Perceptions of Increases in Cost of Living and Psychological Distress Among Older Adults

Bierman, Alex; Upenieks, Laura; Lee, Yeonjung

doi:10.1177/08982643231195924

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 42 publications

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“…Consequently, path a illustrates that the subjective experience of inadequacy in social relationships is arranged in a hierarchy in later-life based on the accrual of disadvantage across the life-course. Conversely, the intra-individual aspect of financial strain refers to individual variation in financial strain during later-life that may be the result of aging-related transitions ( Bierman, 2014 ), as well as broader economic changes ( Bierman, Upenieks, and Lee, 2023 ). Path b therefore shows that individual increases in financial strain contribute to a growth in loneliness in later-life ( Cohen-Mansfield et al, 2016 ; Hawkley et al, 2022 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mattering and Self-Esteem as Bulwarks Against the Consequences of Financial Strain for Loneliness in Later Life: Differentiating Between- and Within-Person Processes

Bierman,

Upenieks,

Lee

et al. 2023

Res Aging

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Financial strain likely constitutes a principal risk for loneliness in later-life, but a strong sense of mattering and self-esteem may mitigate these consequences by both offsetting and buffering the influence of financial strain. We test these arguments using data from a national longitudinal survey of older adults gathered between 2021 and 2022 ( N = 2384), as nations emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic. Application of a within-between modelling strategy facilitates differentiation of inter-individual (i.e., between-person) and intra-individual (i.e., within-person) factors. Between-person financial strain is associated with greater loneliness, but within- and between-person mattering and self-esteem offset this association by forestalling loneliness. Between-person mattering buffers between-person financial strain, but between-person self-esteem buffers within-person financial strain. Consequently, within-person financial strain is associated with greater loneliness only at low levels of between-person self-esteem. In summary, accruing a strong sense of worth contributes to protecting older adults from the adverse consequences of financial strain for loneliness.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mattering and Self-Esteem as Bulwarks Against the Consequences of Financial Strain for Loneliness in Later Life: Differentiating Between- and Within-Person Processes

Bierman,

Upenieks,

Lee

et al. 2023

Res Aging

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A social price to the rising cost of living? The bidirectional relationship between inflation and trust

Wu,

Bierman,

Schieman

2024

Canadian Review of Sociology

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This study examines whether social trust, the general belief that most people are honest and trustworthy, shapes perceptions of personal increases in cost of living and whether perceptions of increases in cost of living affect social trust. We analyze panel data from the Canadian Quality of Work and Economic Life Study (N = 2353) that was gathered between the fall of 2021 and spring of 2022, when inflation rose precipitously in Canada. Using a combination of entropy balancing and logistic regression, we estimate a statistically significant but weak causal effect of social trust on the perception of an increase in cost of living. The estimated causal effect of subjective inflation on declining trust is substantially larger. Additionally, financial strain does not moderate either estimated causal effect. In conclusion, rising inflation appears to not only threaten economic security—inflation also appears to harm the social fabric by depleting social trust.

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Compounded Effects of Multiple Global Crises on Mental Health: A Longitudinal Study of East German Adults

Richter,

Brähler,

Zenger

et al. 2024

JCM

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The early 2020s witnessed an unprecedented overlap of multiple global crises. This longitudinal study examined the compounded effects of multiple intersecting global crises on mental health outcomes in a representative cohort of East German adults. We investigated how perceived threats (PT) from climate change (PT-CLC), COVID-19 (PT-COV), the Russia–Ukraine War (PT-RUW), and rising costs of living (PT-RCL) will impact various aspects of mental health from 2021 to 2022. This research question addresses whether these crises exacerbate mental health issues and how their effects differ across various mental health outcomes. Methods: We conducted a longitudinal study with 319 participants (mean age 49.9 years, 54.5% female) from the Saxony Longitudinal Study. Data were collected in two waves: March–July 2021 and September–December 2022. We used linear mixed-effects models to analyze both unadjusted group trends and adjusted individual-level effects on physical complaints, mental distress, sleep problems, life satisfaction, and self-rated health. Results: Unadjusted analyses revealed significant increases in mental distress and sleep problems over time, whereas physical complaints, life satisfaction, and self-rated health remained stable at the group level. Adjusted analyses showed that higher PT-RCL and PT-COV were significantly associated with increased physical complaints, mental distress, sleep problems, and decreased life satisfaction, even when group-level changes were not significant. Conclusions: This study highlights the complex impact of intersecting global crises on mental health, emphasizing the importance of considering both population-level trends and individual perceptions. The findings suggest that economic and pandemic-related stressors have more immediate effects on mental health outcomes compared to more distant threats, such as climate change or geopolitical conflicts.

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Perceptions of Increases in Cost of Living and Psychological Distress Among Older Adults

Cited by 3 publications

References 42 publications

Mattering and Self-Esteem as Bulwarks Against the Consequences of Financial Strain for Loneliness in Later Life: Differentiating Between- and Within-Person Processes

Mattering and Self-Esteem as Bulwarks Against the Consequences of Financial Strain for Loneliness in Later Life: Differentiating Between- and Within-Person Processes

A social price to the rising cost of living? The bidirectional relationship between inflation and trust

Compounded Effects of Multiple Global Crises on Mental Health: A Longitudinal Study of East German Adults

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