Papers by Ramona Danielson
The following is the 2008 collection of two CaRDI publications: the Rural New York Minute and the... more The following is the 2008 collection of two CaRDI publications: the Rural New York Minute and the Research & Policy Brief Series. Both publications are released monthly, and are available on our website at www.cardi.cornell.edu. In addition to the publications featured here, we also published two CaRDI Reports during 2008, which can be found at the CaRDI website. The CaRDI publications are an important vehicle for connecting Cornell University researchers and their work on community and economic development issues with stakeholders across New York State and beyond. The publications may be reprinted in community newspapers, published in organizations' newsletters, forwarded via listservs, and used as teaching tools in schools and elsewhere. It is our hope that these publications provide evidence-based research to inform decision-making at the local, regional, and state level. We strive to foster a productive dialogue around these and other issues and to strengthen our relationships with stakeholders across the state.
2015 APHA Annual Meeting & Expo (Oct. 31 - Nov. 4, 2015), Nov 1, 2015
Innovation in Aging, Nov 1, 2022
maintenance (78.34 vs. 70.21, patients vs. caregiver respectively, p<.001) and management (65.9 v... more maintenance (78.34 vs. 70.21, patients vs. caregiver respectively, p<.001) and management (65.9 vs. 60.49, p=.029) than caregivers. Patients' self-efficacy was significantly correlated with their QOL (r=.270, p=.021). Caregiver contribution to self-care management was significantly correlated with their own QOL (r=.365, p=.001) and patients' QOL (r=.234, p=.047). Conclusion: The self-care efficacy of patients and the contribution of caregivers to self-care management can affect the QOL of both patients and caregivers. A dyadic approach for the intervention of self-care management is crucial to improve the QOL of patients with PD and caregivers.
While the decennial U.S. Census is referred to by many as the "gold standard", data that are coll... more While the decennial U.S. Census is referred to by many as the "gold standard", data that are collected only once per decade soon become outdated. However, conducting a more frequent national census is cost-prohibitive. The American Community Survey (ACS) was developed to respond to the need for affordable, up-to-date data on U.S. communities. However, while it accomplishes these goals it also presents challenges, particularly with regard to coverage of rural and small areas across the U.S. What is the ACS? Period versus Point Estimates One of the fundamental differences between the ACS and the census long form is the nature of the data they produce. The census captures a snapshot of the characteristics of people and housing units at one point in time (i.e., a point estimate), typically April 1st of the beginning year of each decade. In contrast, since
Innovation in Aging, Nov 1, 2018
more informal learning activities. However, analyses show different age-related trajectories: rea... more more informal learning activities. However, analyses show different age-related trajectories: reading of specialist literature and attending conferences decrease more with age in contrast to attending talks/lectures and the use of self-learning software. Moreover, the transition to retirement causes a further reduction in informal learning activities for all individuals. This longitudinal study sheds light on inconsistent findings of prior research by investigating different informal learning activities and age-related changes over a wide age span. The findings will be discussed in regard to developmental theories of motivation and the relevance of developmental transitions for informal learning activities in the second half of life.
This report, 2009 Evaluation of Parenting the First Year Newsletter, presents the findings from s... more This report, 2009 Evaluation of Parenting the First Year Newsletter, presents the findings from surveys sent out by the North Dakota State Data Center to new parents in North Dakota. The purpose of the surveys was to gather information from new parents in North Dakota regarding the usefulness, appeal, barriers, and preferences to reading the
Innovation in Aging, Dec 1, 2021
503). However, there was a significant interaction (b=1.037, 95% CI=.150 to 1.925) between experi... more 503). However, there was a significant interaction (b=1.037, 95% CI=.150 to 1.925) between experiences of discrimination and trait resilience in predicting MEP. Simple slopes analysis revealed that lower discrimination was associated with lower MEP, but only in women who reported high levels of resilience (b=1.100, p=.014), but this protective effect of resilience was absent in women reporting high discrimination. Our findings suggest that as discrimination increases, the protective effects of resilience on movement evoked-pain decreases. Therefore, high trait resilience may be protective when experiences of discrimination are low.
Extant literature offers consensus regarding the long-term impacts of childhood adversity (CA) bu... more Extant literature offers consensus regarding the long-term impacts of childhood adversity (CA) but its impact on successful aging is not well understood. The Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study-a nationally representative sample including 1,017 adults 55-76 (Ryff et al., 2016)-did not include a measure of CA exposure for use in analyses. Two papers were developed for this dissertation. The first paper, An effective measure of childhood adversity for use with older adults, explored whether a cumulative CA measure that is effective for older adults could be developed using existing MIDUS questions. It provided a rationale for operationalization of CA for researchers and for creating a cumulative score of eight CA types. Distributions of individual items and the CA score were consistent with past studies using similar CA measures. The overall factor structure of the scale was consistent with previous research: 1) household dynamics (did not live with both biological parents until age 16, substance abuse in the home, financial distress, moved three or more times) and 2) child abuse and neglect (sexual assault, emotional abuse, physical abuse, emotional neglect). Consistent with the literature, CA score showed a significant negative association with life satisfaction and positive association with number of chronic conditions, and dose-response relationships with cumulative CA. This study demonstrated that CA score, created using existing MIDUS data, was an effective measure for use with older adults. The second paper, The impact of childhood adversity on successful aging for older adults, examined the impact of CA score on successful aging for older adults, operationalized using eight dimensions of wellness. Results showed that CA affected successful aging decades later. Controlling for age and gender, hierarchical multiple regression showed a significant negative association between CA score and emotional, physical, social, financial, environmental, seriously. I also want to thank my committee members for their feedback and time: Dr. Heather Fuller, Dr. Melissa O'Connor, and Dr. Linda Langley. My committee has continually given constructive criticism and helped to keep me steered in a good direction. Third, I would like to thank my employer, the North Dakota State University Department of Public Health, for allowing me the flexibility to take classes and do research practicums while fulfilling my employment responsibilities, and to leverage research resources when appropriate.
