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• 1. [Article] Age Discrimination: Potential for Adverse Impact and Differential Prediction Related to Age

  The proportion of workers in their 50s, 60s, and 70s is larger than ever before. Current workforce trends indicate global increases in retirement ages and that many individuals are working until later ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Age Discrimination: Potential for Adverse Impact and Differential Prediction Related to Age Author: Fisher, Gwenith G., Truxillo, Donald M., Finkelstein, Lisa M., Wallace, Lauren E. Year: 2017 The proportion of workers in their 50s, 60s, and 70s is larger than ever before. Current workforce trends indicate global increases in retirement ages and that many individuals are working until later ages than in decades past, and older people are applying for jobs and at later ages. Research to date on age discrimination in selection has focused primarily on disparate treatment or intentional discrimination. However, based on accumulated knowledge about age-related changes in cognitive and physical abilities as well as changes in personality and work motivation across the life course, we suggest that more attention be paid to the possibility of age-based subgroup differences on selection procedures, manifested as adverse impact and differential prediction. We provide recommendations to guide future human resource management research and practice. Title: Age Discrimination: Potential for Adverse Impact and Differential Prediction Related to Age Author: Fisher, Gwenith G., Truxillo, Donald M., Finkelstein, Lisa M., Wallace, Lauren E. Year: 2017 The proportion of workers in their 50s, 60s, and 70s is larger than ever before. Current workforce trends indicate global increases in retirement ages and that many individuals are working until later ages than in decades past, and older people are applying for jobs and at later ages. Research to date on age discrimination in selection has focused primarily on disparate treatment or intentional discrimination. However, based on accumulated knowledge about age-related changes in cognitive and physical abilities as well as changes in personality and work motivation across the life course, we suggest that more attention be paid to the possibility of age-based subgroup differences on selection procedures, manifested as adverse impact and differential prediction. We provide recommendations to guide future human resource management research and practice. Close

• 2. [Article] The Mediating Effects of LMX on the Relationship Between Supervisor and Employee Age Differences, Satisfaction, and Retirement Intentions

  Increasing age heterogeneity within organizations is pressing researchers to better understand the effects of a multigenerational workforce, teams, and dyads. In response to this, the present research ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: The Mediating Effects of LMX on the Relationship Between Supervisor and Employee Age Differences, Satisfaction, and Retirement Intentions Author: Pytlovany, Amy Christine Year: 2016 Increasing age heterogeneity within organizations is pressing researchers to better understand the effects of a multigenerational workforce, teams, and dyads. In response to this, the present research aimed to investigate the effect of employee and supervisor age (in)congruence in relation to job and life satisfaction, as well as retirement intentions, all mediated by leader-member exchange (LMX), using a time-lagged design. Two different theoretical foundations were investigated. Based on the relational demography literature, better outcomes were expected to be associated with age similarity. Theories about implicit expectations relating age and social role guided hypotheses suggesting that beyond just similarity or difference, the direction of age differences would matter. Based on traditional social assumptions that age is associated with experience and wisdom, it was expected that work outcomes would be better when the supervisor was older than the employee, and worse when the supervisor was younger than the employee. Results did not support any of the proposed hypotheses, with the exception of the established relationship between LMX and job satisfaction. However, response surface graphs and polynomial regression results directed post hoc analyses which did reveal a main effect of supervisor age on LMX and an indirect effect of supervisor age on Time 2 job satisfaction through Time 1 LMX. Employees in this sample reported higher quality LMX when supervisors were younger, regardless of employee age, and in turn employees with younger supervisors reported higher job satisfaction. These results and the trends depicted by response surface graphs are discussed in relation to implications for research and practice. Title: The Mediating Effects of LMX on the Relationship Between Supervisor and Employee Age Differences, Satisfaction, and Retirement Intentions Author: Pytlovany, Amy Christine Year: 2016 Increasing age heterogeneity within organizations is pressing researchers to better understand the effects of a multigenerational workforce, teams, and dyads. In response to this, the present research aimed to investigate the effect of employee and supervisor age (in)congruence in relation to job and life satisfaction, as well as retirement intentions, all mediated by leader-member exchange (LMX), using a time-lagged design. Two different theoretical foundations were investigated. Based on the relational demography literature, better outcomes were expected to be associated with age similarity. Theories about implicit expectations relating age and social role guided hypotheses suggesting that beyond just similarity or difference, the direction of age differences would matter. Based on traditional social assumptions that age is associated with experience and wisdom, it was expected that work outcomes would be better when the supervisor was older than the employee, and worse when the supervisor was younger than the employee. Results did not support any of the proposed hypotheses, with the exception of the established relationship between LMX and job satisfaction. However, response surface graphs and polynomial regression results directed post hoc analyses which did reveal a main effect of supervisor age on LMX and an indirect effect of supervisor age on Time 2 job satisfaction through Time 1 LMX. Employees in this sample reported higher quality LMX when supervisors were younger, regardless of employee age, and in turn employees with younger supervisors reported higher job satisfaction. These results and the trends depicted by response surface graphs are discussed in relation to implications for research and practice. Close

