Results of longitudinal studies of intellectual abilities show significant individual variation in maintenance or decrement of such functions throughout adult development. The Life Complexity Inventory (LCI) was designed as a questionnaire to investigate those variables present in the day-to-day experience of adults that might relate either to stability or decline of intellectual ability. The LCI was completed by 140 subjects ranging in age from 40-88 years, whose intellectual and personality functioning had been measured in 1956, 1963 and again in 1970. Initial analysis of the data produced eight distinct environmental item clusters. Correlations in the expected direction were found between environmental cluster scores and scores on tests of cognitive function over three time periods. Subject types were obtained from the grouping of individuals by their cluster profiles. Results of the present investigation suggest that those individuals who manifest similar life styles also display similar ability patterns over time.

The purpose of this study was to investigate differential patterns of coping with the strain of providing care for an Alzheimer's patient among families of varying ethnic and cultural backgrounds. The sample of 85 women identified themselves as primary family caregivers for relatives with Alzheimer's disease. Subjects were classified by race (Black/White) and residence (rural/urban). The study examined differences in the use of various cognitive and behavioral coping strategies and differences in social support patterns. Analysis of data collected through structured interviews showed complex but significant differences in caregivers' coping patterns by race and area of residence. White caregivers attended support groups more frequently than did Blacks. Blacks reported more frequent use of cognitive strategies reframing the situation in positive terms and expressing determination to survive. Rural Blacks sought information about the disease or about services less frequently than did White or urban caregivers. Black caregivers had available, and used extensively, a broad range of informal supports. Of note was the important support of a deity perceived in a very personal way. Based on results of this study, it is suggested that ethnic and cultural differences in coping be considered in devising effective interventions for Alzheimer's family caregivers.Much recent research focuses on the strain and burden of family caregivers of relatives with Alzheimer's disease. Decidedly less attention has been given to the ways in which family members cope with demands of the caregiving experience.Recent studies suggest that the amount of strain family caregivers perceive is not correlated with the severity of Alzheimer's symptoms (Ory et al., 1985 ;Zarit & Zarit, 1982). Studies also show a broad range of variability in AUTHORS' NOTE:

Theoretical positions for and against a stability model for adult personality traits are examined. Results of a sequential study of 19 personality factors over a 7-year period and with participants ranging in age from 22 to 84 years suggest that stability within generations appears to be the rule, albeit combined with many differences between successive population cohorts and subject to transient secular trends. A typology of 13 possible models is offered to account for the different developmental trends observed for the various personality factors.

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Cohort-sequential analyses over a 7-year interval were conducted on measures from the Primary Mental Abilities Test and the Test of Behavioral Rigidity on a sample of 2,151 participants at first test (independent random samples study, IS) and 723 individuals who returned for retest after 7 years (repeated measurement study, RM). Data were examined for 7-year age intervals from 25 to 81 years, and cohort intervals from 1889 to 1938. Data sets were replicated for periods beginning in 1956 and 1963, respectively, Previous contentions of substantial plasticity in adult intellectual development were supported. Reliably demonstrable within cohort decrement occurred only late in life and not for all variables examined. Proportions of variance for ontogenetic change were generally smaller than for cohort differences. Estimated proportionate cumulative decrement at age 67 placed mean values below the range of average 25-year-olds only for Word Fluency (RM and IS) and for Inductive Reasoning and Space (IS study). By contrast, similar estimates of cohort differences cumulated over a time period equivalent to the age range from 25 to 67 place the mean level of our oldest cohort below the average range of the youngest cohort for most variables examined.