Innovation in Aging, 2021
Background Childhood adversity (CA) is associated with increased physiological and psychological ... more Background Childhood adversity (CA) is associated with increased physiological and psychological challenges in adulthood. Normal aging comes with changes that may put adults with a history of CA at increased risk of a poor quality aging experience. Because suitable person-environment fit is an important component of well-being, the present study explored two hypotheses: 1) Higher CA is associated with lower perceived neighborhood quality, and 2) Higher CA is associated with higher perceived inequality in home. Methods Using MIDUS 2011-2014 Refresher Survey (for this study, N=1,017 adults ages 55-76), Spearman’s rho correlation coefficients were run to explore the associations between a previously validated CA score and two environmental satisfaction indices. Perceived inequality in home comprised ratings on six items and perceived neighborhood quality comprised ratings on four items. Results Hypothesis 1: There was a significant positive association between the perceived inequality ...
Innovation in Aging, 2020
We propose that trauma history is important context for understanding the adaptive capacity of ag... more We propose that trauma history is important context for understanding the adaptive capacity of aging adults to achieve a suitable person-environment fit. We conducted a scoping review using bibliographic databases to identify studies focused on aging in place, vulnerability and traumatic personal experiences, and aging adults’ maladaptive behaviors. Our review showed little research directly exploring the connection between trauma-related needs and aging in place and limited research about the community’s role in supporting those needs. Literature about the impacts of trauma revealed that trauma could stem from adverse childhood experiences (e.g., abuse, neglect, household dysfunction) and adult adverse experiences (e.g., domestic violence, substance use disorder, military trauma). Adults who have experienced trauma may have increased physiological (e.g., sensory sensitivities) and psychological (e.g., post-traumatic stress disorder) conditions. Sensory sensitivities in the home env...
2015 APHA Annual Meeting & Expo (Oct. 31 - Nov. 4, 2015), Nov 3, 2015
The Gerontologist
Background and Objectives Adverse childhood and adult experiences can have far-reaching impacts, ... more Background and Objectives Adverse childhood and adult experiences can have far-reaching impacts, and when coupled with typical aging-related changes, may impede achievement of a suitable person-environment fit for aging adults. The objective of our study was to determine if extant literature connects older adults with trauma history to successfully aging in place. Research Design and Methods We proposed a conceptual model regarding trauma history, adaptive capacity of aging adults, and trauma-informed supports for aging in place. We conducted a scoping review using six databases [key words older adult(s), aging in place, housing, trauma], with a full review of 32 articles. Results Insights included: 1) Aging in place does not have to mean living in the same house over time. 2) The uncertainty of the aging process can be traumatic and can be exacerbated by previous traumatic experiences. 3) Environmental sensitivities can result from previous traumatic experiences and cause further t...
Innovation in Aging
Through Title VI of the Older Americans Act, federally recognized American Indian tribes, Alaska ... more Through Title VI of the Older Americans Act, federally recognized American Indian tribes, Alaska Native villages, and Native Hawaiians are eligible for grant funding to promote elders’ access to nutritious food and address other community-specific needs, such as transportation. Title VI directors are often short-staffed and work flexibly and creatively to accomplish administrative tasks as well as direct care for elders. The National Resource Center on Native American Aging (NRCNAA) developed the “Identify our Needs: A Survey of Elders”, conducted with adults ages 55+ every three years since 1999, to help directors fulfill grant-required requirements to report on community needs assessment data about elders’ needed services and health status. Directors administer the survey; responses are then scanned and analyzed by NRCNAA, with a site-specific summary returned to directors, at no cost to the site. To learn more about how survey data are utilized, NRCNAA staff interviewed four Titl...
Innovation in Aging
Though American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian (AI/AN/NH) elders are an understudied ... more Though American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian (AI/AN/NH) elders are an understudied population, available data demonstrates higher rates of depressive symptoms among these elders. In addition, AI/AN/NH elders are a medically underserved population, with geographic isolation a common barrier to accessing emotional/mental health services. However, cultural practices are important sources of resilience for AI/AN/NH elders. Survey data from “Identifying our Needs: A Survey of Elders” Cycle VI (2014-2017), conducted by the National Resource Center on Native American Aging, were analyzed using ordinal logistic regression; N=18,134 adults age 55+ from 164 tribal survey sites. Respondents indicated how often (from none to all of the time) they participate in cultural practices (e.g., traditional food, music, customs). Frequency of participation varied; 27% of elders reported participating in traditional cultural practices a good bit of the time or more, 28% some of the time, 18...
Social and Personality Psychology Compass
Maternal and Child Health Journal
Objectives High infant mortality rates among American Indians in North Dakota contribute to a 20-... more Objectives High infant mortality rates among American Indians in North Dakota contribute to a 20-year gap in average age at death compared to whites. Geographic-and race-specific health disparities data to drive policy making and interventions are not well disseminated. The current study examines prenatal risk factors and birth outcomes between American Indian and whites in North Dakota. Methods A retrospective descriptive analysis of North Dakota live births from 2007 to 2012 was conducted. Period prevalence and prevalence ratios were calculated. Results The infant mortality rate from 2010 to 2012 for infants born to American Indian women was 3.5 times higher than whites. Racial disparities existed in education, teen births, tobacco use during pregnancy, and breastfeeding initiation. Disparities widened for inadequate prenatal care, illegal drug use during pregnancy, and infant mortality from
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Papers by Ramona Danielson