Frieder R. Lang

Close emotional relationships in late life: Further support for proactive aging in the social domain

The idea that age-related reductions in network size are proactively managed by older people is explored by examining the interrelationships among chronological age, network composition, social support, and feelings of social embeddedness (FSE) in a representative sample of 156 community-dwelling and institutionalized adults ages 70-104 years. Comparisons between people with and without nuclear families are made to explore the influence of opportunity structures on network size. Social networks of very old people are nearly half as large as those of old people, but the number of very close relationships does not differentiate age groups. Among Ss without living nuclear family members, the number of emotionally close social partners predicted FSE better than among Ss with nuclear family members. Findings provide evidence for proactive selection, compensation, and optimization toward the goal of emotional enhancement and social functioning in old age.

Everyday functioning and successful aging: The impact of resources

The goal of this article is to examine differential aging in everyday functioning between resource-rich and resource-poor older adults. Four groups of older adults were identified on the basis of 2 distinct resource factors: a Sensorimotor-Cognitive factor and a Social-Personality factor. The resource-richest group consisted of those participants who were above the median in both factors; those falling below the median in both factors comprised the resource-poorest group; and 2 additional groups consisted of older adults who were above the median in either 1 of the 2 factors. At the level of mean differences, the 4 groups differed in the length of the waking day, the variability in activities, the frequency of intellectual-cultural and social-relational activities, and resting times. Considering age differences there are more and larger negative age effects in the resource-poorest group than in the resource-richest one. The metamodel of selective optimization with compensation is used to interpret the findings.

Short assessment of the Big Five: robust across survey methods except telephone interviewing

We examined measurement invariance and age-related robustness of a short 15-item Big Five Inventory (BFI–S) of personality dimensions, which is well suited for applications in large-scale multidisciplinary surveys. The BFI–S was assessed in three different interviewing conditions: computer-assisted or paper-assisted face-to-face interviewing, computer-assisted telephone interviewing, and a self-administered questionnaire. Randomized probability samples from a large-scale German panel survey and a related probability telephone study were used in order to test method effects on self-report measures of personality characteristics across early, middle, and late adulthood. Exploratory structural equation modeling was used in order to test for measurement invariance of the five-factor model of personality trait domains across different assessment methods. For the short inventory, findings suggest strong robustness of self-report measures of personality dimensions among young and middle-aged adults. In old age, telephone interviewing was associated with greater distortions in reliable personality assessment. It is concluded that the greater mental workload of telephone interviewing limits the reliability of self-report personality assessment. Face-to-face surveys and self-administrated questionnaire completion are clearly better suited than phone surveys when personality traits in age-heterogeneous samples are assessed.

Blood is thicker than water: Kinship orientation across adulthood

The importance of kin relationships was investigated across adulthood with 5 samples (total N = 1,365). Within the personal networks, the genetic relatedness with relationship partners predicted subjective closeness (mean r = .50) and social support (mean r = .13). Effects were robust in 2 samples when controlling for residential proximity and contact frequency. These intraindividual correlations showed considerable variability and were interpreted as individual expressions of nepotism. The heritability of individual nepotism was zero. Variability of nepotism was unrelated to personality traits, but substantially related to sex, and parental and partner status. The authors discuss subjective closeness as 1 proximate cue to kinship, and suggest nepotistic adaptations as powerful mechanisms in social relationships.

Testgüte und psychometrische Äquivalenz der deutschen Version des Big Five Inventory (BFI) bei jungen, mittelalten und alten Erwachsenen

Zusammenfassung. In einer Studie mit 480 jungen, mittelalten und alten Erwachsenen wurde eine deutsche Version des “Big Five Inventory (BFI)“ eingesetzt. Es wurde die Aquivalenz der faktoriellen Struktur in den Altersgruppen sowie die Kriteriumsvaliditat in Bezug auf 6 Ausenkriterien uberpruft (Intelligenz, positiver und negativer Affekt, Kontrollerleben, soziale Zufriedenheit und Netzwerkgrose). Die Stichprobe beruht auf einer nach Alter und Geschlecht geschichteten Wahrscheinlichkeitsauswahl aus dem Berliner Melderegister. Die Befunde weisen auf eine Invarianz der Faktorenstruktur in den Altersgruppen hin. Es zeigten sich erwartungskonforme und altersinvariante Korrelationen der 5 Personlichkeitskonstrukte Extraversion, Vertraglichkeit, Gewissenhaftigkeit, Neurotizismus und Offenheit fur Erfahrung mit den Ausenkriterien. In einer Studie mit 45 sehr alten Erwachsenen zeigten sich moderate bis hohe Retest-Stabilitaten uber einen Zeitraum von 5 Monaten. Insgesamt erweist sich der BFI als leicht einsetzbare...

Perceived control over development and subjective well-being: differential benefits across adulthood.

The relationship between perceived control over development (PCD) and subjective well-being (SWB) across adulthood was examined in 3 studies. In Study 1, with 480 adults aged between 20 and 90 years, PCD was closely related to SWB. Chronological age moderated the associations between PCD and SWB beyond individual differences in health, intelligence, social support, and socioeconomic status. In the longitudinal Study 2, with 42 older adults, strong PCD was associated with increased positive affect only when desirable events had occurred previously. In Study 3, older adults experienced greater satisfaction when attributing attainment of developmental goals to their ability, whereas younger adults were more satisfied when attributing such successes to their own efforts. Findings point to adaptive adjustments of control perceptions to age-related actual control potentials across adulthood.

