This study examined the effects of abilities as a young adult, an engaged lifestyle, personality, age, and health on continuity and change in intellectual abilities from early to late adulthood. A battery of measures, including a verbal and nonverbal intelligence test, was given to 326 Canadian army veterans. Archival data provided World War Two enlistment scores on the same intelligence test for this sample: Results indicated relative stability of intellectual scores across 40 years, with increases in vocabulary and decreases in arithmetic, verbal analogies, and nonverbal skills. Young adult intelligence was the most important determinant of older adult performance. Predictors for verbal intelligence were consistent with an engagement model of intellectual maintenance but also indicated the importance of introversion-extraversion and age. Nonverbal intelligence in late life was predicted by young adult nonverbal scores, age, health, and introversion-extraversion.
The hypothesis that individual differences in adult intellectual development reflect variation in life context and personality was examined in 132 World War II (WWII) veterans. Intelligence data from the Canadian Army M Test were available for 3 occasions, WWII, 1984-1986 (Int85), and 1989-1991 (Int90). Performance declined over the 45 years on 5 subtests but improved on the 6th, Vocabulary. Correlations between WWII and Int90 scores showed considerable stability of individual differences in intelligence over 45 years. Younger age predicted less decline over 45 years on all subtests; a more engaged lifestyle predicted less decline on most subtests, and better health and greater introversion predicted less decline on some subtests. Predictors of change since Int85 were similar to those for the whole period. Implications for theories of adult intellectual development are discussed.
This study investigated the hypothesis that older adults would show age-related reductions in the tendency to worry in both their retrospective accounts and through cross-sectional age comparisons with a sample of younger adults. We also sought to determine whether age differences would be evident in psychological processes associated with a tendency to worry in general adult samples (intolerance of uncertainty and beliefs in the functional value of worry). Support was found for the hypothesized age-related reduction in worry in both retrospective reports among the older adults and cross-sectional age comparisons. Older adults were also found to report less intolerance of uncertainty and
The hypothesis that psychosocial contextual factors contribute to developmental changes in memory was examined using 326 male World War II veterans. Availability of young adult intelligence scores made it possible to separate the contributions of contextual variables and age to maintenance of general intelligence from their direct contributions to performance on 4 memory tasks. Being younger, healthier, more educated, more introverted, more intellectually active, and more satisfied with social support predicted less intellectual decline and, indirectly, better memory performance. Age, personality, locus of control, and extent of social support directly contributed to performance on 1 or more memory tasks. Age contributions were consistent with Craik's (1986) proposed continuum of task demands for self-initiated effort. Possible elaborations of Craik's hypothesis to accommodate contextual variables are suggested.
The Revised Examination "M," a measure of intelligence, was readministered to 260 men approximately 40 years after they had received this test as World War II army recruits. Their average age and educational level was 64.7 years and Grade 8.7, respectively. Three sets of scores were compared: those obtained at the time of army enlistment; current scores obtained within the regular time limits of the test; and current scores obtained within double the test's regular time limits. The results indicated a reliable but minor decline in total score in the regular speeded condition and a reliable improvement over wartime total scores in the double-time condition. Slower performance did not account for the decline observed on the nonverbal cognitive tasks, particularly spatial problem-solving, but was associated with the decrements recorded for mathematical and verbal reasoning skills. Significant gains in score were observed on the measures of vocabulary and mechanical knowledge in the speeded condition, with further gains noted in the double-time extension. Test-retest correlation coefficients, in general, attested to the long-term stability of individual differences among members of the sample, irrespective of the direction of cognitive performance changes. Gains in the doubletime extension were associated with educational status but not with current age. Both age and educational level, in addition to early adult intellectual status, predicted current intellectual functioning. Finally, self-reported current activity level, as an indicator of personal lifestyle, was related both to early and to late adult intellectual ability.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.