• 3. [Article] A Test of Conservation for Continuous and Discontinuous Quantity in the Very Young Child

  The development of mathematical concepts in children has been studied by many researchers. Much of this research has focused on the concept of conservation which was introduced by Piaget. It has generally ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: A Test of Conservation for Continuous and Discontinuous Quantity in the Very Young Child Author: Kaye, Nancy Patrick Year: 1976 The development of mathematical concepts in children has been studied by many researchers. Much of this research has focused on the concept of conservation which was introduced by Piaget. It has generally been assumed that children under the age of five years are not capable of such conservation. Some recent evidence suggests that children Wlder this age do conserve on particular tasks. In this study one hundred children from age two years four months to three years seven months were tested for conservation of discontinuous and continuous quantity. Although some evidence of conservation in this age range was obtained, no consistent pattern emerged. An edible dough was used, so that both verbal (noneating) and nonverbal (eating) responses were recorded for children of these ages. A three-factor analysis of variance showed that there were no significant effects from age, eating/noneating, or continuous/discontinuous variables. However, there was a significant but puzzling interaction between the ccnt.inuous/discontinuous and eating/noneating factors. Title: A Test of Conservation for Continuous and Discontinuous Quantity in the Very Young Child Author: Kaye, Nancy Patrick Year: 1976 The development of mathematical concepts in children has been studied by many researchers. Much of this research has focused on the concept of conservation which was introduced by Piaget. It has generally been assumed that children under the age of five years are not capable of such conservation. Some recent evidence suggests that children Wlder this age do conserve on particular tasks. In this study one hundred children from age two years four months to three years seven months were tested for conservation of discontinuous and continuous quantity. Although some evidence of conservation in this age range was obtained, no consistent pattern emerged. An edible dough was used, so that both verbal (noneating) and nonverbal (eating) responses were recorded for children of these ages. A three-factor analysis of variance showed that there were no significant effects from age, eating/noneating, or continuous/discontinuous variables. However, there was a significant but puzzling interaction between the ccnt.inuous/discontinuous and eating/noneating factors. Close

• 4. [Article] Supporting the Aging Workforce: The Impact of Psychosocial Workplace Characteristics on Employees' Work Ability

