Numerous studies document age-related declines in memory using laboratory-based measures, yet little research exists on what older people might have to say about their memory in daily life. The present research examined how age-related memory changes are perceived, managed, remediated, and feared among 50 very old adults. Participants answered nine open-ended questions that tapped four complementary dimensions: memory self-efficacy, memory management, memory remediation, and fears about memory aging. Their oral responses were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Qualitative analyses were carried out on their narrative responses. Results yielded 4 core themes: (1) memory self-efficacy perceptions favored prospective remembering, (2) memory management strategies included frequent use of external memory aids, (3) affective consequences of forgetting concerned violated social conventions with improvement desired for remembering people's names, and (4) neurocognitive decline and loss of independence were salient memory-related fears. Implications of these data for promoting cognitive vitality in later life are discussed.

In 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated the U.S. Gulf Coast with catastrophic damage and loss of life. In the present research, we interviewed 12 women who lived in the greater New Orleans metropolitan region at the time of the deadly hurricane. All self-identified as African American/Black (Mage = 51.7 years, SD = 13.03, age range = 32-78). Across two research sessions, they completed surveys that covered sociodemographic and health characteristics and a structured storm questionnaire that assessed their Katrina exposure and losses. Their oral responses to six open-ended questions were digitally recorded and content analyzed for recurring concepts. Qualitative analyses of their narrative responses yielded three core themes: (1) Katrina stressors-family and community disruption, which captured catastrophic loss of homes and neighborhoods. Salient and frequent stressors included the disruption of social networks and pivotal life events (wedding plans and graduations). (2) Religiosity and posttraumatic growth-seeing silver linings, where coping through religious beliefs and practices (meditation, prayer, and bible reading) helped many navigate a new life journey. (3) Katrina and COVID-19-environmental trauma on a global scale. The COVID-19 pandemic brought new threats to health and safety, with limited access to resources and businesses, reminiscent of post-Katrina life for some. Taken together, our findings permit new insight into individual- and community-level vulnerabilities and strength-based resilience resources for African American/Black women in the years after devastating environmental events.

Abstract Hurricane Ida made landfall in Grand Isle, Louisiana on August 29, 2021, the sixteenth anniversary of the 2005 Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the US Gulf Coast. Hurricane Ida claimed 87 lives in the US and caused an estimated 75 billion dollars in damages. In the present study, we examined post-disaster health and well-being in directly and indirectly affected younger and older adults. A total of 128 participants were sampled from three parishes (counties) where the storm devastation was more severe and two parishes farther inland with less damage. All were tested in person or virtually via the Zoom platform in a single session. They responded to several individual difference measures, a structured storm questionnaire and the SF-36 Health-Related Quality of Life Survey. Results indicated the physical health composite score was poorer for older adults, as expected (p <.001). In contrast, mental health scores were higher for the older adults, although age interacted with exposure status where the size of the age difference was reduced for those who were directly impacted by Ida (p <.01). Implications of these data for understanding older adults’ psychological health after decades of severe weather events are discussed.

Abstract Coastal Louisiana has experienced extensive land loss due to oil and gas extraction, flood protection measures, and repeated exposure to hurricanes, flooding, and other severe weather events. Radical socioeconomic changes further negatively impact older residents. Projected relative sea-level rise, increased intensity of weather events, and large infrastructure projects may further alter the ecosystem, leaving residents with the option to either adapt or retreat. Governmental agencies are working towards reducing population vulnerability through risk reduction measures, disincentivizing further population growth, or promoting outmigration to higher ground. Critically, older adults may be uniquely vulnerable to the hazards associated with coastal living as they are both overrepresented in population statistics yet may also be less sensitive to policies designed to move people out of harm’s way. Regarding migration decisions, older adults are often deeply embedded in the socioecological systems of historic communities and typically value the benefits of continuity over disruption. Using the Environmental Distress Scale on a sample of geographically vulnerable adult residents in lower Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana (n=161) and in-depth interviews with older adults (n=45), results indicate that Place Attachment, Solastalgia, Threat Perception, Felt Impact, and Action may undergird decisions to stay put in the face of radical environmental change. Results show that most adults ages 55 and over (75%) intend to stay in the area. Although some older adult may qualify as trapped (involuntarily immobile), this research supports older adults’ agency in choosing to be voluntarily immobile in the face of slow-onset environmental changes. This distinction has policy implications.