Endings and Continuity of Social Relationships: Maximizing Intrinsic Benefits within Personal Networks when Feeling Near to Death

Changes within an individuals personal network may reflect either non-deliberate endings, such as loss, or active choice of social partners. This research explores to what extent perceptions of limited future time are associated with deliberate endings of social relationships and active maximization of intrinsic benefits in ones personal network. In a longitudinal follow-up study, the personal networks of 206 older adults aged between 70 and 103 years were assessed twice within a 4-year time interval. Change of personal networks and change within social relationships were explored in association with age cohort, subjective health, cognitive functioning, neuroticism, extraversion, and subjective nearness to death. Most changes within personal networks occurred in less close relationships, while close emotional relationships proved stable. More than half of discontinued relationships were ended for deliberate reasons. Within ongoing social relationships, emotional closeness after 4 years was improved when social partners were family members and emotional supporters (e.g. confidants). When older adults felt near to death, emotional closeness with others decreased, except within relationships with family members and with social companions. The findings suggest that individuals actively shape the compositions of their personal networks in order to maximize the availability of intrinsic and extrinsic benefits from others.

Depression bei Hochbetagten Ergebnisse der Berliner Altersstudie

ZusammenfassungIn der Berliner Altersstudie (BASE) wurde eine nach Alter und Geschlecht geschichtete Stichprobe von 516 Studienteilnehmern im Alter von 70 bis über 100 Jahren untersucht. Zur Diagnostik von depressiven Erkrankungen wurde neben den Fremd- und Selbstratingskalen (HAMD und CES-D) das halbstrukturierte GMS-A-Interview eingesetzt, auf dessen Basis Diagnosen nach DSM III-R erstellt wurden. Es fand sich eine Prävalenz von 9,1% für alle nach DSM III-R spezifizierten depressiven Störungen, wovon 4,8% Major Depression waren. Bei Hinzunahme von nach klinischer Einschätzung krankheitswertigen Depressionen, welche die Kriterien für eine spezifizierte DSM III-R-Diagnose jedoch nicht erfüllten, steigt die Depressionsprävalenz auf 26,9% an. Die Häufigkeiten in den verschiedenen Altersgruppen unterscheiden sich mit Ausnahme bei der CES-D nicht signifikant. Die Depressionsprävalenz für spezifizierte DSM III-R-Diagnosen ist bei Frauen mit 10,3% etwa doppelt so hoch wie bei Männern (5,6%). Depressive Patienten zeigen im Vergleich zu Kontrollpersonen keine signifikant schlechteren Werte im MMSE. Eine signifikant erhöhte Depressionsprävalenz findet sich im Vergleich zur Gesamtstichprobe bei Personen mit Multimorbidität (36,8%). Verheiratete Studienteilnehmer zeigen seltener eine depressive Erkrankung (14,9%). 13,2% der alten Menschen sprechen von Lebensüberdruß, 7,9% äußern einen Todeswunsch und 1,2% Suizidgedanken. Es besteht eine enge Beziehung zwischen Suizidalität und depressiven Erkrankungen. Im Bezug auf die Behandlung depressiver Störungen fand sich in 44% eine unzureichende Therapie. 6% der depressiven Studienteilnehmer wurden mit Antidepressiva behandelt, während 40% nur Benzodiazepine bekamen.SummaryIn the Berlin Aging Study (BASE) an age and gender stratified sample of 516 persons aged 70 to over 100 was assessed by means of the semi-structured GMS-A interview, the CES-D-self-rating scale and the Hamiltion-Depression-observer-rating scale. Prevalence rates were 4,8% for Major Depression, 9,1% for all DSM III-R specified depressive disorders and 26,9% of subthreshold depression was included. There was no increase in prevalence rates with age but an increase in scores on the self rating CES-D. The prevalence rates for DSM III-R specified depression in females was 10,3% and almost double that of men (5,6%). Depressed persons do not show significant cognitive impairment as measured with the MMSE in comparison to controls. As compared to the total sample higher prevalence rates of overall depression were seen in persons with multimorbidity (36,8%) and lower rates in married persons. 13,2% of the elderly talked about feeling tired with life, 7,9% had thoughts about death and 1,2% reported suicidal ideation, which was closely linked to depressive disorders. In 44% of depressed cases undertreatment was observed. Only 6% got Antidepressants but 40% benzodiazepines.

Adult Children’s Supportive Behaviors and Older Parents’ Subjective Well–Being—A Developmental Perspective on Intergenerational Relationships

Adult children’s supportive behaviors were examined with respect to children’s autonomy and social motivation towards parents, and with respect to longitudinal changes of parents’ subjective well–being. In total, 115 adult children from 83 German families completed a questionnaire on supportive behaviors and social motivation. The children also reported what pleased or irritated their parents most. Findings suggest that filial autonomy was associated with resistance to strain. Older parents’ satisfaction improved when children expressed affection or gave emotional support. However, informational support from children was associated with decreased satisfaction among parents. Findings suggest that filial autonomy may facilitate supportive behaviors that correspond to older parents’ socioemotional needs.

Being with People and Being Alone in Late Life: Costs and Benefits for Everyday Functioning

Being alone and being with people are both important determinants for adaptation in the everyday life of elderly people. We examined the relationship between social contact (engagement in activities alone or in the presence of others), difficulties experienced with daily activities when with people or when alone, everyday satisfaction, and self-reported autonomy. Greater levels of social contact are associated with greater everyday satisfaction as long as participants report no difficulty in daily activities. However, greater levels of social contact are associated with lower self-reported autonomy among very old participants (85-104 years) and social contact is unrelated to self-reported autonomy among old participants (70-84 years). The findings suggest that the compensatory use of social resources and the selective narrowing of social contact in daily activities contribute to adaptive everyday functioning in later life.