  It is estimated that by 2020, 25% of the US labor force will be aged 55 or older. Along with this demographic shift, Americans and employees in other industrialized nations are now working longer than ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Supporting the Aging Workforce: The Impact of Psychosocial Workplace Characteristics on Employees' Work Ability Author: Rineer, Jennifer Rae Year: 2015 It is estimated that by 2020, 25% of the US labor force will be aged 55 or older. Along with this demographic shift, Americans and employees in other industrialized nations are now working longer than before, either out of preference or financial necessity. Therefore, it is essential that we understand how to support employees so that they can continue working in a healthy, happy, and productive manner as they age. The construct of work ability (the extent to which people perceive they can meet the mental and physical demands of their jobs) has the potential to guide research and practice on how best to support employees throughout the lifespan. However, though studied extensively in the occupational health literature, work ability has only recently gained attention in the Industrial/Organizational Psychology and Occupational Health Psychology literatures. This study helps to further integrate work ability into our field and theoretically ground the construct using the Job Demands-Resources model (Demerouti, Bakker, Nachreiner, & Schaufeli, 2001). Specifically, this study examined psychosocial characteristics of the work environment (age diversity climate, team cohesion, organizational justice, and leader-member exchange) that were expected to buffer against the negative effects of increased age and poor health on work ability. The interaction between team cohesion and poor health had a significant effect on work ability. While the other hypothesized interaction relationships were unsupported, ancillary analyses showed that both team cohesion and age diversity climate do relate positively to work ability, even after controlling for age and health. These findings highlight the importance of a positive social work environment in supporting employees' work ability throughout the lifespan. Suggestions for future research include examining additional psychosocial predictors and behavioral outcomes of work ability, as well as conducting intervention studies aimed at increasing work ability by improving social aspects of the work environment. Title: Supporting the Aging Workforce: The Impact of Psychosocial Workplace Characteristics on Employees' Work Ability Author: Rineer, Jennifer Rae Year: 2015 It is estimated that by 2020, 25% of the US labor force will be aged 55 or older. Along with this demographic shift, Americans and employees in other industrialized nations are now working longer than before, either out of preference or financial necessity. Therefore, it is essential that we understand how to support employees so that they can continue working in a healthy, happy, and productive manner as they age. The construct of work ability (the extent to which people perceive they can meet the mental and physical demands of their jobs) has the potential to guide research and practice on how best to support employees throughout the lifespan. However, though studied extensively in the occupational health literature, work ability has only recently gained attention in the Industrial/Organizational Psychology and Occupational Health Psychology literatures. This study helps to further integrate work ability into our field and theoretically ground the construct using the Job Demands-Resources model (Demerouti, Bakker, Nachreiner, & Schaufeli, 2001). Specifically, this study examined psychosocial characteristics of the work environment (age diversity climate, team cohesion, organizational justice, and leader-member exchange) that were expected to buffer against the negative effects of increased age and poor health on work ability. The interaction between team cohesion and poor health had a significant effect on work ability. While the other hypothesized interaction relationships were unsupported, ancillary analyses showed that both team cohesion and age diversity climate do relate positively to work ability, even after controlling for age and health. These findings highlight the importance of a positive social work environment in supporting employees' work ability throughout the lifespan. Suggestions for future research include examining additional psychosocial predictors and behavioral outcomes of work ability, as well as conducting intervention studies aimed at increasing work ability by improving social aspects of the work environment. Close

• 5. [Article] Cooperative responses in competitive soccer

  The purpose of this study was to discover patterns in intra-team co operation (passing) versus individualistic behavior (dribbling) across various age and gender groups . A behavioral coding scheme for ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Cooperative responses in competitive soccer Author: Williamson, Rodney Gordon Year: 1986 The purpose of this study was to discover patterns in intra-team co operation (passing) versus individualistic behavior (dribbling) across various age and gender groups . A behavioral coding scheme for soccer players in possession of the ball was designed to tabulate team responses of passing or dribbling behavior in a four-a-side indoor tournament . A total of 32 teams , 18 male teams and 14 female teams , participated in four age brackets. A multi variate analysis of variance (MANOVA) generated one significant result for age and passing behavior. This supported the first hypothesis that intra-team cooperative behavior increased with age. Due to the nonorthogonal nature of the data two separate analyses of variance (ANOVA) were conducted, one for each of_ the dependent variables. No significant results were generated by these ANOVA's for sex and dribbling behavior. However, there was tenuous confirmation of the second hypothesis, that there is a gender difference in the use of cooperative (passing) responses and individualistic (dribbling) behavior. Title: Cooperative responses in competitive soccer Author: Williamson, Rodney Gordon Year: 1986 The purpose of this study was to discover patterns in intra-team co operation (passing) versus individualistic behavior (dribbling) across various age and gender groups . A behavioral coding scheme for soccer players in possession of the ball was designed to tabulate team responses of passing or dribbling behavior in a four-a-side indoor tournament . A total of 32 teams , 18 male teams and 14 female teams , participated in four age brackets. A multi variate analysis of variance (MANOVA) generated one significant result for age and passing behavior. This supported the first hypothesis that intra-team cooperative behavior increased with age. Due to the nonorthogonal nature of the data two separate analyses of variance (ANOVA) were conducted, one for each of_ the dependent variables. No significant results were generated by these ANOVA's for sex and dribbling behavior. However, there was tenuous confirmation of the second hypothesis, that there is a gender difference in the use of cooperative (passing) responses and individualistic (dribbling) behavior. Close

