A Longitudinal Reservoir Model of Stress Dissipation and the Influences of Concomitant Perceptions of Control

Abstract To characterize the stress regulation system, we use a reservoir to reflect how much stress an individual “holds” over time. Factors affecting what is contained in a stress reservoir are incoming stress (Input), accumulation/dissipation (Strdiss), and actions taken to discharge stress (e.g., Control). At the within person level, time-varying control predicts better Strdiss (β= -0.03±0.01, p <.001), even when controlling for between person differences (e.g., age, neuroticism) and between and within person impacts of Input. Thus, control reflects an important stress dissipation tool. Further analyses indicated a significant 2-way interaction between time-varying effects of Input and Control (β= 0.14±0.03, p <.0001) and Strdiss and Control (β= 0.60±0.18, p <.001) on self-reported health and a significant 3-way time-varying interaction of Input, Strdiss and Control on depression (β= -0.173±0.07, p <.012). Studies of this type move beyond the static assessments of risk and resilience to a more dynamic one.

Recent conceptualizations of depression and supporting empirical work suggests that elevations and allievations of depressive symptoms can be understood from a dynamic systems perspective. Specifically, depression is proposed to result from strong-feedback loops in a system comprised of highly interdependent component parts (e.g., affect states). Supporting this perspective, individual differences in emotional interia and strong connections across emotions at micro-level timescales have been consistently associated with individual differences in depressive symptomatology such that individuals with greater emotional inertia and crossemotion relations show higher levels of depressive symptoms. Importantly, however, individual differences do not necessarily translate to intraindividual change. The present study explores whether emotional connectivity at the daily timescale differs within individuals across a ten-year span and how these associations relate to intraindividual changes in depressive symptomatology. The results of these individuallevel analyses will help further a dynamic systems perspective of depression and help inform clinical interventions for depression. Cognitive Enrichment Through Emotion Regulation (CENTER) is a theoretical framework of development that emphasizes the role of individuals finding their proverbial "centers" in shaping their cognitive aging trajectories. Within the CENTER framework, dynamic interactions between emotion regulatory processes that occur in real time (i.e., micro-level time), and global psychological well-being that develops over several years (i.e., macro-level time), aid in the optimization of cognitive aging. Indeed, by successfully regulating emotional reactions to stress in real time, which is supported by global psychological well-being, individuals will minimize their accumulation of allostatic load across the lifespan. Such minimization of allostatic load is key to optimizing cognitive aging through emotion regulation under the CENTER framework. CENTER will be motivated by fusing research on cognitive aging, emotion regulation, stress-and-coping, allostatic load, and psychological well-being. To characterize the stress regulation system, we use a reservoir to reflect how much stress an individual "holds" over time. Factors affecting what is contained in a stress reservoir are incoming stress (Input), accumulation/dissipation (Strdiss), and actions taken to discharge stress (e.g., Control). At the within person level, time-varying control predicts better Strdiss (β= -0.03±0.01, p <.001), even when controlling for between person differences (e.g., age, neuroticism) and between and within person impacts of Input. Thus, control reflects an important stress dissipation tool. Further analyses indicated a significant 2-way interaction between time-varying effects of Input and Control (β= 0.14±0.03, p <.0001) and Strdiss and Control (β= 0.60±0.18, p <.001) on self-reported health and a significant 3-way time-varying interaction of Input, Strdiss and Control on depression (β= -0.173±0.07, p <.012). Studies of this type move beyond the static assessments of risk and resilience to a more dynamic one.

NEEDS OF AND SERVICES FOR GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN: REGIONAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES Chair: Youjung Lee Discussant: Deborah Whitley
Grandparents raising grandchildren build strong foundations for their grandchildren. Despite grandparents' significant contributions to their grandchildren's future and society in general, there is a limited understanding of the unique needs and service utilization of grandparents raising grandchildren in various contexts. This symposium is focused on the needs of and services for the grandparent population at the regional, national, and international levels. Stucki will present findings from an examination of types and locally available services for grandparents raising grandchildren in Appalachia by sub-region. Musil and colleagues will discuss the service need utilization and unmet service needs of a nationwide sample of 284 grandmothers living with/ raising grandchildren and the relationships between service use/need and resilience, resourcefulness, perceived stress, reward, and appraisals of their current living environment for themselves and their grandchildren. Lastly, Lee will describe research findings from her comparative transnational research on needs and experiences of grandparents raising grandchildren in Malawi (n=29), South Korea (n=23), and the U.S. (n=23). Unique needs and cultural interpretation of intergenerational caregiving in each country will be presented. The symposium discussion will address diverse needs of grandparents raising grandchildren and strategies to meet those needs at regional, national, and international levels. Grandparents as Caregivers Interest Group Sponsored Symposium.

SERVICE NEED UTILIZATION AND UNMET SERVICE NEEDS OF GRANDMOTHERS LIVING WITH OR RAISING GRANDCHILDREN Carol Musil, McKenzie Wallace, and Alexandra Jeanblanc, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States
This study explores the service need utilization and unmet service needs of a nationwide sample of 284 grandmothers living with/raising grandchildren, and the relationships with service use/need, perceived stress, reward, and appraisals of their current living environment for themselves and their grandchildren. Participants were asked whether they currently used, had unmet need for, or did not need 25 different support services, including babysitting, financial assistance, legal assistance, family therapy/communication, among others. Overall, 89.5% (N=255) were receiving at least 1 service (mean = 3.4, range 0-18), and 89.1% (N=253) reported having at least 1 unmet service need (7.4, range 0-23).
Receiving services was positively correlated with psychosocial resources, but not with appraisals of stress, reward, or living situation. Unmet service needs were inversely correlated with psychosocial resources, reward, and appraisals of living situation. Implications of these varying patterns will be discussed. Part of a symposium sponsored by the Grandparents as Caregivers Interest Group.

GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN IN APPALACHIA: AN EXAMINATION OF AVAILABLE SERVICES Bradford Stucki, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States
Previous research indicates that higher numbers of grandparents raising grandchildren live in Appalachia, relative to the rest of the United States. These grandparents may have diverse needs that could benefit from services. When grandparents cannot access needed services, their well-being can be negatively affected. Using the "2017 GrandFacts: State Fact Sheets for Grandfamilies" for the 13 states defined as being part of Appalachia by the Appalachian Regional Commission, this study examined the types and availability of local services by Appalachian sub-region. Excluding state and federal public benefits, most common service types were emotional support, information and referral, financial assistance, and education. Least common service types included grandchild special health needs, legal services, and early childhood intervention. For service availability, four of the five Appalachian sub-regions had no services in over 65% of their counties. South and North Central Appalachia regions had no services in over 90% of their counties. Part of a symposium sponsored by the Grandparents as Caregivers Interest Group.