Abstract In 2005, two Category 5 hurricanes slammed into south Louisiana. Katrina brought catastrophic damage and substantial loss of life across the US Gulf Coast. Four weeks later, Rita crippled southwest Louisiana with tremendous destruction. In this study, we tested younger and older women who self-identified as African American / Black. All lived in the greater New Orleans metropolitan region at the time of the 2005 hurricanes. They completed a structured storm questionnaire and open-ended questions that tapped their Katrina experience and the more recent Covid-19 pandemic. Qualitative analyses on their narrative responses yielded three core themes: (1) Katrina Stressors: Family and Community Disruption, which captured catastrophic losses of homes and neighborhoods. Salient and frequent stressors included the disruption of social networks and pivotal life events (wedding plans, graduations). (2) Religiosity and Post-Traumatic Growth: Seeing Silver Linings, where coping through religious beliefs and practices (meditation, prayer, bible reading) helped participants navigate a new life journey. However, some questioned God following Katrina and one reflected that she did not join a new faith community after being separated from her home church in New Orleans, LA. (3) Katrina and COVID-19: Environmental Trauma on a Global Scale. The COVID-19 pandemic meant adjusting to a new normal with limited access to resources and businesses, reminiscent of post-Katrina life. A pressing responsibility to protect the safety and well-being of their family was also mentioned. Overall, these data permit new insight into individual and community-level vulnerabilities and strength-based resilience resources in the years after devastating environmental events.

Abstract Hurricane Ida devastated south Louisiana on August 29, 2021 having psychosocial consequences for those directly and indirectly impacted by this environmental event. The present research is part of a larger study on positive factors that enhance long-term disaster recovery. In this study, we factorially crossed age (younger, older) and disaster exposure (indirect, direct) in order to examine their influence on post-traumatic growth with greater precision than previous work in a disaster context. Participants were sampled from three parishes (counties) where Ida damage was more severe and two parishes which were farther inland with less damage. All were tested in person or virtually via Zoom platform in a single session where they responded to several individual difference measures, a structured storm questionnaire and survey measures of state hope and post traumatic growth. Results indicated that state hope scores were comparable across the age and exposure groups. Older adults had greater post-traumatic growth than did their younger counterparts, although the two exposure groups did not differ. Correlation analyses revealed that hurricane stressors were negatively associated with hope and positively associated with fear during heavy storms and worry about damage to home since Hurricane Ida. These findings support the hypothesis that older age may be a protective factor for well-being after exposure to a devastating hurricane. Implications of these data for understanding the beneficial role of positive psychological factors in long-term hurricane recovery are discussed.

Objective: The authors explored the psychosocial consequences of the COVID-19 homestay lockdown for preschool-age children and their parents using a mixed method design. Background: Few studies have examined the impact of a global pandemic on family adaptive processes among parents and their preschool age children.Method: Participants were 24 highly educated White and Asian parents with children enrolled in the Early Childhood Education Laboratory Preschool (ECELP) at Louisiana State University. Parents completed an online survey that assessed sociodemographic and health characteristics, and they participated in an interview with their children.Results: Content analysis of parent and child narratives yielded four core themes: (a) expanded family time with family needs prioritized, (b) staying informed with current pandemic news, (c) positive experiences included more time spent with family, and (d) negative experiences included disruptions to family and work-related routines.Conclusion: Personal and professional challenges that families faced during the COVID-19 lockdown were loss of familiar routines, managing stressors, and protecting health. Positive factors included prioritization of family needs and new opportunities for intergenerational relationships with extended family and grandparents.Implications: Parents, teachers, and extended family support adaptive family processes that promote resilience and psychosocial well-being despite the uncertainties of a global pandemic.

