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Assessment of Age-related Changes in Cognitive Functions Using EmoCogMeter, a Novel Tablet-computer Based Approach
Published on: February 14, 2014
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Subjective Age and Late-Life Functional Status: Mediating and Moderating Effects
Joel R Petashnick1, Amit Shrira1, Yaakov Hoffman1
1The Interdisciplinary Department of Social Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel.
Summary
Older adults' subjective age influences future physical function through depressive symptoms, especially for those feeling closer to death. This highlights the interplay between aging perception and health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Subjective age (SA) and subjective nearness to death (SNtD) are crucial psychological factors in aging.
- Understanding the pathways linking SA to future functional status is vital for interventions in later life.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the longitudinal relationships between SA and future functional status, mediated by depressive symptoms.
- To assess the moderating role of SNtD in these SA-depressive symptoms-functional status pathways.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study with 224 older adults (mean age 81.14) interviewed annually for 3 years.
- Data collected on SA, SNtD, depressive symptoms, grip strength (objective function), and self-reported functional status.
- Statistical analysis to identify mediation and moderation effects.
Main Results:
- Distinct pathways from T1 SA to T3 functional status were identified, mediated by T2 depressive symptoms.
- T1 SNtD significantly moderated these indirect pathways, with stronger effects observed in individuals feeling closer to death.
- The mediation model was most significant for older adults reporting higher SNtD.
Conclusions:
- Depressive symptoms partially explain how SA predicts long-term functional status in older adults.
- SNtD plays a significant role in moderating the relationship between SA, depressive symptoms, and future functional status.
- An integrative model incorporating subjective views of aging is proposed for predicting functional outcomes.
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