scholarly journals Web-Based Assessment of the Phenomenology of Autobiographical Memories in Young and Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 660
Author(s):  
Manila Vannucci ◽  
Carlo Chiorri ◽  
Laura Favilli
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Psychometric Properties ◽  
Full Range ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Assessment Methodology ◽  
Autobiographical Memories ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Memory Accuracy ◽  
Practical Usefulness

Autobiographical memories (ABMs) produce rich phenomenological experiences. Although few standardized and comprehensive measures of the phenomenology of ABMs have been developed, a web-based assessment of the full range of phenomenological properties is still missing. In the present study, we aimed to fill this gap and tested the psychometric properties of a web-based version of the Assessment of the Phenomenology of Autobiographical Memory (APAM) in a group of young and older adults. Specifically, taking advantage of the flexibility of web-based assessment methodology, we tested the rating consistency of APAM items, asking participants to rate the phenomenology of their ABMs with respect to seven cues, administered in one per day in seven different days. In each session, we also collected ratings of mood and arousal. Using linear mixed modeling (LMM), we could examine whether the phenomenology ratings differed with respect to age group while controlling for sex, age of the memory, arousal, mood, and specificity of the memory. Results revealed an adequate level of consistency of ratings in both young and older adults. Moreover, LMMs revealed a more intense experience of recollection and reliving (i.e., sensory and emotional) and a higher confidence in memory accuracy in older compared to younger adults. The theoretical and practical usefulness of a web-based assessment of the phenomenology of ABMs are discussed.

Regulation of Experienced and Anticipated Regret for Daily Decisions in Younger and Older Adults in a Swedish One-Week Diary Study

GeroPsych ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 233-241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pär Bjälkebring ◽  
Daniel Västfjäll ◽  
Boo Johansson
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Diary Study ◽  
Anticipated Regret ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Decision Regret ◽  
Diary Method ◽  
Regulation Strategies

Regret and regret regulation were studied using a weeklong web-based diary method. 108 participants aged 19 to 89 years reported regret for a decision made and a decision to be made. They also reported the extent to which they used strategies to prevent or regulate decision regret. Older adults reported both less experienced and anticipated regret compared to younger adults. The lower level of experienced regret in older adults was mediated by reappraisal of the decision. The lower level of anticipated regret was mediated by delaying the decision, and expecting regret in older adults. It is suggested that the lower level of regret observed in older adults is partly explained by regret prevention and regulation strategies.

The quality of self, social, and directive memories

2013 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 395-406 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole Alea ◽  
Mary Jane Arneaud ◽  
Sideeka Ali
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Older Adult ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Social Function ◽  
Autobiographical Memories ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Directive Function ◽  
Middle Aged Adults

The quality of functional autobiographical memories was examined in young, middle-aged, and older adult Trinidadians ( N = 245). Participants wrote about an event that served a self, social, and directive function, and reported on the memory’s quality (e.g., significance, vividness, valence, etc.). Across age groups, directive memories were the most negative, and social function memories were the most positive. Social function memories were also talked about most. Compared to younger adults, older adults’ functional memories, regardless of the type of function, were positive and talked about often, and middle-aged adults’ memories were significant and vivid. The discussion encourages researchers to continue to simultaneously consider both why humans remember so much of their life, and what they remember when doing so.

scholarly journals Age Group Differences in Response to Repeated Exposure to Laboratory Stress Tasks

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 772-772
Author(s):  
James Miller ◽  
Gloria Luong
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Negative Affect ◽  
Task Difficulty ◽  
Repeated Exposure ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Affective Experiences ◽  
Affect Reactivity ◽  
And Task

