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Articles 1 - 13 of 13
Full-Text Articles in Psychology
Fantasia On A Theme Of Purpose: Using A Music-Guided Scribble Technique To Support Meaning-Making In Older Adult Retiree Musicians, Sophia R. Smith
Fantasia On A Theme Of Purpose: Using A Music-Guided Scribble Technique To Support Meaning-Making In Older Adult Retiree Musicians, Sophia R. Smith
Art Therapy | Master's Theses
Within the population of older adults, overall well-being corresponds with the ability to self-actualize and seek meaning, but age-related changes combined with ageism and isolation can negatively impact this capacity to maintain a sense of purpose, especially following retirement. It may be that retired musicians are especially vulnerable to this experience later in life due to a loss of the primary method of creative engagement and community that is facilitated by musical performance in a group setting. Integrating phenomenological and ethnographic approaches, this study utilized a qualitative design to understand how music-guided art-making incorporating the scribble technique could support a …
Let's Get Physical: Exploring The Socioemotional Motivators Of Group Exercise For Older Adults, Tessneem S. Hasan, Alyssa R. Minton, Jason Snyder, Joseph A. Mikels
Let's Get Physical: Exploring The Socioemotional Motivators Of Group Exercise For Older Adults, Tessneem S. Hasan, Alyssa R. Minton, Jason Snyder, Joseph A. Mikels
DePaul Discoveries
Approximately 75% of active adults in the U.S. do not meet the recommended levels of overall physical activity (CDC, 2021a). Given the beneficial impact of physical activity on health, an 8-week long, evidence-based group exercise program—Fit & Strong! (F&S!)—was created to improve the health of older adults (Hughes et al., 2004, 2006, 2010). Despite the clear physical benefits of F&S!, it remains unknown what motivates F&S! participants to initially participate in the program and also throughout the program. Drawing from core notions of socioemotional selectivity theory (SST; Carstensen, 2006), research has found that older adults are highly motivated to exercise …
The Influence Of Subjective Socioeconomic Status On Executive Functions In Middle-Aged And Older Adults, Yu Ping Wong, Hwajin Yang
The Influence Of Subjective Socioeconomic Status On Executive Functions In Middle-Aged And Older Adults, Yu Ping Wong, Hwajin Yang
Research Collection School of Social Sciences
Subjective socioeconomic status (SES) has been shown to influence both psychological and biological outcomes. However, less is known about whether its influence extends to cognitive outcomes. We examined the relation between subjective SES and executive functions (EF)—a set of cognitive control processes—and its underlying mechanisms. By analyzing a nationally representative cohort of middle-aged and older adults (age 40–80) from the MIDUS 2 National Survey and Cognitive Project, we tested a serial mediation model with sense of control and health as sequential mediators. Using structural equation modeling, we found that subjective SES is indirectly related to EF via sense of control …
The Effect Of State/Trait Rumination On A Prospective Memory Task Delivered Remotely Using A Real-Time And Repeated Approach, Iulia Niculescu
The Effect Of State/Trait Rumination On A Prospective Memory Task Delivered Remotely Using A Real-Time And Repeated Approach, Iulia Niculescu
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Background. Prospective memory (PM) refers to the intention to perform a future task held in memory that is executed without any explicit prompts. PM may be negatively impacted by depression, but the mechanisms that drive this association remain unclear. One idea is that rumination increases the frequency of task-irrelevant thoughts, depleting attentional capacity, and thereby reducing PM accuracy and increasing response times. To date, no studies have examined the effects of state and trait rumination on PM using online testing to collect real-time data over time. Objectives. To examine the effect of (1) state and (2) trait rumination on a …
Cognitive Barriers To Covid-19 Vaccine Uptake Among Older Adults, Jonathan L. Chia, Andree Hartanto
Cognitive Barriers To Covid-19 Vaccine Uptake Among Older Adults, Jonathan L. Chia, Andree Hartanto
Research Collection School of Social Sciences
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in tremendous loss of life. As of late-July 2021, there have been more than 191 million confirmed cases and over 4.1 million deaths recorded (1). Although most nations have developed some competency in COVID-19 containment (2–4), there are new challenges. The continual spread of COVID-19 has resulted in new variants (5–7). These new variants are posited to have a significantly higher transmissibility (8–10), with higher fatality rates (11, 12).
