Age/cohort differences in several aspects of the self-system were investigated utilizing a sentence completion paradigm. Eighty-eight adults over age sixty and one hundred eight adults under age forty served as subjects. Subjects were asked to complete 30 self-referent sentence stems which were pre-structured to elicit information from the self-system. Responses were subjected to a content analysis utilizing a coding system which contained concepts used by subjects in their self-representations. Contents were coded for dimensions conceptually related to Physical Health, Autonomy, Self-Evaluation, Depression, Spirituality, and Altruism. Frequencies of codings were counted and subjected to statistical analysis for performing age group comparisons.

Although research has shown that the complex constructs of intelligence and personality are necessarily intertwined, studies exploring this issue in elderly individuals are rare. The importance attached to this interface in older adults becomes particularly clear in light of the debate over the cause and extent of age-related decrements in cognitive performance as well as whether such losses can be ameliorated or not, especially given societal shifts toward increased life expectancies. The present study explored the basis for shifts in personality-ability relationships in adulthood by comparing two samples of older adults, one of which was assessed in 1975 (N = 102, M age = 68.4), and the second of which was assessed in 1995 (N = 100, M age = 72.0), and a sample of younger adults (N = 100, M age = 21.8), also assessed in 1995. Each participant was administered the Holtzman Inkblot Technique and the Gf-Gc Sampler, a measure of crystallized (Gc) and fluid (Gf) abilities. LISREL analyses of both age-related and historical shifts in personality-ability relationships suggested that not only were such shifts associated with cohort differences as reflected in factor loading (lambda) differences between the older samples and the younger sample, as well as between each of the older samples, but also that such connections were weaker among younger adults. These findings are important in revealing that sociocultural shifts in opportunities for continued cognitive growth influence the impact of noncognitive (personality) factors on intellectual functioning in later life. Limitations of the current study, implications of the results, and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Title: The impact of 3month exercise program of remedial physical education on selected parameters of the Senior Fitness Test. Objectives: The main task of the thesis was to find out whether physical fitness of seniors, after the 3month exercise can be improved program of remedial physical education. Methods: 16 women in the age of 60-82 years participated in the study. At the beginning and end of the program, they have been tested by following exercises of the Senior Fitness Test : 30- chair stand, Chair- sit- and reach, Back scratch, Foot and up go. Also, the test included standing on one leg. The exercise lessons were scheduled 1x for 12 weeks with the frequency once a week and contained elements of stretching, strengthening, coordinating exercise and relaxation. Results: The result showed that the majority (75%) of the tested woman improved strength of lower extremities evaluated by 30 chair stand. For tests on flexibility, results were unequivocal. More than 80 % of women has improved considerably in the combined test Foot up and go. In the assessment of the balance improvement was seen in 56 % of women. Keywords: Senior Fitness Test, seniors, fitness, old age

Researchers have reported a high prevalence of depression among older Hispanics in the United States when compared to other ethnic groups. Cultural variations in the perception of depression sometimes make it difficult to recognize the disorder resulting in older Hispanic patients not being diagnosed and not receiving appropriate treatment. The purpose of this study was to explore older Hispanics’ explanatory model of depression and identify culture-specific factors that may help in the recognition and treatment of depression. A mixed-method design that combined qualitative and quantitative methods was used. Fifty participants were interviewed using Kleinman’s Explanatory Models ethnographic approach with a vignette variation, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), and the Cross Cultural Measure of Acculturation (CCMA). The findings suggest that this group of older Hispanics did not recognize depression as an illness but rather as the result of life stressors and personal weaknesses. People who experience depressive symptoms were described as being crazy, bored, worried, or having a problem of the nerves. These culturally coded terms may confound diagnosis among many Hispanics who find depression an unacceptable and shameful condition. This cultural pattern seemed to prevail among low and high-acculturated individuals which may complicate the diagnosis of depression by health care providers. This study highlights the complexity and diversity of this group of older Hispanics’ conceptual model of depression. The results of this study will contribute to nursing care by providing additional information that will help professionals when working with Hispanic patients with depression. Findings expand our understanding of older Hispanics (high and low-acculturated, depressed and non-depressed) groups’ conceptualization of depression and can be used to inform the adaptation of culturally relevant approaches to better serve the Hispanic community in this country. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2013.

Key words: perspective taking, age differences, motivational trigger hypothesis, experimental manipulation / Moreover, in Experiment 2, with a distance manipulation, both younger and older adults showed impaired performance in emotion recognition. Findings from these two experiments supported the Motivational Trigger Hypothesis , such that the well-documented poor performance in perspective taking tasks of older adults might be due to a lack of motivation instead of a lack of ability to perform in laboratory settings. In daily contexts, especially with someone close to them, older adults might be more motivated to take others' perspective and thus perform better on the perspective-taking tasks. / There was a folk notion of increased perspective taking abilities with age, such that older adults should be better at understanding others' behavior and intention, and show greater empathy to others. However, empirical studies on older adults showed the reverse pattern. In a series of experiments, I investigated the phenomenon from a motivational perspective. In Experiment 1, I manipulated perceived closeness between participants and the experimenter in a faux pas recognition task, and in Experiment 2, I manipulated perceived closeness as well as distance between participants and the target in an emotion recognition task, to examine whether the experimental manipulations could influence participants' performance in the two perspective taking tasks. The results revealed that in the control condition without any experimental manipulation, the well-documented negative age effect was only replicated in both faux pas recognition and emotion recognition. However, in the closeness manipulation condition, older adults significantly enhanced their performance in both tasks, such that they now performed at a comparable level with younger adults; whereas younger adults did not show such enhancement effects. / Zhang, Xin. / Advisers: Helene Fung; Alan Wong. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 73-06, Section: B, page: . / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 67-92). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [201-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese.