• 6. [Article] Effects of Rater Conscientiousness on Evaluations of Task and Contextual Performance of Older and Younger Co-Workers

  The possibility for age discrimination and stereotypes to affect performance evaluations is rising. Although careful evaluations might be expected from conscientious raters, little is known about whether ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Effects of Rater Conscientiousness on Evaluations of Task and Contextual Performance of Older and Younger Co-Workers Author: Kmicinska, Malgorzata, Zaniboni, Sara, Truxillo, Donald M., Fraccaroli, Franco, Wang, Mo Year: 2016 The possibility for age discrimination and stereotypes to affect performance evaluations is rising. Although careful evaluations might be expected from conscientious raters, little is known about whether they might show more or less bias towards certain age groups. Therefore, in our study using a time-lagged design, we investigated the effects of rater conscientiousness on the performance evaluations of younger and older actual co-worker (N = 242). We found that raters who were more conscientious provided higher ratings for older workers than for younger workers on task performance and organizational citizenship behaviours. Specifically, we tested the model of mediated moderation, in which the relation between rater conscientiousness and ratee age predicts ratee-perceived conscientiousness, which in turn predicts performance ratings. The model was significant for older ratees, but not for younger ratees. We discuss our results in terms of the “similar to me” effects and implications for organizational practices. Title: Effects of Rater Conscientiousness on Evaluations of Task and Contextual Performance of Older and Younger Co-Workers Author: Kmicinska, Malgorzata, Zaniboni, Sara, Truxillo, Donald M., Fraccaroli, Franco, Wang, Mo Year: 2016 The possibility for age discrimination and stereotypes to affect performance evaluations is rising. Although careful evaluations might be expected from conscientious raters, little is known about whether they might show more or less bias towards certain age groups. Therefore, in our study using a time-lagged design, we investigated the effects of rater conscientiousness on the performance evaluations of younger and older actual co-worker (N = 242). We found that raters who were more conscientious provided higher ratings for older workers than for younger workers on task performance and organizational citizenship behaviours. Specifically, we tested the model of mediated moderation, in which the relation between rater conscientiousness and ratee age predicts ratee-perceived conscientiousness, which in turn predicts performance ratings. The model was significant for older ratees, but not for younger ratees. We discuss our results in terms of the “similar to me” effects and implications for organizational practices. Close

• 7. [Article] Relating Age, Decision Authority, Job Satisfaction, and Mental Health: A Study of Construction Workers

  Job autonomy is a critical job characteristic in the construction industry, with lower levels of autonomy compared to the general working population. Moreover, there is a paucity of work on individual ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Relating Age, Decision Authority, Job Satisfaction, and Mental Health: A Study of Construction Workers Author: Zaniboni, Sara, Truxillo, Donald M., Rineer, Jennifer R., Bodner, Todd E. Year: 2016 Job autonomy is a critical job characteristic in the construction industry, with lower levels of autonomy compared to the general working population. Moreover, there is a paucity of work on individual difference moderators, such as age, considering the effect of job autonomy in important outcomes, such as job satisfaction and mental health. The purpose of the present study was to test a model of moderated-mediation, in which the interaction between decision authority (i.e., a type of autonomy) and age affects job satisfaction, which in turn affects mental health. The model tested is significant, and as expected, decision authority increased the satisfaction of older construction workers more than their younger colleagues, which in turn increased their mental health. We discuss our results in terms of selective optimization and compensation theory and implications for organizational practices. Title: Relating Age, Decision Authority, Job Satisfaction, and Mental Health: A Study of Construction Workers Author: Zaniboni, Sara, Truxillo, Donald M., Rineer, Jennifer R., Bodner, Todd E. Year: 2016 Job autonomy is a critical job characteristic in the construction industry, with lower levels of autonomy compared to the general working population. Moreover, there is a paucity of work on individual difference moderators, such as age, considering the effect of job autonomy in important outcomes, such as job satisfaction and mental health. The purpose of the present study was to test a model of moderated-mediation, in which the interaction between decision authority (i.e., a type of autonomy) and age affects job satisfaction, which in turn affects mental health. The model tested is significant, and as expected, decision authority increased the satisfaction of older construction workers more than their younger colleagues, which in turn increased their mental health. We discuss our results in terms of selective optimization and compensation theory and implications for organizational practices. Close

