectional postal survey about physical activity. Multilevel logistic regression (adjusted for extrabinomial variation) was used to estimate area level variation in walking, cycling, jogging, and swimming and in overall physical activity participation, and the importance of area level socioeconomic disadvantage in predicting physical activity participation.

Results: There were significant variations between CCDs in all activities and in overall physical participation in age and sex adjusted models; however, after adjustment for individual SES (income, occupation, education) and area level socioeconomic disadvantage, significant differences remained only for walking (p = 0.004), cycling (p = 0.003), and swimming (p = 0.024). Living in the most socioeconomically disadvantaged areas was associated with a decreased likelihood of jogging and of having overall physical activity levels that were sufficiently active for health; these effects remained after adjustment for individual socioeconomic status (sufficiently active: OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.55 to 0.90 and jogging: OR = 0.69, 95% CI 0.51 to 0.94).

Conclusion: These research findings support the need to focus on improving local environments to increase physical activity participation.

Abbreviations: SES, socioeconomic status; CCD, census collector district

Levels of physical activity for colon cancer prevention compared with generic public health recommendations: population prevalence and sociodemographic correlates

Background: The proportion of Australian adults achieving physical activity levels believed to be sufficient for colon cancer prevention was estimated, and sociodemographic correlates (age, gender, educational attainment, occupation, marital status, and children in household) of meeting these levels of activity were analyzed.

Methods: Data from the 2000 National Physical Activity Survey were used to estimate the prevalence of participation in physical activity in relation to three criteria: generic public health recommendations, weekly amount of at least moderate-intensity physical activity currently believed to reduce risk of colon cancer, and weekly amount of vigorous-intensity physical activity believed to reduce risk of colon cancer.

Results: Overall, 46% of adults met the generic public health criterion, 26% met the colon cancer criterion based on participation in at least moderate-intensity physical activity, and 10% met the colon cancer criterion based on vigorous-intensity physical activity. Women were less likely than men to meet the colon cancer criteria. Younger and more educated persons were more likely to meet all three criteria. The most pronounced differences between gender, age, and educational attainment groups were found for meeting the amount of vigorous-intensity physical activity believed to reduce risk of colon cancer.

Conclusions: The population prevalence for meeting proposed physical activity criteria for colon cancer prevention is low and much lower than that related to the more generic public health recommendations. If further epidemiologic studies confirm that high volumes and intensities of activity are required, the public health challenges for colon cancer will be significant.

Equity indicators: measures of socio-economic status at an Australian university

After reviewing relevant literature on socio-economic status (SES) and the ways in which it is used for higher education institutional research and policy, a detailed data analysis of Victoria University (Australia) student data was undertaken. Between 10,000 and 15,000 domestic student addresses were ‘geocoded’ to Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) collection district level. A survey of individual reenrolling 2001 students that included parental occupation and education data was also analysed. The most important findings were: (1) The debate for practical reasons tends to focus on area versus individual measures, but SES is a richer and more complex subject and must be acknowledged as such. (2) It is apparent that VU’s student catchment is on average of lower SES than the Melbourne average, using various area measures of SES, including the DEST-Martin indicators. (3) There is only a very small difference between average area SES measures at the collection district and the postcode level. In practical terms this means that the postcode method is adequate, as well as being cheaper and more efficiently obtained, for analyses at an aggregated (or average) level. (4) Individual surveys of students do not prima facie add to the quality of aggregated institution level SES results delivered by area analyses. This again suggests that the postcode method is best for practical reasons.

