Maggie L Syme
Biographic Data
| ID | 5424166 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Maggie L Syme |
| GIVEN NAMES | Maggie L |
| FAMILY NAME | Syme |
| SIGNATURE | SYME M L |
| AFFILIATIONS | Center on Aging, Kansas State University |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-3260-5568 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 11 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 24 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 11 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2008 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 3 |
The Healthy Aging Initiative (HAI)
Objective: We present the rationale, design, and methods for the Healthy Aging Initiative (HAI), a prospective longitudinal cohort study of older adults primarily residing in senior housing, aimed to identify and characterize factors associated with a prolonged healthspan in this population. Methods: The HAI, developed with input from experts at the Marcus Institute for Aging Research and informed by a pilot study, includes a community engaged re…
Intimate relationships in residential aged care
Intimacy contributes to our well-being and extends into older age, despite cognitive or physical impairment. However, the ability to enjoy intimacy and express sexuality is often compromised—or even controlled—when one moves into residential aged care. The aim of this study was to identify what factors influence senior residential aged care staff when they make decisions regarding resident intimate relationships and sexual expression. The study u…
Association of State Covid-19 Vaccine Mandates With Staff Vaccination Coverage and Staffing Shortages in US Nursing Homes
The findings of this cohort study suggest that state-level vaccine mandates were associated with increased staff vaccination coverage without increases in reported staffing shortages. Vaccination increases were largest when mandates had no test-out option and were also larger in Republican-leaning counties, which had lower mean baseline vaccination rates. These findings support the use of state mandates for booster doses for nursing home employee…
Covid-19 Vaccine Uptake Among Nursing Home Staff via Statewide Policy
Objectives. To examine whether COVID-19 vaccine mandates that allow a test-out exemption for nursing home staff are associated with increased staff vaccination rates in nursing homes. Methods. Using the National Healthcare Safety Network data, we conducted analyses to test trends over time in statewide staff vaccination rates between June 1, 2021, and August 29, 2021, in Mississippi, 4 adjacent states, and the United States overall. Results. COVI…
“At My Age … ”
Sexual wellness is integral to quality of life across the life span, despite ageist stereotypes suggesting sexual expression ends at midlife. However, conceptualizing sexual wellness in mid- and later life is complicated by a dysfunction-based narrative, lack of a sex-positive aging framework, and existing measures that are age irrelevant and limited in scope. This study aimed to address these limitations by providing a conceptualization of sexua…
Content analysis of public opinion on sexual expression and dementia
PURPOSE: We examined public opinion of sexual expression and dementia to inform nursing home policy and practice. DESIGN AND METHODS: A content analysis was conducted on public comments (N=1194) posted in response to a New York Times article about a highly publicized legal case involving a husband engaging in sexual acts with his wife who had dementia, living in a nursing home. Researchers utilized constant comparative analysis to code the commen…
A Comparison of Actual and Perceived Sexual Risk Among Older Adults
Sexual risk among older adults (OAs) is prevalent, though little is known about the accuracy of sexual risk perceptions. Thus, the aim was to determine the accuracy of sexual risk perceptions among OAs by examining concordance between self-reported sexual risk behaviors and perceived risk. Data on OAs aged 50 to 92 were collected via Amazon.com's Mechanical Turk. Frequency of sexual risk behaviors (past six months) were reported along with percei…
Somali Perspectives on Physical Activity
The findings laid the framework for subsequent program development and community engagement
Predicting Sexual Decline and Dissatisfaction Among Older Adults
Results show the impact of several physical and mental health risk factors on the development of sexual unwellness in older adults. A gendered pattern also emerged, suggesting that women tend to be less sexually satisfied, as compared to their male peers, who tend to report sexual unwellness that is associated with individual health
Sexual Health and Well-Being After Cancer
Sexual quality of life after cancer is an integral component of well-being for many survivors. However, the experience of cancer presents significant challenges to sexual health and well-being, often requiring survivors to negotiate the many physical, psychological, social/relational, and cultural factors that impact psychosexual functioning. By embracing a sex-positive approach to conceptualization, assessment, and treatment, psychologists can b…
The effect of improving the thermal quality of cold housing on blood pressure and general health
OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of improving the thermal quality of housing on blood pressure (BP) and general health. DESIGN: A before and after study comparing the changes of the intervention with controls. SETTING: Four blocks of flats in the Easthall area of Easterhouse in Glasgow. PARTICIPANTS: Residents of the four blocks who agreed to participate. INTERVENTION: Two blocks of flats were upgraded from being cold, damp and mouldy to being co…
Predicting Sexual Decline and Dissatisfaction Among Older Adults
Results show the impact of several physical and mental health risk factors on the development of sexual unwellness in older adults. A gendered pattern also emerged, suggesting that women tend to be less sexually satisfied, as compared to their male peers, who tend to report sexual unwellness that is associated with individual health
The effect of improving the thermal quality of cold housing on blood pressure and general health
OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of improving the thermal quality of housing on blood pressure (BP) and general health. DESIGN: A before and after study comparing the changes of the intervention with controls. SETTING: Four blocks of flats in the Easthall area of Easterhouse in Glasgow. PARTICIPANTS: Residents of the four blocks who agreed to participate. INTERVENTION: Two blocks of flats were upgraded from being cold, damp and mouldy to being co…
Somali Perspectives on Physical Activity
The findings laid the framework for subsequent program development and community engagement
Sexual Health and Well-Being After Cancer
Sexual quality of life after cancer is an integral component of well-being for many survivors. However, the experience of cancer presents significant challenges to sexual health and well-being, often requiring survivors to negotiate the many physical, psychological, social/relational, and cultural factors that impact psychosexual functioning. By embracing a sex-positive approach to conceptualization, assessment, and treatment, psychologists can b…
The effect of improving the thermal quality of cold housing on blood pressure and general health
OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of improving the thermal quality of housing on blood pressure (BP) and general health. DESIGN: A before and after study comparing the changes of the intervention with controls. SETTING: Four blocks of flats in the Easthall area of Easterhouse in Glasgow. PARTICIPANTS: Residents of the four blocks who agreed to participate. INTERVENTION: Two blocks of flats were upgraded from being cold, damp and mouldy to being co…
Predicting Sexual Decline and Dissatisfaction Among Older Adults
Results show the impact of several physical and mental health risk factors on the development of sexual unwellness in older adults. A gendered pattern also emerged, suggesting that women tend to be less sexually satisfied, as compared to their male peers, who tend to report sexual unwellness that is associated with individual health
Sexual Health and Well-Being After Cancer
Sexual quality of life after cancer is an integral component of well-being for many survivors. However, the experience of cancer presents significant challenges to sexual health and well-being, often requiring survivors to negotiate the many physical, psychological, social/relational, and cultural factors that impact psychosexual functioning. By embracing a sex-positive approach to conceptualization, assessment, and treatment, psychologists can b…
Somali Perspectives on Physical Activity
The findings laid the framework for subsequent program development and community engagement
A Comparison of Actual and Perceived Sexual Risk Among Older Adults
Sexual risk among older adults (OAs) is prevalent, though little is known about the accuracy of sexual risk perceptions. Thus, the aim was to determine the accuracy of sexual risk perceptions among OAs by examining concordance between self-reported sexual risk behaviors and perceived risk. Data on OAs aged 50 to 92 were collected via Amazon.com's Mechanical Turk. Frequency of sexual risk behaviors (past six months) were reported along with percei…
Content analysis of public opinion on sexual expression and dementia
PURPOSE: We examined public opinion of sexual expression and dementia to inform nursing home policy and practice. DESIGN AND METHODS: A content analysis was conducted on public comments (N=1194) posted in response to a New York Times article about a highly publicized legal case involving a husband engaging in sexual acts with his wife who had dementia, living in a nursing home. Researchers utilized constant comparative analysis to code the commen…
“At My Age … ”
Sexual wellness is integral to quality of life across the life span, despite ageist stereotypes suggesting sexual expression ends at midlife. However, conceptualizing sexual wellness in mid- and later life is complicated by a dysfunction-based narrative, lack of a sex-positive aging framework, and existing measures that are age irrelevant and limited in scope. This study aimed to address these limitations by providing a conceptualization of sexua…
Association of State Covid-19 Vaccine Mandates With Staff Vaccination Coverage and Staffing Shortages in US Nursing Homes
The findings of this cohort study suggest that state-level vaccine mandates were associated with increased staff vaccination coverage without increases in reported staffing shortages. Vaccination increases were largest when mandates had no test-out option and were also larger in Republican-leaning counties, which had lower mean baseline vaccination rates. These findings support the use of state mandates for booster doses for nursing home employee…
Covid-19 Vaccine Uptake Among Nursing Home Staff via Statewide Policy
Objectives. To examine whether COVID-19 vaccine mandates that allow a test-out exemption for nursing home staff are associated with increased staff vaccination rates in nursing homes. Methods. Using the National Healthcare Safety Network data, we conducted analyses to test trends over time in statewide staff vaccination rates between June 1, 2021, and August 29, 2021, in Mississippi, 4 adjacent states, and the United States overall. Results. COVI…
Intimate relationships in residential aged care
Intimacy contributes to our well-being and extends into older age, despite cognitive or physical impairment. However, the ability to enjoy intimacy and express sexuality is often compromised—or even controlled—when one moves into residential aged care. The aim of this study was to identify what factors influence senior residential aged care staff when they make decisions regarding resident intimate relationships and sexual expression. The study u…
The Healthy Aging Initiative (HAI)
Objective: We present the rationale, design, and methods for the Healthy Aging Initiative (HAI), a prospective longitudinal cohort study of older adults primarily residing in senior housing, aimed to identify and characterize factors associated with a prolonged healthspan in this population. Methods: The HAI, developed with input from experts at the Marcus Institute for Aging Research and informed by a pilot study, includes a community engaged re…
Medicine (9 works) · Psychology (6 works) · Gerontology (4 works) · Nursing (4 works) · Sexual function and dysfunction studies (4 works) · Clinical Psychology (3 works) · Geriatric Care and Nursing Homes (3 works) · Human sexuality (3 works) · Political science (3 works) · Public health (3 works)