• 8. [Article] Reminiscence, Disengagement, and Morale in Old Age

  The purpose of this study was to test two hypotheses concerning reminiscence in old age. Reminiscence has been found to be an adaptive mechanism relating to freedom from clinical depression and to a reduced ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Reminiscence, Disengagement, and Morale in Old Age Author: Hardy, Barbara Brown Year: 1972 The purpose of this study was to test two hypotheses concerning reminiscence in old age. Reminiscence has been found to be an adaptive mechanism relating to freedom from clinical depression and to a reduced discrepancy between present and past self-concepts in the face of an experimental social threat (Mc Mahon and Rhudick, 1964; Lewis, 1971). Disengagement theory (Cumming and Henry, 1961) proposes that reminiscence is adaptive because it is a defense mechanism which protects the individual from decreasing physical capacities and lack of reinforcement from society. Title: Reminiscence, Disengagement, and Morale in Old Age Author: Hardy, Barbara Brown Year: 1972 The purpose of this study was to test two hypotheses concerning reminiscence in old age. Reminiscence has been found to be an adaptive mechanism relating to freedom from clinical depression and to a reduced discrepancy between present and past self-concepts in the face of an experimental social threat (Mc Mahon and Rhudick, 1964; Lewis, 1971). Disengagement theory (Cumming and Henry, 1961) proposes that reminiscence is adaptive because it is a defense mechanism which protects the individual from decreasing physical capacities and lack of reinforcement from society. Close

• 9. [Article] The Development of Personal Resources in the Academic Domain: Age Differences in the Evolution of Coping and Perceived Control and the Process Structures that Facilitate Academic Engagement