Abstract Research examining age differences in affect reactivity (i.e. how much affective experiences change in response to stressors) has produced mixed results, suggesting that there are areas of relative strength and weakness in regulatory processes across age-groups. The present study’s goals were to examine potential age-group differences in affect reactivity and subjective task-appraisals across repeated exposures to a psychosocial laboratory stressor. In the Health and Daily Experiences (HEADE) study, younger (18-35 years old; n=107) and older adults (60-90 years old; n=90) were exposed to the Trier Social Stress Test on three occasions in a laboratory setting over a five-day period. Current affective experiences and task-appraisals were assessed at each session using validated self-report scales, with current affective experiences measured at baseline and task periods to determine affect reactivity. Repeated measures ANOVA analyses were conducted to examine age-group differences in affect reactivity and task-appraisals across sessions. In support of our hypotheses, younger adults showed greater reductions in their negative affect reactivity over time compared to older adults [F(2, 390)= 8.18, p<.001]. Additionally, younger adults’ appraisals of task-difficulty decreased [F(2, 384)= 14.79, p<.001] and appraisals of task-performance increased [F(2,384)= 13.39, p<.001] across sessions, while older adults’ task-appraisals remained stable. Age-group differences in negative affect reactivity and task-difficulty appraisals were not evident for the first session and only emerged after repeated exposure to the stressors. These results highlight the importance of identifying age-related vulnerabilities in adapting to repeated stressors, with implications for designing effective interventions aimed at improving health and well-being for older adults.

scholarly journals Clinical Characteristics of Hospitalized Individuals Dying With COVID-19 by Age Group in Italy

2020 ◽  
Vol 75 (9) ◽  
pp. 1796-1800 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luigi Palmieri ◽  
Nicola Vanacore ◽  
Chiara Donfrancesco ◽  
Cinzia Lo Noce ◽  
Marco Canevelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Renal Failure ◽  
Older Patients ◽  
Clinical Phenotype ◽  
Cardiac Injury ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Respiratory Complications ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Respiratory Conditions ◽  
Extract Information

Abstract Background Aim of the present study is to describe characteristics of COVID-19-related deaths and to compare the clinical phenotype and course of COVID-19-related deaths occurring in adults (<65 years) and older adults (≥65 years). Method Medical charts of 3,032 patients dying with COVID-19 in Italy (368 aged < 65 years and 2,664 aged ≥65 years) were revised to extract information on demographics, preexisting comorbidities, and in-hospital complications leading to death. Results Older adults (≥65 years) presented with a higher number of comorbidities compared to those aged <65 years (3.3 ± 1.9 vs 2.5 ± 1.8, p < .001). Prevalence of ischemic heart disease, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, stroke, hypertension, dementia, COPD, and chronic renal failure was higher in older patients (≥65 years), while obesity, chronic liver disease, and HIV infection were more common in younger adults (<65 years); 10.9% of younger patients (<65 years) had no comorbidities, compared to 3.2% of older patients (≥65 years). The younger adults had a higher rate of non-respiratory complications than older patients, including acute renal failure (30.0% vs 20.6%), acute cardiac injury (13.5% vs 10.3%), and superinfections (30.9% vs 9.8%). Conclusions Individuals dying with COVID-19 present with high levels of comorbidities, irrespective of age group, but a small proportion of deaths occur in healthy adults with no preexisting conditions. Non-respiratory complications are common, suggesting that the treatment of respiratory conditions needs to be combined with strategies to prevent and mitigate the effects of non-respiratory complications.

Age Differences in what is Viewed and Remembered in Complex Conjunction Search

2009 ◽  
Vol 62 (5) ◽  
pp. 946-966 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carrick C. Williams ◽  
Rose T. Zacks ◽  
John M. Henderson
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Age Differences ◽  
Visual Recognition ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Tracking Data ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Fixation Durations ◽  
Search Patterns ◽  
Similar Search ◽  
Target Memory