Chan Bun Bun. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 63-67). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / English Abstract --- p.ii / Chinese Abstract --- p.iii / Acknowledgements --- p.iv / Table of Contents --- p.v / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Hong Kong Social Security System / Chapter 2.1 --- The Needs of Old Age Protection in Hong Kong --- p.3 / Chapter 2.2 --- Current Situation in Hong Kong --- p.4 / Chapter 2.3 --- Review of the Development of Old Age Protection in Hong Kong --- p.7 / Chapter 2.4 --- The MPF System in Hong Kong --- p.9 / Chapter 2.5 --- The Policy Issues of the MPF System --- p.12 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Singapore Social Security System / Chapter 3.1 --- The Needs Old Age Protection in Singapore --- p.18 / Chapter 3.2 --- The CPF System in Singapore --- p.20 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- The CPF in Singapore and the MPF in Hong Kong / Chapter 4.1 --- Reasons for Comparing the CFP in Singapore with the MPF in Hong Kong --- p.25 / Chapter 4.2 --- Comparing the CPF in Singapore with the MPF in Hong Kong --- p.26 / Chapter 4.3 --- Comparing the Impact of the MPF and the CPF on Aggregate Savings --- p.28 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Literature Review / Chapter 5.1 --- The Impact of Social Security Wealth on Aggregate Savingsin United States --- p.33 / Chapter 5.2 --- The Impact of Social Security Wealth on Aggregate Savingsin Other Countries --- p.38 / Chapter Chapter 6 --- The Theory --- p.42 / Chapter Chapter 7 --- The Empirical Set Up / Chapter 7.1 --- The Data --- p.49 / Chapter 7.2 --- The Model --- p.50 / Chapter 7.3 --- Method of Estimation --- p.53 / Chapter Chapter 8 --- Results Interpretation --- p.56 / Chapter Chapter 9 --- Conclusion --- p.61 / Bibliography --- p.63 / Data Appendix --- p.75

The purpose of this study was to investigate the reading comprehension abilities of those with mild and moderate dementia of the Alzheimer's type (DAT) and compare their performance to that of a sample of non-demented elderly. Thirty-eight male subjects were used, 20 non-demented elderly, nine mild DAT and nine moderate DAT. All were administered level B of the NRST. This test contains questions requiring three levels of inference: literal, translational, and high-level inference.

Prior to this investigation, there appeared to be no published research data available on tympanometric configurations obtained from an older adult population. This study was designed to examine tympanograms obtained from an otologically normal, elderly population. Forty individuals, ranging in age from 59 to 83 years, participated in this study. All had a negative history of middle ear pathology and had normal tympanic membranes as determined by otologic examination. From the eighty ears tested, fifty were used in this survey. Conductance and susceptance at 220 and 660 Hz were obtained at each ear and ranges for admittance were computed from these components. Additionally, acoustic reflex thresholds were obtained from this population. The results obtained indicate that the values for the measures of conductance and susceptance are comparable to those from young adult groups. The reflex thresholds are slightly higher in the older group because their hearing thresholds are not as acute as those found in younger populations. Finally a larger percentage of the older population than might be expected was found to have evidence of healed perforations which were not discovered during otoscopic examination. The present investigation demonstrated that additional normative data are neededin order that the otoadmittance meter be fully utilized with older adult populations.

This study enabled the development of a brief, clinically fesible screening tool for falls and injury risk identification in older community-dwelling adults through a range of methods that included a literature review, a Case Note Audit of 128 people attending Falls and Balance clinic, and group,processes (Nominal Group and Delphi Panel with 12 and 10 participants respectively). These methods focussed on developing specifications for the screening tool, selecting key modifiable risk factors and associated tests for both falls and injury and considering questions that would determine self-perception of falls risk, general health and balance. The range of methods and process of triangulation ensured content validity of the tool. / thesis (MPhysiotherapy)--University of South Australia, 2002.

Although footwear has been recognised as a risk factor for falls in older people, it remains unclear as to which features of shoes are beneficial or detrimental to balance. This project aimed to systematically investigate the effects of common shoe features, namely: an elevated heel, a soft sole, a hard sole, a flared sole, a bevelled heel, a high-collar and a tread sole, on balance and gait in older community-dwelling people. The experimental shoes were compared to standard shoes in three studies examining: (i) standing balance, leaning balance and stepping in 29 older people, (ii) centre of mass (COM)-base of support (BOS) margins, vertical and braking loading rates, and perceived shoe comfort and stability in 11 young and 15 older people walking on even and uneven surfaces, and (iii) temporal-spatial gait variables, pelvis acceleration, and gait termination in 10 young and 26 older people, on level, irregular and wet surfaces. Elevated heel shoes impaired overall performance in functional tests of balance and stepping. They were also perceived as lacking comfort and stability and led to a conservative walking pattern characterised by increased step width and double-support time, reduced braking and vertical loading rates and medio-lateral (ML) pelvis accelerations on various surfaces. Soft sole shoes increased lateral COM-BOS margin and step width, indicating reduced ML walking stability. When wearing these shoes, subjects had longer total stopping times and on the wet surface, smaller step lengths and shoe/floor angles at heel strike, suggesting a potential risk of slipping. When wearing high-collar shoes, subjects had better balance as demonstrated by small but significant increases in lateral COM-BOS margin, double-support time and step width, and decreases in ML pelvis accelerations on varying surfaces and in total stopping time on the wet surface. Shoes with hard, flared or tread soles or a bevelled heel did not affect balance. In conclusion, providing that they are fitted, have adequate fastening and perhaps a slip-resistant sole, shoes with a low square heel, a sole of medium hardness (shore A-40) and a high-collar provide the greatest stability for older people when walking on dry, wet and irregular surfaces.