  Studies investigating the development of perceived control and coping in the academic domain generally adopt an individual differences approach, reporting mean-level changes in these and associated constructs. ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: The Development of Personal Resources in the Academic Domain: Age Differences in the Evolution of Coping and Perceived Control and the Process Structures that Facilitate Academic Engagement Author: Greene, Teresa Marie Year: 2015 Studies investigating the development of perceived control and coping in the academic domain generally adopt an individual differences approach, reporting mean-level changes in these and associated constructs. Very few studies attempt to chart the process by which these personal resources exert individual and combined influences on academic outcomes, such as motivation and achievement, in light of normative developmental changes. Further, a consideration of reciprocal influences of these constructs on developmental changes and the contribution of social partners to these processes is not common. Conceptualized from a systems perspective, this study integrates these different approaches in a longitudinal inquiry into the development of perceived control and coping, the impact of coping on academic engagement and achievement, and how support from the context shapes, and is subsequently shaped by, student behavior. An action-theoretic model is used to describe the hypothesized relationships, deriving from Deci & Ryan's (1985) self-determination theory, and incorporating a flexible framework of coping as functionally similar yet structurally distinct strategies, defined as action-regulation under stress (Skinner, Edge, Altman, Sherwood, 2003; Skinner & Zimmer-Gembeck, 2007). Four ways of coping are examined, divided into two categories: mastery coping, comprising problem-solving and information-seeking, and helplessness coping, comprising escape and confusion ways of coping. Contextual support is conceptualized as teacher provision of structure, involvement, and autonomy support. Engagement, as a motivational resource that leads to increased achievement, comprises both behavioral and emotional aspects of engagement. A tri-partite formulation of perceived control is used (Skinner, Chapman, & Baltes, 1988a), comprising means-end (strategy), agency (capacity), and generalized control beliefs. Data collected during one year of a four-year longitudinal study from 665 students in grades four and six, and fifty-three of their teachers, were used for this investigation. Normative developmental differences were examined through comparisons of mean-level shifts in each of the model constructs; regression-based analyses tested for age differences over time in the process structure of the model. Reciprocal influences of coping and engagement on teacher support and perceived control, and of engagement and achievement on coping, were also tested for age differences. Results highlight the normative developmental changes that occur in these constructs during middle childhood, and indicate that the pattern of these changes is largely consistent with expectations; however, the process structure of the model relating the constructs of interest was found to be stable over time, with only one significant age difference detected: the influence on mastery coping of means-end control beliefs for effort. All other relationships tested did not differ significantly as children get older. Discussion focuses on evidence provided by the results of age trends in the developmental processes believed to be the drivers of change in the study constructs. Implications for the study of coping, regulatory processes, and features of the educational context, as they relate to the development of children's coping and control resources, are explored, with suggestions for the direction future research in these areas might take. Title: The Development of Personal Resources in the Academic Domain: Age Differences in the Evolution of Coping and Perceived Control and the Process Structures that Facilitate Academic Engagement Author: Greene, Teresa Marie Year: 2015 Studies investigating the development of perceived control and coping in the academic domain generally adopt an individual differences approach, reporting mean-level changes in these and associated constructs. Very few studies attempt to chart the process by which these personal resources exert individual and combined influences on academic outcomes, such as motivation and achievement, in light of normative developmental changes. Further, a consideration of reciprocal influences of these constructs on developmental changes and the contribution of social partners to these processes is not common. Conceptualized from a systems perspective, this study integrates these different approaches in a longitudinal inquiry into the development of perceived control and coping, the impact of coping on academic engagement and achievement, and how support from the context shapes, and is subsequently shaped by, student behavior. An action-theoretic model is used to describe the hypothesized relationships, deriving from Deci & Ryan's (1985) self-determination theory, and incorporating a flexible framework of coping as functionally similar yet structurally distinct strategies, defined as action-regulation under stress (Skinner, Edge, Altman, Sherwood, 2003; Skinner & Zimmer-Gembeck, 2007). Four ways of coping are examined, divided into two categories: mastery coping, comprising problem-solving and information-seeking, and helplessness coping, comprising escape and confusion ways of coping. Contextual support is conceptualized as teacher provision of structure, involvement, and autonomy support. Engagement, as a motivational resource that leads to increased achievement, comprises both behavioral and emotional aspects of engagement. A tri-partite formulation of perceived control is used (Skinner, Chapman, & Baltes, 1988a), comprising means-end (strategy), agency (capacity), and generalized control beliefs. Data collected during one year of a four-year longitudinal study from 665 students in grades four and six, and fifty-three of their teachers, were used for this investigation. Normative developmental differences were examined through comparisons of mean-level shifts in each of the model constructs; regression-based analyses tested for age differences over time in the process structure of the model. Reciprocal influences of coping and engagement on teacher support and perceived control, and of engagement and achievement on coping, were also tested for age differences. Results highlight the normative developmental changes that occur in these constructs during middle childhood, and indicate that the pattern of these changes is largely consistent with expectations; however, the process structure of the model relating the constructs of interest was found to be stable over time, with only one significant age difference detected: the influence on mastery coping of means-end control beliefs for effort. All other relationships tested did not differ significantly as children get older. Discussion focuses on evidence provided by the results of age trends in the developmental processes believed to be the drivers of change in the study constructs. Implications for the study of coping, regulatory processes, and features of the educational context, as they relate to the development of children's coping and control resources, are explored, with suggestions for the direction future research in these areas might take. Close

• 10. [Article] Racial and Ethnic Differences in Smoking Changes after Chronic Disease Diagnosis Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults in the United States