Older and younger adults searched arrays of 12 unique real-world photographs for a specified object (e.g., a yellow drill) among distractors (e.g., yellow telephone, red drill, and green door). Eye-tracking data from 24 of 48 participants in each age group showed generally similar search patterns for the younger and older adults but there were some interesting differences. Older adults processed all the items in the arrays more slowly than the younger adults (e.g., they had longer fixation durations, gaze durations, and total times), but this difference was exaggerated for target items. We also found that older and younger adults differed in the sequence in which objects were searched, with younger adults fixating the target objects earlier in the trial than older adults. Despite the relatively longer fixation times on the targets (in comparison to the distractors) for older adults, a surprise visual recognition test revealed a sizeable age deficit for target memory but, importantly, no age differences for distractor memory.

scholarly journals Age Differences in Elder Abuse Harm and Effective Services Offered by Adult Protective Services

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 669-670
Author(s):  
Pi-Ju Liu ◽  
Zachary Hass ◽  
Karen Conrad ◽  
Sara Stratton ◽  
Kendon Conrad
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Age Differences ◽  
Elder Abuse ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Protective Services ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Adult Protective Services ◽  
Effective Interventions ◽  
Type Of Abuse

Abstract In this study, abuse, exploitation, and neglect (ANE) harm was measured by type of abuse using standardized items from the Identification, Services, and Outcomes (ISO) Matrix before Adult Protective Services (APS) interventions (pretest) and after APS interventions (posttest). Change scores from 1,472 older adults (average age 78-year-old; 57% female) and 591 younger adults (average age 53-year-old; 46% female) served by APS during the six months showed reduction of harm using posttest minus pretest. Nonetheless, older adult’s financial abuse harm (pretest=2.2, posttest=1.5) was higher than younger adults’ (pretest=1.5, posttest=1.2), while young adults scored higher in harm on all other types of abuse. Effective interventions differ by age group and by type of abuse, and will be discussed in detail. Results demonstrate the importance to consider vulnerable adult’s age and the etiology of abuse before implementing the services needed to effectively address ANE harm.

Associative learning-related activity within and between the hippocampus, basal ganglia, and prefrontal cortex: Effects of age and learning stage

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenna Merenstein ◽  
Jessica R. Petok ◽  
Ilana J. Bennett
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Basal Ganglia ◽  
Associative Learning ◽  
Early Learning ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Related Activity ◽  
Younger Adults

Healthy aging is accompanied by declines in our ability to learn associations between events without awareness, termed implicit associative learning (IAL). Previous functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have attributed these learning deficits in older adults to differential engagement of the hippocampus, basal ganglia, and prefrontal cortex relative to younger adults. But it remains unclear whether there are also age group differences in how these brain regions coordinate learning of associations over time. Here, we acquired fMRI data while 28 younger (20.8 ± 2.3 years) and 22 older (73.6 ± 6.8 years) healthy adults completed the Triplets Learning Task, in which the location of two cues predicted the location of a target with high (HF) or low (LF) frequency. Results revealed significant age group differences in learning as smaller difference in reaction time to HF versus LF triplets in older relative to younger adults, and in the recruitment of hippocampal and prefrontal regions during early learning. Moreover, learning-related activity was significantly related among hippocampal, basal ganglia, and prefrontal regions for both age groups, although younger adults exhibited stronger hippocampal-basal ganglia interactions during early learning whereas older adults showed stronger prefrontal-hippocampal interactions during late learning. Thus, age-related declines in the ability to learn implicit associations may result from both differential engagement of and coordination between these brain regions, which are traditionally thought to comprise separate learning systems.

scholarly journals Age Group Differences in Household Accident Risk Perceptions and Intentions to Reduce Hazards

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. 2237 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Morgan ◽  
John Reidy ◽  
Tahira Probst
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Safety Information ◽  
Personal Control ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Risk Attitudes ◽  
Accident Risk ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Response Efficacy

