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    Work, social support, and meaning in life in older adulthood
    (Springer, 2026-07-03) Smith J; Alpass F; Taylor J; Saei R
    Meaning in life (MIL) is associated with enhanced well-being but little is known about sources of MIL for older adults. As an increasing proportion of older adults are engaged in employment and volunteer roles, this study aimed to examine the associations between MIL, employment, and volunteering among older adults still working and transitioning to retirement. Additionally, the study sought to examine what it is about these roles that may facilitate MIL, specifically, whether giving social support would mediate the relationships between employment, volunteering, and MIL. This research was based on a large sample of community-dwelling older adults in Aotearoa New Zealand. It was a secondary data analysis primarily using linear hierarchical regression. While participation in paid employment was not associated with MIL, the provision of social support mediated the relationship between paid employment and MIL. Volunteering was associated with higher MIL among older adults and this relationship was also mediated by the provision of social support. Volunteering presents opportunities to provide support for others and may be particularly effective for enhancing MIL among older adults. Further research is needed to investigate how different aspects of employment relate to MIL in order to better understand how employment may be structured to contribute to MIL and how MIL might be promoted among older adults.
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    Interaction of novel hydrocolloids from indigenous New Zealand ferns with κ-carrageenan and low-acyl gellan gum
    (Elsevier Ltd, 2026-08-28) Han XY; Goh KKT; Waterland MR; Matia-Merino L; Pen FZW
    Growing demand for sustainable hydrocolloids has spurred the exploration of polysaccharides from New Zealand's diverse fern flora. This study investigates interactions between polysaccharides extracted from Sphaeropteris medullaris (mamaku gum, MG) and Parablechnum novae-zelandiae (kiokio gum, KG), with κ-carrageenan (κC) and low-acyl gellan (LAG), selected from a preliminary screening of commercial hydrocolloids. MG and KG are non-gelling anionic glucuronomannans exhibiting unusual shear-thickening behaviour, but their interactions with other polysaccharides remain unexplored. Mixtures were characterised using rheology, TPA, FTIR, cryo-SEM, syneresis, water-holding capacity (WHC) and freeze–thaw stability across different blend ratios, temperatures, ionic strengths, and pH values. Crude and purified forms of MG and KG impacted differently in these mixtures; κC and LAG gels containing crude fern gums were significantly firmer, with functionality dominated by endogenous ions. Conversely, κC and LAG gels containing purified fern gums were softer, heterogeneous and displayed micro-phase separation, which was exacerbated at pH 3 and pH 9. These findings are consistent with a segregative interaction resulting in a phase-separated gel network. From a formulation perspective, purified fern gums were able to modulate gel microstructure and functionality independently of ionic effects, offering advantages for ion-sensitive formulations. The LAG-purified MG blend also maintained its WHC after one freeze-thaw cycle, highlighting potential for frozen products. Overall, the distinct behaviour of crude and purified fern gums offers an adaptable approach to texture modification in mixed polysaccharide systems.
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