An exploratory investigation of the personality correlates of aging using the Hand Test

The Hand Test was administered to 27 older adults of both sexes (Mage = 66.56) to investigate possible changes in personality concomitant with normal aging. To control partially for such factors as cultural influences and intelligence differences a matched-pair design was used in which the test protocols of the older adults were matched with those of their children of the same sex (Mage = 36.44). Though the Hand Test has not been independently validated on older adults, results were consistent with past findings using projective techniques inasmuch as depletion and constriction of personality were noted. Criticisms of research on the clinical assessment of the elderly were discussed.