  Background Middle-aged and older Americans from underrepresented racial and ethnic backgrounds are at risk for greater chronic disease morbidity than their white counterparts. Cigarette smoking increases ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Racial and Ethnic Differences in Smoking Changes after Chronic Disease Diagnosis Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults in the United States Author: Quinones, Ana R., Nagel, Corey L., Newsom, Jason T., Huguet, Nathalie, Sheridan, Paige, Thielke, Stephen M. Year: 2017 Background Middle-aged and older Americans from underrepresented racial and ethnic backgrounds are at risk for greater chronic disease morbidity than their white counterparts. Cigarette smoking increases the severity of chronic illness, worsens physical functioning, and impairs the successful management of symptoms. As a result, it is important to understand whether smoking behaviors change after the onset of a chronic condition. We assessed the racial/ethnic differences in smoking behavior change after onset of chronic diseases among middle-aged and older adults in the US. Methods We use longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS 1992–2010) to examine changes in smoking status and quantity of cigarettes smoked after a new heart disease, diabetes, cancer, stroke, or lung disease diagnosis among smokers. Results The percentage of middle-aged and older smokers who quit after a new diagnosis varied by racial/ethnic group and disease: for white smokers, the percentage ranged from 14% after diabetes diagnosis to 32% after cancer diagnosis; for black smokers, the percentage ranged from 15% after lung disease diagnosis to 40% after heart disease diagnosis; the percentage of Latino smokers who quit was only statistically significant after stoke, where 38% quit. In logistic models, black (OR = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.19–0.99) and Latino (OR = 0.26, 95% CI: 0.11–0.65) older adults were less likely to continue smoking relative to white older adults after a stroke, and Latinos were more likely to continue smoking relative to black older adults after heart disease onset (OR = 2.69, 95% CI [1.05–6.95]). In models evaluating changes in the number of cigarettes smoked after a new diagnosis, black older adults smoked significantly fewer cigarettes than whites after a new diagnosis of diabetes, heart disease, stroke or cancer, and Latino older adults smoked significantly fewer cigarettes compared to white older adults after newly diagnosed diabetes and heart disease. Relative to black older adults, Latinos smoked significantly fewer cigarettes after newly diagnosed diabetes. Conclusions A large majority of middle-aged and older smokers continued to smoke after diagnosis with a major chronic disease. Black participants demonstrated the largest reductions in smoking behavior. These findings have important implications for tailoring secondary prevention efforts for older adults. Title: Racial and Ethnic Differences in Smoking Changes after Chronic Disease Diagnosis Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults in the United States Author: Quinones, Ana R., Nagel, Corey L., Newsom, Jason T., Huguet, Nathalie, Sheridan, Paige, Thielke, Stephen M. Year: 2017 Background Middle-aged and older Americans from underrepresented racial and ethnic backgrounds are at risk for greater chronic disease morbidity than their white counterparts. Cigarette smoking increases the severity of chronic illness, worsens physical functioning, and impairs the successful management of symptoms. As a result, it is important to understand whether smoking behaviors change after the onset of a chronic condition. We assessed the racial/ethnic differences in smoking behavior change after onset of chronic diseases among middle-aged and older adults in the US. Methods We use longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS 1992–2010) to examine changes in smoking status and quantity of cigarettes smoked after a new heart disease, diabetes, cancer, stroke, or lung disease diagnosis among smokers. Results The percentage of middle-aged and older smokers who quit after a new diagnosis varied by racial/ethnic group and disease: for white smokers, the percentage ranged from 14% after diabetes diagnosis to 32% after cancer diagnosis; for black smokers, the percentage ranged from 15% after lung disease diagnosis to 40% after heart disease diagnosis; the percentage of Latino smokers who quit was only statistically significant after stoke, where 38% quit. In logistic models, black (OR = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.19–0.99) and Latino (OR = 0.26, 95% CI: 0.11–0.65) older adults were less likely to continue smoking relative to white older adults after a stroke, and Latinos were more likely to continue smoking relative to black older adults after heart disease onset (OR = 2.69, 95% CI [1.05–6.95]). In models evaluating changes in the number of cigarettes smoked after a new diagnosis, black older adults smoked significantly fewer cigarettes than whites after a new diagnosis of diabetes, heart disease, stroke or cancer, and Latino older adults smoked significantly fewer cigarettes compared to white older adults after newly diagnosed diabetes and heart disease. Relative to black older adults, Latinos smoked significantly fewer cigarettes after newly diagnosed diabetes. Conclusions A large majority of middle-aged and older smokers continued to smoke after diagnosis with a major chronic disease. Black participants demonstrated the largest reductions in smoking behavior. These findings have important implications for tailoring secondary prevention efforts for older adults. Close