Abstract Subjective perceptions of memory play an important role in cognitive adaptability in later life. While self-reported memory is typically assessed using objective surveys, few studies have examined what older people have to say about their own experiences using memory in everyday life. The purpose of this study was to examine older adults’ memory management strategies and techniques that they use in everyday life to improve recall of information they do not want to forget. Participants consisted of 50 nonagenarians (90+ years of age) and two younger reference groups (60-74 and 75-89 years) who were enrolled in the Louisiana Healthy Aging Study (LHAS). All answered two open-ended questions regarding their preferred memory management strategies used in everyday life. Narrative responses were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and content analyzed for recurring concepts. Results yielded new evidence of environmental strategies, including object placement and non-electronic external memory aids (e.g., planners, calendars), and internal mnemonic techniques (e.g., rehearsal, association). When comparing internal mnemonic techniques specifically, nonagenarians were more likely to use association, whereas their younger counterparts were more likely to use imagery. These findings suggest that memory management techniques change very little in late adulthood. This research was supported grants from by the Louisiana Board of Regents through the Millennium Trust Health Excellence Fund [HEF(2001-06)-02] and the National Institute on Aging (P01 AG022064).

Adults who are beginning or returning to finish a degree program at midlife face different challenges than do their younger counterparts whose college experience begins at 18 years of age. We suspect that internalized ageism, defined as self-directed ageist attitudes and behaviors, may hinder nontraditional age students along with the experience of individual and institutional ageism. To evaluate this notion, we assessed the prevalence of self-reported positive and negative ageist behaviors in 205 students (M = 21.95, SD = 7.28, age range: 16-52 years) and 29 faculty (M = 49.55, SD = 11.07, age range: 33-71 years) in a community college in southeast Louisiana in the spring of 2019. All completed the Relating to Older People Evaluation (ROPE; Cherry & Palmore, 2008) and an open-ended question on how they viewed middle-aged students. Quantitative analyses indicated that students' ROPE scores exceeded those of the faculty and more positive than negative ageist behaviors were reported. Qualitative analyses revealed mostly positive expectations of middle-aged students among narrative responses to the open-ended question. As a follow-up, 10 nontraditional age students were individually interviewed in person to obtain an in-depth assessment of their community college experience. Strong evidence of internalized, individual, and institutional ageism were evident in their responses. Their narratives also revealed atypical life experiences and rich details of faculty-level and institutional-level policies that supported or hindered their academic progress. Implications of these data for addressing ageism on multiple levels in higher education are considered.

ObjectivesSevere weather events have mental health consequences for survivors that may change over time. We assessed post-flood mental health longitudinally in three groups of mostly middle-aged and older adults who varied in current and prior severe weather experiences.MethodPredictors of central interest were age, perceived social support, state hope (including agency and pathways), recovery stressors, and prior lifetime trauma. Criterion variables included symptoms of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and worry.ResultsAnalyses of variance yielded significant Disaster Exposure Group x Wave interactions for depression and PTSD symptoms. Those with flooded homes and properties had elevated symptoms at Wave 1 which were reduced at Wave 2. Older age was associated with fewer symptoms of depression, PTSD, and worry. Recovery stressors and lifetime trauma predicted more PTSD symptoms. Greater agency predicted less PTSD and depression symptoms, whereas pathways predicted less worry.ConclusionThese data show that mental health symptoms may decrease over time for those directly impacted by severe flooding. State hope appears to contribute to better mental health after exposure to a devastating flood. Implications for understanding the dynamic relationships among risk variables and positive factors that promote post-disaster mental health in the years after a flood are considered.

Abstract In 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated the U.S. Gulf Coast with catastrophic damage and substantial loss of life. In this study, we examined associations among psychosocial variables and mental health indicators in younger and older adults who lived in south Louisiana in August of 2005 when Katrina made landfall (M age = 51.7 years, SD = 13.03 years, age range: 32 to 78 years). All self-identified as African American / Black women. They were recruited through social media, flyers sent to churches and schools, and word of mouth referrals. On the first day of testing, participants completed sociodemographic, religiosity, and post-traumatic growth surveys and an adapted structured storm questionnaire (Cherry et al., 2011). On the second day of testing one week later, participants responded to open-ended questions on their Katrina experience, and they completed measures of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. Correlation analyses revealed that age was inversely related to PTSD symptoms, which is compatible with an inoculation perspective on post-disaster psychological reactions. In addition, post-traumatic growth was positively correlated with religious beliefs and practices and religious coping, and negatively correlated with symptoms of PTSD and depression. Religious beliefs and practices were inversely correlated with PTSD symptoms and depression. Qualitative analyses of participants’ narrative responses indicated that some reflected on scripture and utilized prayer as a way to navigate their new lives in the years after Katrina. Implications of these data for understanding individual and community-level challenges in the years after exposure to devastating severe weather events are considered.

