Maria Fernanda Reyes Rodriguez

Older adults exposed to prolonged sociopolitical violence often experience chronic stress that may undermine adaptive coping processes. Instrumental reminiscence, which focuses on recalling past experiences of successfully managing adversity, has been proposed as a strategy potentially associated with greater coping flexibility in later life. This study examined whether participation in an instrumental reminiscence programme was associated with changes in coping strategies among older adults registered as victims of armed conflict in Catatumbo, Colombia. A quasi‐experimental controlled design with repeated measures (pre‐intervention, post‐intervention, 2‐month follow‐up) was conducted with 64 community‐dwelling adults aged 60 years and older (intervention n = 37; control n = 27). The intervention consisted of 8 weekly 90‐min instrumental reminiscence sessions, while the comparison group received psychoeducational sessions. Coping strategies were assessed using the Coping with Stress Questionnaire. Linear mixed‐effects models were used to examine Group × Time interactions. Significant interactions were observed for problem‐solving focus, positive reappraisal, social support seeking, overt emotional expression, negative self‐focus, and avoidance (all p < 0.001). Compared with controls, the intervention group was characterised by higher post‐intervention scores on problem‐solving focus, positive reappraisal, social support seeking, and avoidance, and lower scores on overt emotional expression and negative self‐focus; these differences were maintained at follow‐up. No significant effects were found for religious coping. Participation in the instrumental reminiscence programme was associated with changes in multiple self‐reported coping strategies among older adults exposed to chronic conflict‐related stress.

Statistics anxiety is widely recognised as a barrier to student learning, and the Statistics Anxiety Rating Scale (STARS) is its most widely used self-report measure. However, it remains unclear whether the STARS captures a construct distinct from mathematics anxiety or reflects a jangle fallacy. Using a large international sample of undergraduate students (N = 6,885) from 83 universities across 33 countries, we examined the empirical distinctiveness of the STARS relative to the Revised Mathematics Anxiety Rating Scale (R-MARS). Across four criteria, the evidence indicated substantial overlap. First, correlations between the STARS and R-MARS were consistently strong. Second, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses showed that items clustered primarily by type of educational experience (e.g., tests, help-seeking, interpretation) rather than by domain, with limited and unstable domain-specific factors. Third, both scales demonstrated statistically equivalent associations with 11 theoretically related anxiety and education variables. Fourth, the R-MARS explained negligible incremental variance beyond the STARS across these outcomes. Together, the findings suggest that the STARS and R-MARS largely measure the same underlying construct. Their continued separate use risks redundancy, conceptual fragmentation, and statistical artefacts, underscoring the need for clearer construct definition and more precise measurement tools.

The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly disrupted the lives of older adults, yet their experiences have remained underexplored. This paper draws on empirical evidence from a two-wave (W1 April–July 2020, W2 January–April 2021) qualitative study in the UK (n = 62) and a companion study in Colombia (n = 32), focusing on participants aged 60 and above. Data was analysed using constructivist grounded theory principles, leading to the development of an ecological theory of older adults’ well-being within the context of a health crisis at three interconnected levels: individual, community, and societal. Individual resources, such as adaptability and support systems, contributed to enhancing and maintaining their well-being. Community support and a sense of belonging were essential to meet the needs of people in later life, whilst necessary social health protection measures during the pandemic restricted social activities, further impacting well-being, mostly perceived as challenging. Cultural differences and societal support systems shaped participants’ experiences. The study emphasises the interdependence of the different levels in impacting older adults’ well-being, offers strategies for policy and practice, and advocates and contributes for the development of gerontological theories in the context of health crises.

The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly disrupted the lives of older adults, yet their experiences have remained underexplored. This paper draws on empirical evidence from a two-wave (W1 April-July 2020, W2 January-April 2021) qualitative study in the UK (n=62) and a companion study in Colombia (n=32), focusing on participants aged 60 and above. Data was analysed using constructivist grounded theory principles, leading to the development of an ecological theory of older adults' well-being at three interconnected levels: individual, community, and societal. Individual resources, such as adaptability and support systems, contributed to enhancing and maintaining their well-being. Community support and a sense of belonging were essential to meet the needs of people in later life, whilst necessary social health protection measures during the pandemic restricted social activities, further impacting well-being, mostly perceived as challenging. Cultural differences and societal support systems shaped participants' experiences. The study emphasises the interdependence of the different levels in impacting older adults' well-being, offers strategies for policy and practice, and advocates and contributes for the development of gerontological theories in the context of health crises.

Despite the urgency of addressing violence against the LGBTQI+ community in Colombia, scientific research on the topic remains limited. This mixed-methods study explores the lived experiences of sexual orientation-based violence and the role of bystanders witnessing such abuse. A total of 1,291 participants (50.8% cisgender women, 37.1% cisgender men, 3.1% trans or non-binary) responded to an online Spanish-language survey, which included open and closed questions focused on both real-life and hypothetical sexual orientation-based violence. Utilising thematic analysis, we constructed three themes based on responses to the open questions: (a) Lived Experiences as Targets and Bystanders in Sexual Orientation-Based Violence; (b) Diverse Proposed and Actual Intervention Strategies; and (c) Bystander Barriers and Facilitators. Further analysis (i.e. logistic regression) of the quantitative data showed that recognizing a situation as harassment and feeling responsibility to act were significantly associated with past bystander intervention. Findings highlight the diverse nature of sexual orientation-based violence in Colombia and those factors impacting the likelihood of bystander intervention.

