Browsing by Author "Jopp, Daniela S."
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- Measuring attachment to life in old age: the Portuguese version of the Positive Valuation of Life Scale (Positive VOL)Publication . Araújo, Lia; Ribeiro, Oscar; Teixeira, Laetitia; Azevedo, Maria João; Jopp, Daniela S.; Rott, Christoph; Paúl, ConstançaPurpose This study aims to present the psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the Positive Valuation of Life Scale (Lawton et al. in J Aging Ment Healt 13:3–31, 2001). Method Sample included 207 community-dwelling elders (129 women; MAge = 77.2 years, SD = 7.5). The data collection included the translated and adapted Portuguese version of Positive Valuation of Life Scale, Life Satisfac- tion Index Z, Meaning in Life Questionnaire and Geriatric Depression Scale. Results From exploratory factor analysis, two factors emerged, existential beliefs and perceived control, ex- plaining 49 % of the total variance. Both factors were positively related with meaning in life and life satisfaction and negatively related with depression (p\0.05). The values obtained for internal consistency for the total scale and for each subscale were good (a [ 0.75). Conclusion The Portuguese version of Positive VOL Scale represents a reliable and valid measure to capture the subjective experience of attachment to one’s life. The two-factor structure is an update to Lawton’s previous work and in line with findings obtained in the USA (Dennis et al. in What is valuation of life for frail community-dwelling older adults: factor structure and criterion validity of the VOL, Thomas Jefferson University, Center for Applied Research on Aging and Health Research, 2005) and Japan (Nakagawa et al. in Shinrigaku Kenkyu 84:37–46, 2013). Future research is required to investigate VOL predictors and the potential changes toward the end of the life span.
- Thinking About the End of Life When It Is Near: A Comparison of German and Portuguese CentenariansPublication . Boerner, Kathrin; Jopp, Daniela S.; Kim, Kyungmin; Butt, Abigail; Ribeiro, Óscar; Araújo, Lia; Rott, ChristophThis study examined how common thinking of and planning for the end of life (EOL) is among German and Portuguese centenarians, and whether patterns of EOL views are shaped by cultural and individual characteristics. A significant portion of centenarians in both countries reported not thinking about the EOL, not believing in the afterlife, and not having made EOL arrangements. Latent class analysis identified three EOL patterns: Class 1 ( EOL thoughts with EOL arrangements and afterlife beliefs), Class 2 ( EOL arrangements and afterlife beliefs without EOL thoughts), and Class 3 ( Overall low endorsement of EOL items). The proportion of Portuguese centenarians was higher in Class 1 and of German centenarians higher in Classes 2 and 3. Centenarians' demographic, social, and health characteristics were significantly different across EOL patterns. As lack of EOL planning can result in poor EOL quality, enhancing communication among centenarians, family, and health-care professionals seems imperative.
- Thinking About the End of Life When It Is Near: A Comparison of German and Portuguese CentenariansPublication . Boerner, Kathrin; Jopp, Daniela S.; Kim, Kyungmin; Butt, Abigail; Ribeiro, Óscar; Araújo, Lia; Rott, ChristophThis study examined how common thinking of and planning for the end of life (EOL) is among German and Portuguese centenarians, and whether patterns of EOL views are shaped by cultural and individual characteristics. A significant portion of centenarians in both countries reported not thinking about the EOL, not believing in the afterlife, and not having made EOL arrangements. Latent class analysis identified three EOL patterns: Class 1 ( EOL thoughts with EOL arrangements and afterlife beliefs), Class 2 ( EOL arrangements and afterlife beliefs without EOL thoughts), and Class 3 ( Overall low endorsement of EOL items). The proportion of Portuguese centenarians was higher in Class 1 and of German centenarians higher in Classes 2 and 3. Centenarians' demographic, social, and health characteristics were significantly different across EOL patterns. As lack of EOL planning can result in poor EOL quality, enhancing communication among centenarians, family, and health-care professionals seems imperative.