Biomedical subjects

Stephen J Cutler

Publications and source records attributed to Stephen J Cutler.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2004

Volunteerism and socioemotional selectivity in later life.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this work was to assess the applicability of socioemotional selectivity theory to the realm of volunteerism by analyzing data drawn from the September 2002 Current Population Survey Volunteer Supplement. METHODS: Total number of organizations volunteered for and total number of hours engaged in volunteer activities were utilized to obtain measures of volunteer hours per organization and volunteer hours in the main organization to determine whether a selective process could be observed. Descriptive statistics on age patterns were followed by a series of curve estimations to identify the best-fitting curves. RESULT: Logistic age patterns of slowly increasing then relatively stable volunteer activity suggest that socioemotional selectivity processes are operative in the realm of voluntary activities. DISCUSSION: Socioemotional selectivity theory is applicable to voluntary activities.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Age differences in home computer availability and use.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine whether age differences in home computer availability and use are due to variations in compositional characteristics (e.g., income or disabilities) of age cohorts. METHODS: Data are drawn from the September 2001 Current Population Survey and its supplement on computer and Internet use (N = 71,182). Patterns of age differences in home computer use are examined using Multiple Classification Analysis with controls for several measures of compositional variability (employment status, marital status, Hispanic origin and race, gender, family income, living arrangements, education, and number of disabilities). RESULTS: Even though home computer availability declines steadily with age, a portion of this zero-order relationship is due to composition effects, with their greatest impact occurring at the oldest ages. Among persons living in households where a computer is available, use also declines with age, but these age differences in computer use are less due to compositional differences. DISCUSSION: The lower rates of home computer availability and use exhibited by older persons may be accounted for to some extent by compositional characteristics negatively associated with availability and, to a lesser extent, use of computers, although unmeasured attitudes, experience, and support undoubtedly play a role.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Looking for signs of Alzheimer's disease.

This study examined the correlates of symptom-seeking behavior for Alzheimer's disease (AD) among middle-aged persons. Symptom seeking, the tendency to search for signs of disease, is one manifestation of an individual's concern about developing AD. The data were obtained from a survey of two subsamples of 40-60 year old adults: 1) 108 adult children with a living parent with a diagnosis of probable AD; and 2) 150 adults in a matched group with no parental history of AD. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify significant predictors of symptom seeking, which was measured by a composite index comprised of responses from three questions about checking for signs of AD, interpreting signs as symptoms of AD, and soliciting external validation for concerns. Four clusters of predictors were examined: memory assessment, AD experience, sociodemographics, and well-being. Within these clusters, the constellations of significant predictors varied by subsample, but the most robust predictors were aspects of subjective assessments of memory functioning and AD experience. An understanding of the correlates of symptom seeking for AD has implications for early detection of the disease as well as identifying populations under stress from excessive worry about their own future health.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

To test or not to test: interest in genetic testing for Alzheimer's disease among middle-aged adults.

Based on a hypothetical scenario positing 100 percent accuracy in test results, we examined interest in genetic testing for Alzheimer's disease (AD) among adult children, 40-60 years of age, who have a living parent with a diagnosis of probable AD (N = 108), and a matched comparison group of persons with no parental history of AD (N = 150). For both groups, planning for the future was the most important reason cited for being tested; lack of good treatment options and concerns about losing health insurance were the most important reasons for not being tested. Hierarchical regression was used to examine the effects of sociodemographic characteristics, subjective perceptions of memory functioning, concerns about having and developing AD, and mastery on interest in being tested. Personal concerns about developing AD and mastery emerged as significant predictors and subsample membership approached significance, although the full model explained just 18 percent of the variance. Because persons in the comparison group were more likely to report an interest in being tested, educational efforts about genetic testing should not be restricted only to family members of persons with a diagnosis of AD.

Adult↗