Early Indicators Of Cognitive Dysfunction: The Role Of Mild Behavioral Impairment, Hillary J. Rouse
Early Indicators Of Cognitive Dysfunction: The Role Of Mild Behavioral Impairment, Hillary J. Rouse
USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations
Older age is associated with an increased risk for cognitively impairing diseases such as dementia. Despite significant research to find ways to cure this disease, there has been little success. However, a critical need when an intervention is discovered is a need to find ways to identify people who are at the greatest risk of developing dementia earlier in the disease process so that interventions can be implemented at that time. This could potentially lessen their risk or delay when they are diagnosed. Using longitudinal data from the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center (NACC), the aims of this current dissertation were …
Comparing Executive Functions In Dancers Versus Aerobic Exercisers: A Study On Older Adults, Jai S. Ravipati
Comparing Executive Functions In Dancers Versus Aerobic Exercisers: A Study On Older Adults, Jai S. Ravipati
Undergraduate Honors Theses
Many older adults may experience cognitive decline with aging, and with a rising aging population it is important to investigate interventions that improve cognitive functions. The purpose of this study was to assess differences in executive functioning between older adult dancers and older adult aerobic exercisers. Given that dance involves the use of executive functions, in addition to engaging in aerobic exercise, older adult dancers were expected to score higher on the executive functioning tasks than the older adult aerobic exercisers. Using the Cambridge Brain Sciences Battery to assess executive functioning, this study sought to compare older adults, 50 years …
Perception Of Mode, Rhythm, And Contour In Unfamiliar Melodies: Effects Of Age And Experience, Andrea R. Halpern, James C. Bartlett, W. Jay Dowling
Perception Of Mode, Rhythm, And Contour In Unfamiliar Melodies: Effects Of Age And Experience, Andrea R. Halpern, James C. Bartlett, W. Jay Dowling
Andrea Halpern
We explored the ability of older (60-80 years old) and younger (18-23 years old) musicians and nonmusicians to judge the similarity of transposed melodies varying on rhythm, mode, and/or contour (Experiment 1) and to discriminate among melodies differing only in rhythm, mode, or contour (Experiment 2). Similarity ratings did not vary greatly among groups, with tunes differing only by mode being rated as most similar. In the same/different discrimination task, musicians performed better than nonmusicians, but we found no age differences. We also found that discrimination of major from minor tunes was difficult for everyone, even for musicians. Mode is …
Memory Deficits In Older Adults: Evaluating Spaced Retrieval With Multiple Probe Techniques, Christopher Walmsley
Memory Deficits In Older Adults: Evaluating Spaced Retrieval With Multiple Probe Techniques, Christopher Walmsley
Dissertations
Difficulties in recognizing and remembering the names of individuals are a common behavioral symptom of major neurocognitive disorder. A number of behavioral strategies have been proposed to improve memory deficits, including spaced retrieval, an intervention that emphasizes delayed recall of target information. Unfortunately, many of the studies that report beneficial effects of spaced retrieval use a very limited range of outcome measures, thus calling into question the magnitude and generality of any reported memory improvement. This study reports on the impact of spaced retrieval using four older adults with cognitive impairment living in an assisted living facility. All participants demonstrated …
Exploring The Relationship Between Physical Activity And Everyday Cognitive Function In Older Adults: Within- And Between- Person Variability, Christine Haley
Exploring The Relationship Between Physical Activity And Everyday Cognitive Function In Older Adults: Within- And Between- Person Variability, Christine Haley
USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations
Research suggests that physical activity may play a role in preserving cognitive function in older adulthood. However, the exact nature, direction, and magnitude of observed associations remain unclear. The current study utilized a microlongitudinal design to repeatedly assess cognitive function and physical activity across five days. Two studies examined relationships between physical activity, physical fitness, and cognitive function among community-dwelling older adults. The first study examined associations between baseline performance in a measure of everyday cognition and multiple measures of physical activity and physical fitness. Bivariate analyses revealed that objectively measured physical activity of moderate-to-vigorous intensity, repeated chair stand time …
Measures Of Social Cognition In The Laboratory And Real World: Towards Temporal Dynamics Of Implicit Other-Regard, Danielle Tucci
Measures Of Social Cognition In The Laboratory And Real World: Towards Temporal Dynamics Of Implicit Other-Regard, Danielle Tucci
Scripps Senior Theses
Social cognition is a fundamental aspect of human experience that enables us to have relationships with and understanding of other people. Social relationships have been shown to mitigate cognitive decline in old age and benefit cognitive functioning, and the social interaction on which these relationships rely requires an extensive network of cognitive processes, and by extension neural systems, that have not, as of yet, been widely studied in older adults. Nor has the function of these systems been tied to social relationships in the real world. Here, I will compare self-reports of real-world quality and extent of social networks with …
Psycho-Social Effects Of A Brain-Training Program Among Healthy Older Adults, Desma Hurley, M. Jean Turner, William C. Bailey
Psycho-Social Effects Of A Brain-Training Program Among Healthy Older Adults, Desma Hurley, M. Jean Turner, William C. Bailey
Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences
Grounded in cognitive neuroscience and social exchange theory, this research evaluated the relationship between changes in cognitive functioning and two psycho-social dimensions of life among healthy adults over the age of 70 (N=12). Specific psycho-social dimensions examined were social interaction and depression. Six females and six males participated in the study. All were white, college-educated individuals residing in a life-care residential retirement community. The participants used the Posit Science® Brain Fitness Program™, an auditory-based computer training program that improves memory and speed of processing, for forty hours over an eight-week period. Pre- and post-tests related to social interaction and depressive …
Perception Of Mode, Rhythm, And Contour In Unfamiliar Melodies: Effects Of Age And Experience, Andrea R. Halpern, James C. Bartlett, W. Jay Dowling
Perception Of Mode, Rhythm, And Contour In Unfamiliar Melodies: Effects Of Age And Experience, Andrea R. Halpern, James C. Bartlett, W. Jay Dowling
Faculty Journal Articles
We explored the ability of older (60-80 years old) and younger (18-23 years old) musicians and nonmusicians to judge the similarity of transposed melodies varying on rhythm, mode, and/or contour (Experiment 1) and to discriminate among melodies differing only in rhythm, mode, or contour (Experiment 2). Similarity ratings did not vary greatly among groups, with tunes differing only by mode being rated as most similar. In the same/different discrimination task, musicians performed better than nonmusicians, but we found no age differences. We also found that discrimination of major from minor tunes was difficult for everyone, even for musicians. Mode is …