Very little is known about the extent to which seemingly vulnerable younger and older adults appraise household risks and relatedly whether safety information focused on raising risk awareness influences intentions to reduce hazards in the home. The present study assessed age differences in accident experience, risk attitudes, household accident risk perceptions, comparative optimism, personal control, efficacy judgements, and intentions to remove household hazards. It also examined the predictors of these intentions. Thirty-eight younger adults (aged 18 to 25) and forty older adults (aged 65 to 87) completed study booklets containing all measures. There were significant age group differences for all accident experience and risk-related variables. Younger adults experienced more accidents, had riskier attitudes, and had significantly lower cognitive risk perceptions (i.e., they were less likely to be injured due to a household accident). They also had lower affective risk perceptions (i.e., they were less worried) about their accident risk and perceived more personal control over the risk compared with older adults. Young adults were comparatively optimistic about their risk while older adults were pessimistic. Older adults had higher response efficacy and intentions to reduce hazards in the home. Only worry, response efficacy, and risk attitudes predicted intention, however, these relationships were not moderated by age or efficacy appraisal. Although tentative theoretical and practical implications are presented, further research is required in order to better understand the objective and subjective risk associated with household accidents, and to determine the factors that may improve safety, particularly for those most vulnerable.

Prevalence and Covariates of Subjective Forgetfulness in a Normal Population in the Netherlands

1997 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 207-221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rudolf W. H. M. Ponds ◽  
Kees J. A. M. Commissaris ◽  
Jellemer Jolles
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
The Netherlands ◽  
Normal Population ◽  
Emotional Problems ◽  
Subjective Health ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Large Sample ◽  
Gender And Education ◽  
Age Range

In this study we examined the prevalence and covariates of forgetfulness in a large sample of almost 2,000 subjects in the age range twenty-four to eighty-six years. Nearly 40 percent of the participants considered themselves to be forgetful. There was a systematic increase in the prevalence of forgetfulness with age, from 29 percent in the young age group to 52 percent in the oldest age group. Forgetfulness was not considered to be a serious problem in terms of perceived hindrance and worry by most subjects, independent of their age. Age, depression, and subjective health (especially complaints about vitality) acted as covariates of forgetfulness. Gender and education had no effect on the prevalence of forgetfulness. The younger adults ascribed their forgetfulness more to potentially reversible and manageable memory-extrinsic causes such as tension and emotional problems, whereas the older adults mentioned less manageable and more or less irreversible memory-intrinsic causes such as aging more often.

scholarly journals Older Adults’ Engagement in Cognitively Stimulating Activities Prior to the Pandemic Predicts Loneliness

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 309-310
Author(s):  
Lilian Azer ◽  
Isaac Quintanilla Salinas ◽  
Esra Kürüm ◽  
Leah Ferguson ◽  
Elizabeth Davis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Executive Functions ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Cognitive Learning ◽  
Subjective Cognitive Decline ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Loneliness, which may be more prevalent in older than younger adults, may lead to increased subjective cognitive decline and cognitive impairment may in turn predict perceived loneliness. COVID-19 physical distancing restrictions may exacerbate perceived loneliness, especially that experienced by older adults. The present study investigated whether self-reported cognitive abilities (i.e., executive functions) would predict loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic. Younger (YA; n = 136, 18-35 years), middle-aged (MA; n = 126, 36-54 years), and older (OA; n = 171, 55-88 years) adults completed questionnaires assessing self-reported executive functions (EF) and perceived loneliness using the BRIEF-A and UCLA Loneliness scale respectively. Forty-nine of the 171 older participants partially completed a cognitive learning intervention, which has previously been found to increase EF. In the current study, age group did not significantly predict perceived loneliness. However, OA who participated in the prior intervention reported less loneliness than those who did not participate in the intervention. Additionally, OA who participated in the intervention and self-reported worse EF during the current study, also reported feeling lonelier than adults who did not participate in the intervention. Although results from our prior research found most OA who participated in the intervention improved their EF, the results from the current study suggest that it left them more susceptible to the negative effects of physical distancing restrictions if they had lower self-reported EF during the pandemic. Decreased engagement, real or perceived, in cognitively stimulating activities due to the pandemic strengthens the relationship between lower self-reported EF and perceived loneliness.

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