While the hidden mixture transition distribution (HMTD) model is a powerful framework for the description, analysis, and classification of longitudinal sequences of continuous data, it is notoriously difficult to estimate because of the complexity of its solution space. In this paper, we explore how a new heuristic specifically developed for the HMTD performs compared to different standard optimization algorithms. This specific heuristic can be classified as a hill-climbing method, and different variants are proposed, including a jittering procedure to escape local maxima and measures to speed up the convergence.Different popular approaches are used for comparison, including PSO, SA, GA, NM, L-BFGS-B, and DE. The same HMTD model was optimized on different datasets and the results were compared in terms of both fit to the data and estimated parameters. Even if the complexity of the problem implies that no one algorithm can be considered as an overall best, our heuristic performed well in all situations, leading to useful solutions in terms of both fit and interpretability.

The interest of this study is on the one hand to understand if within the elderly population there are age differences in terms of positivity effect. On the other hand we test if perception of happiness and vulnerability are two independent systems. To test our hypotheses we used the Vivre / Leben / Vivere survey on a population of 65 years and older (N=4200), in Switzerland. Findings show that happiness depends on social and cultural norms while vulnerability on age effect. For happiness there are not age differences unlike vulnerability: the oldest age groups are less likely to report episodes of vulnerability during most of their life. L’intérêt de cette recherche est de comprendre comment les personnes âgées évaluent rétrospectivement leur passé de façon diversifiée. D’une part, nous cherchons à savoir si, au sein de la population âgée, il existe des différences d’âge concernant l’effet de positivité. D’autre part, nous nous demandons si les perceptions de bonheur et de vulnérabilité liées à des souvenirs répondent à deux processus différents de rappel. Pour tester nos hypothèses, nous avons utilisé l’enquête Vivre / Leben / Vivere menée auprès d’individus de 65 ans et plus vivant en Suisse (N=4200). Les résultats montrent que le bonheur dépend des normes culturelles et sociales alors que la vulnérabilité d’un effet d’âge, confirmant l’indépendance de ces deux processus de rappel. Par ailleurs, pour le bonheur, il n’existe pas de différences d’âge, alors que c’est le cas pour la vulnérabilité: les groupes les plus âgés ont globalement moins de probabilité d’indiquer des moments de vulnérabilité.

Background: Marital bereavement and separation or divorce are among the most stressful critical life events in later life. These events require a dissolution of social and emotional ties, adjustments in daily routine and changes in identity and perspectives for the future. After a normative grief or distress reaction, most individuals cope well with the loss. However, some develop a prolonged grief reaction. Internet-based self-help interventions have proved beneficial for a broad range of disorders, including complicated grief. Based on the task model and the dual-process model of coping with bereavement, we developed a guided internet-based self-help intervention for individuals who experienced marital bereavement, separation or divorce at least 6 months prior to enrolment. The intervention consists of 10 text-based self-help sessions and one supportive email a week. The primary purpose of this study is the evaluation of the feasibility and efficacy of the intervention compared with a waiting control group. The secondary purpose is to compare the effects in bereaved and separated participants. Furthermore, we aim to analyze other predictors, moderators and mediators of the outcome, such as age, psychological distress and intensity of use of the intervention. Methods: The design is a randomized controlled trial with a waiting control condition of 12 weeks and a 24-weeks follow-up. At least 72 widowed or separated participants will be recruited via our study website and internet forums. Primary outcomes are reductions in grief symptoms, depression and psychological distress. Secondary outcome measures are related to loneliness, satisfaction with life, embitterment and the sessions. Discussion: The trial will provide insights into the acceptance and efficacy of internet-based interventions among adults experiencing grief symptoms, psychological distress and adaptation problems in daily life after spousal bereavement, separation or divorce. Findings will add to existing knowledge by (1) evaluating an internet-based intervention specifically designed for spousal bereavement and its consequences; (2) testing whether this intervention is equally effective for individuals after separation or divorce; and (3) suggesting adaptations to improve the efficacy of the intervention, selective indication and adaptations for different needs.

This review paper investigates the potentially misleading effect of some social norms on life trajectories. Conformity to some gender norms related to the division of paid and family work becomes counterproductive for individuals who experience turning points in their life along the way. We present various empirical results mainly drawn from the Swiss National Centre of Competence in Research LIVES where conformity to social norms has detrimental effects on life trajectories. We conclude by stressing that the sensitizing concept of misleading norms contributes to a better understanding of vulnerability across the life course.