Objective:Prior work with older adults has shown that participating in a range of physical, social, and cognitive activities provides great benefits, such as improved mood and cognitive functioning. These activities can protect against common cognitive problems associated with aging (e.g., poor working memory and processing speed) and lower the risk of developing dementia, thus supporting the cognitive reserve hypothesis. Cognitive reserve refers to the preservation of an individual’s cognitive abilities over time despite changes in the brain that allows them to be resilient in performing daily and complex tasks (Stern, 2012). Historical factors such as education, life experiences, and occupational complexity, as well as current lifestyle behaviors such as cognitive and social activities may serve as proxies for cognitive reserve. It is not clear whether historical proxies of cognitive reserve (e.g., educational attainment) interact with more proximal lifestyle factors (e.g., recent cognitive stimulation) to impact cognitive functioning. In this study, we examined if education, recent cognitive activity, and their interaction predicted enhanced immediate memory and visual and verbal working memory in middle-aged to older adults.Participants and Methods:Participants were 62 middle-aged to older adults (age 45-93; mean age = 65.9 years; 80.6% female; 70.9% Black; ∼75.0% with high school education or higher) recruited from a Louisiana housing facility for seniors with low or fixed incomes and a local community center. Data collection included the CHAMPS Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Adults, Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale subtests (Digit Span Forward and Digit Span Backward), and the Size Judgment Span Task. Mixed-effects regression analyses were performed with education (less than high school, high school, college), the CHAMPS cognitive activity composite (Weaver & Jaeggi, 2021), and an education * cognitive activity interaction term as independent variables and cognitive test scores as the outcome variables. All models controlled for age and race/ethnicity.Results:Significant education by cognitive activity effects were observed for Digit Span Backward and Size Judgment Span, but not for Digit Span Forward. The interactions reflected a positive association between cognitive activity and cognitive functioning in people with at least a high school education, but not in people with less than a high school education.Conclusions:Our results support previous findings that education level and engagement in cognitive activity may serve as protective factors against cognitive decline in later life. The finding that cognitive activity was not associated with better cognitive functioning at lower levels of education suggest that earlier life experiences may moderate the benefit of lifestyle interventions later in life. Future studies should examine whether other lifestyle interventions, such as exercise, are more beneficial for people with less cognitive reserve from earlier life experiences.

In this study, we examined religiosity and social support as predictors of resilience after a devastating flood. Three flood exposure groups of primarily middle-aged and older adults were compared: (1) non-flooded adults as controls, (2) once-flooded adults with structural damage to homes and property in the 2016 flood, and (3) twice-flooded adults who had relocated inland because of prior catastrophic losses in the 2005 Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and then flooded again in 2016. Resilience was assessed using the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). Correlation analyses confirmed that older age was correlated with higher religiosity, charitable work done for others, and resilience. Regression analyses indicated that religious beliefs and coping, social support, and charitable work done for others were associated with higher levels of resilience, whereas flood damage was unrelated to resilience. Implications for current views on post-disaster adversity and resilience in later life are discussed.

