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Positive affect predicts everyday problem-solving ability in older adults.

Theone S E Paterson1, Sophie E Yeung1, Wendy Loken Thornton1

  • 1a Department of Psychology , Simon Fraser University , Burnaby , Canada.

Aging & Mental Health
|June 3, 2015
PubMed
Summary

Depression symptoms in older adults are linked to poorer problem-solving skills. Specifically, loss of enjoyment in life, a key aspect of depression, significantly predicts reduced everyday problem-solving abilities.

Keywords:
affective processing, normal aging, everyday problem-solvingcognitive functioningpositive affect

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Area of Science:

  • Gerontology
  • Psychiatry
  • Cognitive Psychology

Background:

  • Previous research links higher scores on the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) Scale to lower everyday problem-solving (EPS) ability in older adults.
  • The specific depressive symptoms driving this association in older adults remain unclear due to the multifactorial nature of depression.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate which specific symptom factors of the CES-D predict everyday problem-solving (EPS) ability in older adults.
  • To determine if aspects of depression, beyond overall symptom endorsement, are associated with reduced EPS.

Main Methods:

  • 103 community-dwelling older adults (ages 51-91) completed the full CES-D and an EPS ability measure.
  • Regression analyses were employed to assess the relationship between CES-D factor scores and EPS ability, controlling for age, gender, and education.

Main Results:

  • Higher overall CES-D scores predicted lower EPS ability in older adults (β = -.17, p < .05).
  • Decreased positive affect (anhedonia) was the sole significant predictor of reduced EPS (β = -.21, p < .01), impacting both social and practical problem-solving.
  • Depressed affect, interpersonal, and somatic factors did not significantly predict EPS.

Conclusions:

  • The link between depressive symptoms and diminished everyday problem-solving in older adults appears primarily driven by anhedonia (loss of positive affect).
  • These findings highlight the specific role of positive affect in maintaining problem-solving capabilities in later life.