Perceived social connectedness may be relatively more important to the health and well-being of older adults than the perceived availability of social support. Efforts to enhance older adults' social relationships can be focused on developing friends and companions, allowing them to feel socially engaged in society.

Objectives: This study examined the levels of genetic knowledge, health literacy and beliefs about causation of health conditions among individuals in different age groups. Methods: Individuals (n = 971) recruited through 8 community health centers in Suffolk County, New York, completed a one-time survey. Results: Levels of genetic knowledge were lower among individuals in older age groups (26–35, p = 0.011; 36–49, p = 0.002; 50 years and older, p<0.001) compared to those in the youngest age group (18–25). Participants in the oldest age group also had lower health literacy than those in the youngest group (p <0.001). Those in the oldest group were more likely to endorse genetic (OR = 1.87, p = 0.008) and less likely to endorse behavioral factors like diet, exercise and smoking (OR = 0.55, p = 0.010) as causes of a person’s body weight than those in the youngest group. Higher levels of genetic knowledge were associated with higher likelihood of behavioral attribution for body weight (OR = 1.25, p <0.001). Conclusions: Providing additional information that compensates for their lower genetic knowledge may help individuals in older age groups benefit from rapidly emerging genetic health information more fully. Increasing the levels of genetic knowledge about common complex diseases may help motivate individuals to engage in health promoting behaviors to maintain healthy weight through increases in behavioral causal attributions.

This study examined the effectiveness of reminiscence focused music therapy treatment on depressive symptoms in elderly people with dementia. Twenty elderly (3 male & 17 female) who were diagnosed as having dementia and residing at 2 different residential care facilities in Florida were assigned to 1 of 4 small groups. Each of the participants served as his or her own control in an O1 O2 X O3 design. The depressive symptoms were measured using Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia. The differences between the scores of pretest, posttest 1 after a week of 5-day no treatment, and posttest 2 after a week of 5-day reminiscence focused music therapy treatment were compared. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Newman-Keuls Multiple Comparison Procedure indicated statistically significant differences between pretest and posttest 2 as well as posttest 1 and posttest 2, while no significant differences were found between pretest and posttest 1. Results indicated that participation in small group reminiscence focused music therapy groups might help to reduce depressive symptoms in elderly people with dementia. Results of behavioral observations and future implications are also discussed.

Purpose-To evaluate whether influence from social network members is associated with motivation to change dietary and physical activity behaviors.Design-Baseline assessment followed by mailing of family health history-based personalized messages (2 weeks) and follow-up assessment (3 months). Setting-Families from an ongoing population-based cohort in Houston, TX.Subjects-475 adults from 161 Mexican origin families. Out of 347 households contacted, 162 (47%) participated.Measures-Family health history, social networks, and motivation to change behaviors. Analysis-Two-level logistic regression modeling.Results-Having at least one network member who encourages one to eat more fruits and vegetables (p=.010) and to engage in regular physical activity (p=.046) was associated with motivation to change the relevant behavior. About 40% of the participants did not have encouragers for these behaviors. NIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author Manuscript physical activity as national priority goals.2 The prevalence of obesity is higher among Mexican-Americans compared to non-Hispanic whites.1 In order to eliminate health disparities, culturally relevant intervention strategies for this high-risk group need to be identified. Conclusions-IdentificationSocial interactions impact individuals' health behaviors.3 Close social relationships (e.g., family, friends) are especially important to Mexican Americans because of the cultural belief that emphasizes the importance of family (familismo).4 Given the limited success of previous interventions that focus on education and changes in environmental factors,5 considering social influence from network members provides a potentially culturally appropriate strategy to motivate individual behavior change in this population.One's perceptions about the likelihood of performing a health-related behavior has consistently been the most important predictor of behavioral changes.6 Contemplation of a behavior is an essential step toward preparing individuals to adopt the behavior.7 Thus, investigating the factors associated with motivation to change health behaviors can inform interventions. We hypothesized that the presence of network members who encouraged engagement in healthy diet and physical activity behaviors would be associated with individuals' motivation to improve those behaviors. METHODS Design and SampleBetween 2008 and 2009, 162 Mexican origin multigenerational families were recruited from an ongoing population-based cohort in Houston, TX.8 Cohort recruitment methods have been described previously.8 At baseline, three or more adults from each family (N=497) reported their age, gender, level of educational attainment, country of birth, and family health history in either English or Spanish. Within two weeks, by mail, individuals received one or more of the following printed materials generated using the CDC's Family Healthware™ tool:9 (a) a pedigree depicting family health history (FHH), (b) health risk assessments for heart disease, diabetes, and canc...