Adaptive autobiographical memory in younger and older adults: The indirect association of integrative and instrumental reminiscence with depressive symptoms

Guided by the communicative ecology model of successful aging (CEMSA), this study examined how older adults’ and their romantic partners’ age-related communication indirectly predicts older adults’ perceptions of aging well, depressive symptoms, and alcohol use disorder (AUD) symptoms, via aging efficacy. Older adults were profiled as engaged, bantering, and disengaged agers. Romantic partners were profiled as engaged, bantering–high health, disengaged, and gloomy agers. Bantering older adults, disengaged older adults, and older adults with disengaged partners reported lower perceptions of aging well and more depressive symptoms, via lower aging efficacy (relative to engaged older adults and older adults with engaged partners). Also relative to engaged older adults, disengaged older adults reported more AUD symptoms, via lower aging efficacy. The indirect association involving AUD symptoms suggests that the CEMSA’s boundary conditions might be expanded to include more objective variants of successful aging. Results also suggest the merit of future family studies on how age-related communication might predict successful aging.

Download Full-text

Depressive Symptoms, omega-6:omega-3 Fatty Acids, and Inflammation in Older Adults

Yearbook of Anesthesiology and Pain Management ◽

10.1016/s1073-5437(08)71001-5 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 2008 ◽

pp. 273-274

Author(s):

M.F. Roizen

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Fatty Acids ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Omega 3 Fatty Acids ◽

Omega 3 ◽

Omega 6

Download Full-text

Poor Acceptance of the Past is Related to Depressive Symptoms in Older Adults

GeroPsych ◽

10.1024/1662-9647/a000227 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 33 (4) ◽

pp. 246-251

Author(s):

Gozde Cetinkol ◽

Gulbahar Bastug ◽

E. Tugba Ozel Kizil

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Regression Analysis ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Death Anxiety ◽

Geriatric Depression ◽

Ego Integrity ◽

The Past ◽

Depressed Group ◽

Total Death ◽

The Relationship

Abstract. Depression in older adults can be explained by Erikson’s theory on the conflict of ego integrity versus hopelessness. The study investigated the relationship between past acceptance, hopelessness, death anxiety, and depressive symptoms in 100 older (≥50 years) adults. The total Beck Hopelessness (BHS), Geriatric Depression (GDS), and Accepting the Past (ACPAST) subscale scores of the depressed group were higher, while the total Death Anxiety (DAS) and Reminiscing the Past (REM) subscale scores of both groups were similar. A regression analysis revealed that the BHS, DAS, and ACPAST predicted the GDS. Past acceptance seems to be important for ego integrity in older adults.

Download Full-text

Interindividual Differences in Cognitive Functioning Are Associated with Autobiographical Memory Retrieval Specificity in Older Adults

GeroPsych ◽

10.1024/1662-9647/a000219 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 33 (1) ◽

pp. 15-29 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sarah Peters ◽

Signy Sheldon

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Functioning ◽

Autobiographical Memory ◽

Memory Retrieval ◽

Cognitive Status ◽

Specific Information ◽

Generation Task ◽

Interindividual Differences ◽

Retrieval Cues ◽

Contextual Support

Abstract. We examined whether interindividual differences in cognitive functioning among older adults are related to episodic memory engagement during autobiographical memory retrieval. Older adults ( n = 49, 24 males; mean age = 69.93; mean education = 15.45) with different levels of cognitive functioning, estimated using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), retrieved multiple memories (generation task) and the details of a single memory (elaboration task) to cues representing thematic or event-specific autobiographical knowledge. We found that the MoCA score positively predicted the proportion of specific memories for generation and episodic details for elaboration, but only to cues that represented event-specific information. The results demonstrate that individuals with healthy, but not unhealthy, cognitive status can leverage contextual support from retrieval cues to improve autobiographical specificity.

Download Full-text

Analysis of Self-Concept in Older Adults in Different Contexts

European Journal of Psychological Assessment ◽

10.1027/1015-5759.20.4.262 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 20 (4) ◽

pp. 262-274 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Manuel de Gracia Blanco ◽

Josep Garre Olmo ◽

María Marcó Arbonès ◽

Pilar Monreal Bosch

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Nursing Home ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

External Validity ◽

Aging Process ◽

Well Being ◽

Self Esteem ◽

Self Concept ◽

Self Perceptions ◽

Discriminatory Capacity

Summary: Self-concept is a construct consisting of a group of specific self-perceptions that are hierarchically organized. Age-associated changes of self-concept are related to the individual's perception of the changes occurring throughout the aging process. The authors examined external validity and internal consistency of an instrument that has been developed to assess self-concept in older adults and examined self-concept's characteristics in two different contexts. Results confirm the multidimensionality of the scale and show a satisfactory external validity, indicating good discriminatory capacity. Findings support the hypothesis that older people who live in a nursing home have a poor self-esteem, self-concept, and psychological well-being and have a greater presence of depressive symptoms than people who live in their own home.

Download Full-text