Mental health is an intrinsic capability that constitute an essential component of healthy aging. Mental health is constituted by positive constructs such as happiness and negative constructs (mental disorders) such as depression. As people grow older, they become more prone to developing mental disorders which are linked to poorer quality of life, increased disability, increased utilization and cost of health services, and higher rates of suicide. This dissertation involved three studies that focused on factors that predict change in mental disorders and happiness of older Americans over a period of five years. Two waves of publicly available national representative data from the National Social Life Health and Aging Project (NSHAP) collected in 2010 and 2015 were used. A total of 2210 older adults within the ages 62-90 years were used in the analyses. Mental health measures were CES-Depression scale, HADS anxiety scale, and self-rated happiness. Essay 1 aimed to identify the important aspects of older adults' interaction with their neighborhood that predict the presence of mental disorder and happiness. Essay 2 evaluated the psychosocial factors that predict change in mental disorder and happiness of older adults, whereas essay 3 investigated the multifactorial determinants of change in mental disorder and happiness of older adults. These three essays provide insight into the impact of mental health in old age and the role of environmental, social, and demographic factors in successful aging. It also provides gaps for future research in the field of mental health and aging.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:unt.edu/info:ark/67531/metadc1707369 |
| Date | 08 1900 |
| Creators | Adaralegbe, Adeleye Ayinde |
| Contributors | Moore, Ami, Carey, Chandra, Boals, Adriel |
| Publisher | University of North Texas |
| Source Sets | University of North Texas |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | viii, 139 pages, Text |
| Rights | Public, Adaralegbe, Adeleye Ayinde, Copyright, Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights Reserved. |
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