Trans people are among the most marginalized and stigmatized groups globally, facing high risks of discrimination, violence and abuse. In Colombia, older adults experience significant vulnerabilities and poverty, which are exacerbated for those with diverse gender identities, a population that remains invisible in this country. The existing literature on the ageing experiences of trans individuals, particularly in Latin America, is scarce, yet trans individuals in this region face widespread violence and discrimination. This article addresses this knowledge gap by exploring the ageing challenges encountered by Colombian trans women, through a qualitative study involving 23 trans women aged 50–67 living in Bogotá. It finds that older trans women face barriers throughout their lives, including stigma, gender-based violence, stigmatizing policies and political erasure. While some barriers persist for their lifecourse, others emerge in later life. A few resources are available at the structural, societal and individual levels to help trans women in Columbia cope with the ageing process. This article contributes to the limited knowledge of ageing in trans populations in the Global South. It shows how legal and social frameworks are pivotal in shaping ageing experiences that are unique to Colombia in ways not thoroughly explored in the Global North. It underscores the need for inclusive policies and practices that address the specific challenges of trans older adults. By adding to the social gerontological scholarship, this article will help inform debates and guide future research and policy development.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented challenges, particularly for older adults. They were identified as a high-risk group. While research has primarily focused on health measures, less is known about their adaptation processes during this period in the UK and Colombia. This study explores “how older adults in the UK and Colombia adapted during the health crisis after one year”. We conducted interviews with 29 participants in the UK and 32 participants in Colombia, aged 63–95, about their experiences one year after the pandemic. We analysed their anonymised transcripts using constructivist grounded theory. The pandemic highlighted older adults’ ability to learn new skills in the face of adversities. Some found new goals; others found pleasure in optimising existing skills and tasks. Some compensated for the lack of social connectivity by intensifying hobbies. We identified three broad ways older adults adapted. Cognitive adaptation included acceptance, positive reframing, and religious trust. Emotional regulation was experienced not only through deep freeze, weather impact, social support, religion, pet companionship but also emotional struggles. Finally behavioural adaptation was enacted through routine modification, use of virtual technologies, intertwined cognitive–emotional–behavioural adaptation, and previous experiences. However, adaptation varied, with some individuals struggling to adapt, highlighting that while adaptation is possible for some, it is not universal among all older adults.

Objectives: Relatively little is known about the lived experiences of older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. We systematically review the international literature to understand the lived experiences of older adult’s experiences during the pandemic. Design and methodology: This study uses a meta-ethnographical approach to investigate the included studies. The analyses were undertaken with constructivist grounded theory. Results: Thirty-two studies met the inclusion criteria and only five papers were of low quality. Most, but not all studies, were from the global north. We identified three themes: desired and challenged wellbeing; coping and adaptation; and discrimination and intersectionality. Overall, the studies’ findings were varied and reflected different times during the pandemic. Studies reported the impact of mass media messaging and its mostly negative impact on older adults. Many studies highlighted the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on participants' social connectivity and well-being including missing the proximity of loved ones and in consequence experienced an increase in anxiety, feeling of depression, or loneliness. However, many studies reported how participants adapted to the change of lifestyle including new ways of communication, and social distancing. Some studies focused on discrimination and the experiences of sexual and gender minority and ethnic minority participants. Studies found that the pandemic impacted the participants’ well-being including suicidal risk behaviour, friendship loss, and increased mental health issues. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted and impacted older adults’ well-being worldwide. Despite the cultural and socio-economic differences many commonalities were found. Studies described the impact of mass media reporting, social connectivity, impact of confinement on well-being, coping, and on discrimination. The authors suggest that these findings need to be acknowledged for future pandemic strategies. Additionally, policy-making processes need to include older adults to address their needs. PROSPERO record [CRD42022331714], (Derrer-Merk et al., Older adults’ lived experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review, 2022).

Background and objectives: Trans people around the world represent one of the most marginalized and stigmatized groups in society and who are at high risk of discrimination, violence, and abuse. In Colombia, older adults face a persistent situation of vulnerability and poverty. This situation is even more marked for older people with diverse gender identities. This study aims to understand the challenges that a group of Colombian trans women experienced in the process of aging. Methods: An exploratory qualitative research project was carried out using constructivist grounded theory. Twenty five trans-women aged 50-67 years old living in Bogotá, Colombia participated. The data were collected using semi-structured interview. Results and discussion: The findings show that older trans women faced a variety of barriers such as stigmatization, violence, and political erasure. In addition, this study identified the resources of trans women in overcoming their many challenges. These included personal strengths, activism, and mobilization.