Sacks, Arlyne, interviewed by Margo Derecktor on January 9th, 2010: Audio

Some of the themes discussed are: • Colby—student life (page 2) • Colby—Greek life (3, 8) • Colby—student interaction with Waterville Jews (5, 12) • Holidays (6, 9, 12) • Marriage (6) • Colby—Jewish students from away (8) • Levine’s Store (9) • Food (10) • Occupation—woolen mills (11) • Occupation— real estate development (11) • Jewish education (12, 15) • Yiddish (13)

Shiro, Burt and Phyllis, interviewed by Sam Levine on January 17, 2010: Audio Recording

Some of the themes discussed are: • Occupation—store, The Jefferson Hotel (2, 4-6, 11, 17-18) • Food (2) • Colby—Greek life (3, 7) • Military service (3-4) • Bar Mitzvah (6, 12) • Life in Waterville—Circus (6) • Anti-semitism (10-12) • Occupation—law (8-9) • Occupation—legislature (14) • Jewish education (12) • Synagogue (13) • Civic engagement—United Way (15) • Civic engagement (26-28) • Camp—Modin (18) • College—attendance (19) • Colby—football (20-21, 23, 30)

Hopengarten, Doris, interviewed by Desiree Shayer on January 11, 2009: Audio Recording

Some themes discussed are: • Colby—enrollment (1) • Colby—dating (2, 5) • Colby—Greek Life (2) • Colby—campus life (2-3, 5,8) • Holidays—Christmas (4) • Colby—student interaction with Waterville Jews (4) • Occupation—economics, psychology (6) • Colby—Winter Carnival (8-9)

Friedman, Irene, interviewed by Nicole Mitchell on January 16, 2010: Transcript

Some themes discussed are: • Military service—(1) • Occupation—retail (2) • Occupation—Stride Rite Shoes (10) • Occupation—law (11-12) • Life in Augusta—grandparents (2) • Life in Augusta—childhood (3) • Interfaith interaction (5) • Yiddish (4) • Jewish education (5, 8, 10) • Synagogue (5) • Holidays—Christmas (5-6) • Holidays—Passover/Sukkot (6) • Dating— interfaith marriage (7-8) • Jewish Identity (5, 9-10)

Brody, Judy, interviewed by Jena Hershkowitz on January 19, 2010: Audio Recording

Some themes discussed are: • Jewish education—Hebrew tutor/Hebrew school(1) • Jewish education—Sunday School(10) • Jewish education—parents (12) • Holidays (1-2) • Civic engagement (1, 5) • Civic engagement—B’nai B’rith and Hadassah (2) • Food—kosher (2) • Colby—Greek life (3-4) • Occupation—law (4) • Dating—marriage (5) • Dating—at Colby (8) • Dating—interfaith marriage (9) • Live in Waterville—attractions (6) • Live in Waterville—school (9) • Colby—Hillel (6) • Colby—classes (6) • Colby—campus life (7-8, 12-13) • Synagogue (11)

Schreider, Judith, interviewed by Desiree Shayer on January 21, 2010: Audio Recording

Some themes discussed are: • Colby—admissions (2-3) • Colby—dorms (3-4) • Colby—social life (4) • Marriage (4) • Colby—professors (7) • Colby—Dean Runnals (12) • Food—kosher (5) • Dating—rules at Colby (4-5, 6) • Dating—townies (6) • Military service—(8) • Occupation—furniture (8) • Occupation—education (10)

Hopengarten, Doris, interviewed by Desiree Shayer on January 11, 2009: Audio Part Two

Some themes discussed are: • Colby—enrollment (1) • Colby—dating (2, 5) • Colby—Greek Life (2) • Colby—campus life (2-3, 5,8) • Holidays—Christmas (4) • Colby—student interaction with Waterville Jews (4) • Occupation—economics, psychology (6) • Colby—Winter Carnival (8-9)

Schreider, Judith, interviewed by Desiree Shayer on January 21, 2010: Audio Part Two

Some themes discussed are: • Colby—admissions (2-3) • Colby—dorms (3-4) • Colby—social life (4) • Marriage (4) • Colby—professors (7) • Colby—Dean Runnals (12) • Food—kosher (5) • Dating—rules at Colby (4-5, 6) • Dating—townies (6) • Military service—(8) • Occupation—furniture (8) • Occupation—education (10)