Abstract Exposure to multiple back-to-back disasters may threaten physical and mental health for people who live in geographic areas that are prone to severe weather events. In 2005, coastal residents from south Louisiana lost homes in Hurricane Katrina and many moved inland to presumably higher and safer ground. In August of 2016, historic flooding brought widespread destruction, creating a second round of catastrophic losses for those who had permanently relocated to Baton Rouge, Louisiana after Katrina. The present research is part of a larger longitudinal study on health and well-being after multiple disaster exposures. In this study, we examined associations among current and prior flood experience and health-related quality indexed by the SF-36 Health Survey (Ware & Sherbourne, 1992). Three flood exposure groups were compared across two waves of testing: non-flooded (controls), single disaster (flooded in 2016) and double disaster (flooded in 2005 and again in 2016). Results indicated that the flood exposure groups did not differ in physical health, although mental health was poorer for those whose homes flooded relative to the non-flooded controls at both waves of testing. Correlation analyses revealed that age was negatively associated with intolerance of uncertainty and physical health, but positively correlated with mental health at both waves of testing, consistent with the inoculation view of post-disaster psychological reactions. Implications of these data for understanding health-related quality of life after multiple disaster exposures are discussed.

Substance use is a perennial public health concern with associated health risks and economic impacts on society. In this article, we present a selective review of the epidemiological and clinical literatures on alcohol and substance use from a lifespan developmental perspective. We compare and contrast risk factors for the initiation of use and the development of a substance use disorder in adolescence, young adulthood, middle-age and later life. During adolescence, alcohol use experimentation is at its peak. Specific risk factors have been identified including trauma and parenting style that can increase the risk of substance use for teenagers. Emerging adults and college students are likely to experiment with other substances in addition to alcohol such as nicotine, marijuana, cocaine, and prescription medication such as Adderall. Middle-age and older adults with alcohol and substance use in their developmental histories may have an undiagnosed alcohol use disorder. Others will develop a late-onset substance use disorder in older age, possibly due to a dearth of social support, coping with bereavement, and medical complication. Based on Social Cognitive Theory, the roles of expectancies and self-efficacy are hypothesized to impact substance use and the risk of substance use disorder across the lifespan. Implications of the present review for future research on age-specific risk factors in alcohol use in relation to underlying developmental processes are considered.

Hurricane Laura made landfall in southwestern Louisiana in August 2020 while the world was several months into the COVID-19 pandemic. In the present research, we examined pandemic precautionary behaviors in a sample of adults who varied in exposure and damage due to Hurricane Laura, a destructive Category 4 hurricane. A total of 127 participants responded to an online survey that assessed pandemic worry and precautionary behaviors, hurricane exposure and damage, and health-related quality of life. We found that Hurricane Laura victims neglected pandemic precautionary behaviors at significantly higher levels in the weeks immediately following Hurricane Laura than did indirectly impacted control participants, although the two comparison groups did not differ in COVID-19 worry or adherence to precautionary pandemic behavior 14–22 months after Hurricane Laura made landfall. Older age was negatively correlated with COVID-19 worry prior to Hurricane Laura, which was unexpected given that older people in general were more vulnerable to COVID-19 by their membership in a high-risk group. Future directions for research on post-disaster vulnerabilities during a global pandemic are discussed.

In August 2016, widespread flooding occurred across south Louisiana a decade after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated the U.S. Gulf Coast. In this study, we examined self-reported flood stressors among adults who varied in current and prior severe weather experiences (M-age = 50.2 years, age range 19-89 years). All responded to an open-ended question that assessed the most stressful aspect of the 2016 flood. Narrative responses from three flood exposure groups were compared: (a) nonflooded controls; (b) single disaster adults with 2016 flood damage to homes and property, and (c) double disaster adults who permanently relocated inland because of catastrophic losses in the 2005 Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and flooded in 2016. To permit inferences about age-related differences in self-perceived flood stressors, age was split at the median within each flood exposure group. Content analyses of the narrative responses yielded three core themes: (a) Immediate impact and flood-related destruction; (b) Friends, neighbors, and family lend a helping hand; and (c) Lingering consequences of flood-related damage. Flood stressors were similar for the younger and older cohorts across the first two themes. Age-related differences in responses were more salient and frequent in the third theme. The older cohorts described more financial worries over mounting debt due to costly repairs of flooded homes than did the younger cohort. For older adults with prior catastrophic losses, both the financial and material impacts of the 2016 flood were significant stressors. Implications of these data for understanding age-related vulnerabilities after severe weather events are discussed.