Psychosocial Risk and Resilience Mechanisms Underlying Diversity in Midlife Health, Well-Being, and Cognition

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Project Summary/Abstract Large segments of current US middle-aged adults are suffering and doing more poorly than earlier-born cohorts43,65. These trends are distinct to the US. Several studies have documented that compared to Asian and European nations, US middle-aged adults exhibit higher rates of disability and chronic illness than same-aged peers6,10,73. Despite known differences between the US and other nations, little research has examined the mechanisms underlying diversity in midlife development and individual-level characteristics that either magnify or mitigate differences. Our objective is to use the HRS family of studies to identify the intergenerational, financial, and health behavior mechanisms driving diversity in midlife development and whether they differ across individual-level characteristics that span socio-demographics (i.e., education, gender, and race) and psychosocial resources (i.e., social support and control beliefs). Our specific aims are: (1) describe similarities and differences in midlife development of health, well-being, and cognition across multiple nations; (2) investigate the intergenerational, financial, and health behavior mechanisms driving diversity in midlife development; and (3) to examine the role of individual-level characteristics that moderate diversity in midlife development. To address our research questions, multilevel models will be applied to harmonized longitudinal data (collected from early 1990s to present day) from 17 nations across North America, Asia, and Europe. Each dataset contains national samples that are repeatedly assessed on interdisciplinary outcomes. The achievable outcome of Aim 1 is to comprehensively examine similarities and differences between the US trends and those obtained for other high-income nations. For Aim 2, we draw from the research team's conceptual and empirical research55,61 to investigate whether changing intergenerational relationships, increased financial vulnerabilities and a shrinking health behavior safety net are driving diversity in midlife development within- and between-nations. For Aim 3, we will target key questions of diversity by identifying population segments within and across nations who are most vulnerable and identify malleable protective resources to promote better positive midlife development. This project will provide novel insights into identifying the intergenerational, financial, and health behavior mechanisms underlying diversity in midlife development and whether they are operating similarly across nations with different policy contexts. For example, in nations with less comprehensive health care, such as the US, health behavior factors could be a driving force as opposed to nations with a national health care system. Similarly, we will uncover whether greater intergenerational dependency in the form of increased contact and financial transfers are a more potent mechanism in nations with less encompassing family and work policies. Findings from our project will also shed light on factors that can promote resilient outcomes and inform future prevention and intervention efforts.