Thesis--PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references.

ABSTRACT The relationship between subjective age identity and ideal age, as measured by the Subjective Age Identity Scale (Hubley, 2004), and personality domains and facets, as measured by the NEO-PI-R (Costa & McCrae, 1992), was investigated in a sample of 210 adults ages 19 to 78. Subjective age and ideal age scores were regressed, using multiple standard regressions, on the NEO-PI-R domains and facets, respectively. Results indicated that 22% of the variance in subjective age identity scores was explained by personality domains whereas 27% was explained by personality facets. Specifically, two personality domains (Openness to Experience and Neuroticism) and one personality facet (Aesthetics) made significant unique contributions to the explained variance in subjective age scores. Very little variance in ideal age scores was explained by personality domains and facets (less than 10%). One domain (Openness to Experience) and two facets (Vulnerability to Stress and Values) made significant unique contributions to the explained variance in the ideal age scores. These findings are examined in the context of the previous research on the relationship between personality and subjective age and the importance of conducting both domain and facet level analyses when using the NEO-PI-R is discussed. Implications of the present findings for counselling and clinical work with persons facing age role transitions or other age related concerns (e.g., negative attitudes towards aging) are highlighted.

A pre-test, post-test, randomized control study (n=78) was conducted to test whether participation in Stay on Your Feet (SOYF), a falls prevention program for community-dwelling older adults, improved participants’ falls-related self-efficacy and balance. The Activities Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale (Powell & Myers, 1995) was used to measure falls-related self-efficacy and the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test (Podsiadlo & Richardson, 1991) was used to measure balance. Participants in both the intervention and control groups scored at the higher end of the ABC Scale (range 0-100) at baseline (mean 76.78 ± 18.91 and 82.46 ± 18.27 respectively) and at follow-up (mean 75.01 ± 19.51 and 84.10 ± 12.49 respectively), suggesting participants in this study were already fairly confident in their ability to manage daily activities without losing their balance. TUG times at baseline and follow-up testing were low suggesting participants had good balance. The SOYF program did not meet its intended objectives of improving falls-related self-efficacy and balance for participants who received the program. Recommendations for changes to future SOYF programming include targeting older adults with a history of falls or identified falls risk factors. The SOYF program was not effective for this study group; however, it may work for older adults at higher-risk for falls. / Thesis (Master, Nursing) -- Queen's University, 2007-09-27 19:47:26.195

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To date very few studies have examined the difference in driving patterns between winter and non-winter driving and those that have, have primarily used self-report. The purpose of this study was to determine if there were changes in trip distance between winter/non-winter and inclement/non-inclement driving in older adults using a sub-set of Candrive participants. Candrive is a longitudinal study examining the everyday driving patterns and habits of older drivers. Participants were recruited from seven different sites in Canada (Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, Hamilton, Thunder Bay, Winnipeg, and Victoria). In total 279 participants (of which 248 were kept for analyses of City Only Trips) were included for analysis, almost 50% were female, with an average age at enrolment of 77.5 ± 5.2 years. A total of 377,464 trips were taken on 866 different days. It was found that there was a 7% decrease in trip distance during winter when controlling for day and site when examining all trips taken by older drivers. In addition, there was a 1% decrease in trip distance during winter and a 5% increase in trip distance during rain when compared to no precipitation when controlling for precipitation type (or winter respectively), day, and site, when only looking at trips in the city. There was a minimal (albeit significant) change in trip distance associated with both winter and inclement weather conditions, suggesting that older drivers may not be adjusting their driving patterns during these conditions as much as was previously thought based on the self-report literature.

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ABSTRACT The relationship between subjective age identity and ideal age, as measured by the Subjective Age Identity Scale (Hubley, 2004), and personality domains and facets, as measured by the NEO-PI-R (Costa & McCrae, 1992), was investigated in a sample of 210 adults ages 19 to 78. Subjective age and ideal age scores were regressed, using multiple standard regressions, on the NEO-PI-R domains and facets, respectively. Results indicated that 22% of the variance in subjective age identity scores was explained by personality domains whereas 27% was explained by personality facets. Specifically, two personality domains (Openness to Experience and Neuroticism) and one personality facet (Aesthetics) made significant unique contributions to the explained variance in subjective age scores. Very little variance in ideal age scores was explained by personality domains and facets (less than 10%). One domain (Openness to Experience) and two facets (Vulnerability to Stress and Values) made significant unique contributions to the explained variance in the ideal age scores. These findings are examined in the context of the previous research on the relationship between personality and subjective age and the importance of conducting both domain and facet level analyses when using the NEO-PI-R is discussed. Implications of the present findings for counselling and clinical work with persons facing age role transitions or other age related concerns (e.g., negative attitudes towards aging) are highlighted.

The overall aims of the current thesis were to determine the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of a brief motivational and cognitive-behavioural intervention in reducing cannabis use and cannabis related problems among Australian adolescent cannabis users: the Adolescent Cannabis Check-up. In addition it was intended to develop and psychometrically assess instruments to measure cannabis problems and cannabis dependence among adolescent cannabis users. The thesis is presented as a series of four related studies. Study 1 consists of an uncontrolled feasibility study of a brief (2-3 session) motivational intervention designed for adolescent cannabis users. Included in the intervention model was a separate session for concerned parents. The data analysis for this study was conducted in a pre-test post-test design and demonstrated that participation in the intervention was associated with improved outcomes. The intervention was shown to be feasible and acceptable to participants. Study 2 comprises an assessment of the psychometric performance of the Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS) in a population of adolescent cannabis users. Study 3 describes the development and psychometric testing of a novel assessment instrument designed to measure cannabis-related problems (other than dependence) among young people. Finally, Study 4 is a randomised controlled trial of the Adolescent Cannabis Check-up intervention, which builds on the feasibility study and incorporates the assessment instruments that were evaluated as valid and reliable in Studies 2 and 3. As hypothesised, significandy greater reductions in cannabis use and symptoms of cannabis dependence were found in the intervention group compared with the delayed treatment control group, which provides evidence for the efficacy of the intervention. The study presents a unique contribution to the intervention literature and demonstrates the potential to reduce the harms associated with cannabis use among young people.