Task control and cognitive abilities of self and spouse in collaboration in middle-aged and older couples.

Abstract

Collaborative problem solving may be used by older couples to optimize cognitive functioning, with some suggestion that older couples exhibit greater collaborative expertise. The study explored age differences in 2 aspects of collaborative expertise: spouses' knowledge of their own and their spouse's cognitive abilities and the ability to fit task control to these cognitive abilities. The participants were 300 middle-aged and older couples who completed a hypothetical errand task. The interactions were coded for control asserted by husbands and wives. Fluid intelligence was assessed, and spouses rated their own and their spouse's cognitive abilities. The results revealed no age differences in couple expertise, either in the ability to predict their own and their spouse's cognitive abilities or in the ability to fit task control to abilities. However, gender differences were found. Women fit task control to their own and their spouse's cognitive abilities; men only fit task control to their spouse's cognitive abilities. For women only, the fit between control and abilities was associated with better performance. The results indicate no age differences in couple expertise but point to gender as a factor in optimal collaboration.

Remembering and retelling stories in individual and collaborative contexts

“…Study 2 showed that older married spouses' levels of story recall were similar to those of younger married spouses. This result indirectly supported the notion that, with interactive experience, collaborators might coordinate their joint cognitive efforts, enhancing their performance and avoiding some inhibiting effects (Berg et al, 2007; Engeström, 1992; Garrod & Pickering, 2004; Gould, Kurzman, & Dixon, 1994; Johansson et al, 2000; Wegner, Giuliano, & Hertel, 1985). However, other research with young adult friends (Andersson & Rönnberg, 1995) and older couples (Gould et al, 2002) has produced inconsistent results.…”

“…Future research should examine the potential mnemonic function of positive but ancillary elaborative statements. Conceivably, contextualizing the story with reasonable and interesting inferences could be based on common experience (Berg et al, 2007) and serve a motivational or strategic purpose during joint recall episodes (Gould et al, 1994). …”

“…Fifth, our story recall tasks may have underestimated the influence of collaborative experience in memory. Although sharing stories and news articles may be a common occurrence for collaborating adults, retelling a shared event or working together on everyday problems could be even more common (Berg et al, 2007) or practical in everyday life. Further research cataloging the various tasks and actual collaborative processes of everyday life is needed.…”

“…However, the empirical evidence thus far regarding the veridicality of this belief is inconclusive (e.g. Berg et al, 2007; Gould, Osborn, Krein, & Mortenson, 2002; Margrett & Marsiske, 2002; Strough & Margrett, 2002). One possible reason is that individuals' beliefs about collaboration may include more aspects or factors of the everyday collaboration experience and performance than are typically modelled or measured in collaborative cognition experiments.…”

Conflict and collaboration in middle-aged and older couples: I. Age differences in agency and communion during marital interaction.

“…Hence, assessment of perceptions of spouse dominance and actual controlling behavior could further clarify age differences during disagreement. Collaboration also involves directiveness and asserting control (i.e., dominance) as well as cooperation (i.e., submission) (Berg et al, 2007), underscoring the relevance of the IPC for this marital context.…”