Nitza Eyal

Multilingualism and Cognitive State in the Oldest Old

In this study, the authors examined whether the number of languages a person speaks predicts performance on 2 cognitive-screening tests. Data were drawn from a representative sample of the oldest Israeli Jewish population (N = 814, M age = 83.0 years; SD = 5.4) that was interviewed first in 1989 and then twice more within the following 12 years. Cognitive state differed significantly among groups of self-reported bilingual, trilingual, and multilingual individuals at each of the 3 interview waves. Regression analyses showed that the number of languages spoken contributed to the prediction of cognitive test scores beyond the effect of other demographic variables, such as age, gender, place of birth, age at immigration, or education. Multilingualism was also found to be a significant predictor of cognitive state in a group of individuals who acquired no formal education at all. Those who reported being most fluent in a language other than their mother tongue scored higher on average than did those whose mother tongue was their best language, but the effect of number of languages on cognitive state was significant in both groups, with no significant interaction. Results are discussed in the context of theories of cognitive reserve.

The Old, Old-Old, and the Oldest Old: Continuation or Distinct Categories? An Examination of the Relationship between Age and Changes in Health, Function, and Wellbeing

This study aims to examine whether old age, old-old age, and oldest-old age comprise distinct categories via comparing persons aged 75–84, 85–94, and 95+ on demographics, health, function, and wellbeing. The sample was drawn from a representative longitudinal cohort of older persons in Israel. Matched cohort comparisons found a significant decline in Activities of Daily Living (ADL), instrumental ADL, cognitive function, percent of participants who go outside their home, and physical activity, with an increase in physical and mobility difficulties, and no difference in depressed affect or loneliness. Longitudinal results showed increased widowhood, institutionalization, comorbidity, physical and mobility difficulties, loneliness, and depressed affect, as well as decreased subjective health and physical activity over time. In the absence of changes in social support as manifested by marital status and community living, there was no decline in wellbeing. Current evidence of various gradual quantitative differences suggest that in most respects old age may be better conceptualized as a single phase marked by a continual quality.

MOTIVATIONS AND ATTITUDES OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS REGARDING TREATMENT OF THE ELDERLY

The “reluctant therapist” phenomenon has been suggested as one explanation for the insufficient provision of mental health services to the elderly. This study explored the motivation for work with the elderly in Israeli students and practitioners of clinical psychology. The results confirmed the lower motivation for treating elderly adults as compared to other age groups. The two most powerful predictors of motivation were the attitude toward psychotherapy for the elderly and past professional experience in this field. Generally, the subjects’ motivation was better predicted by professional characteristics and attitudes than by personal ones. The discussion deals with theoretical implications, possible applications, and suggestions for further research. This study was supported by a grant of the P. Sapir Center for Development, Tel Aviv University, Israel. We are greatly indebted to Ron Shouval, Dalia Gilboa, and Daniel Lombroso, as well as to many other psychologists and professionals. We thank Avi Eidel...

A Longitudinal Evaluation of Medication Use Among the Old-Old Population in Israel

This study examined patterns and predictors of change in medication use among old-old participants (aged 75 to 94 years) in a three-wave national Israeli study. The findings indicated a significant increase in the number of medications on short-term follow-up (3.6 years) and a modest, marginally significant increase in the long term (11.7 years). The number of medications was predicted by predisposing characteristics and baseline needs of physical and mental health, explaining 20% of the variance in the short- and long-term models. Women, married individuals, and those with low perceived health and low depressive symptoms tended to increase their use in the short term, whereas men, low-income individuals, and those with higher comorbidities and low difficulties in instrumental activity of daily living tended to increase their use in the long term. The leveling of medication use found on long-term follow-up highlights the particular dynamics of health behavior and health care practices relating to the old-old population.

Profiles of functioning as predictors of mortality in old age: the advantage of a configurative approach.

This study proposes the concept of functioning profile, by which ones status is summarized across essential functioning domains, and validates its efficiency in predicting mortality. The study analyzed data of two cohorts of community-dwelling Israelis aged 75 and over, nationally sampled in 1989 (N=1200) and 1999 (N=421), respectively. Eight groups with differential profiles reflected higher versus lower levels of functioning in three domains: physical (activities of daily living), cognitive (Orientation-Memory-Concentration test=OMC) and affective (depressive symptoms). The analyses predicted mortality within 4 years, adjusting for sociodemographic and health variables. Relative to the optimal profile, most functioning profiles represented groups having elevated mortality risks of considerable consistency across cohorts. Physical functioning was the most predictive component in the profiles, but its combinations with cognitive and affective functioning produced unique contributions to mortality prediction. The study suggests that the functioning profile, representing a person-centered configurative approach (i.e., one that considers the persons combined standing on key factors), is a useful concept for delineating risk groups in late life and evaluating risk factors in predicting mortality.

Interventions for older persons reporting memory difficulties: a randomized controlled pilot study

The objective of this study is to compare three different interventions for persons who report memory difficulties: health promotion, cognitive training, and a participation‐centered course, using a single‐blind, randomized controlled design.

A Comparison of Three Types of Autobiographical Memories in Old-Old Age: First Memories, Pivotal Memories and Traumatic Memories

Background: Autobiographical memory enables us to construct a personal narrative through which we identify ourselves. Especially important are memories of formative events. Objective: This study describes autobiographical memories of people who have reached old-old age (85 years and above), studying 3 types of memories of particular impact on identity and adaptation: first memories, pivotal memories and traumatic memories. In this paper, we examine the content, characteristic themes and environments, and structural characteristics of each of the 3 types of memory. Methods: The participants were 26 persons from a larger longitudinal study with an average age of 91 years; half were men and the other half women. The study integrated qualitative and quantitative tools. An open-ended questionnaire included questions about the participants’ life story as well as questions about the 3 types of memories. The responses were rated by 3 independent judges on dimensions of central themes and structural characteristics. Results: First memories had a more positive emotional tone, more references to characters from the participant’s social circle, a stronger sense of group belonging, and a more narrative style than the other types of memories. Pivotal and traumatic memories were described as more personal than first memories. Conclusion: The 3 types of memories reflect different stages in life development, which together form a sense of identity. They present experiences from the past on select themes, which may assist in the complex task of coping with the difficulties and limitations that advanced old age presents. Future research should examine the functional role of those memories and whether they enable the old-old to support selfhood in the challenging period of last changes and losses.

MEASURING DEPRESSIVE MOOD IN ELDERLY ISRAELI: RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY OF THE DEPRESSION ADJECTIVE CHECK LISTS

To establish the psychometric properties of the state form of the Depression Adjective Check List (DACL) with elderly Israeli, a 1981 Hebrew version of the DACL by Lomranz, Lubin, Eyal, and Medini, along with the Zung Self-rating Depression Scale and Cantrils Self-anchoring Striving Scale, were administered to 86 independently functioning elderly persons (35 men and 51 women) living in a home for the aged. Reliability estimates (alphas and test-retest) were moderate to high; validity estimates (concurrent and construct) were again moderate to high. It was concluded that the state form of the Depression Adjective Check List is suitable for use with elderly Israeli.

Norms for the revised hebrew version of the depression adjective check list

In order to reduce the readability level of the Hebrew version of the DACL, a new list of words with high frequency of usage in the Hebrew language was created from the translations of E, F, and G. Ninety-four Ss completed the revised form and the translated standard form E in randomized order; the correlation was .90 (p less .001). Split-half reliability for the revised form was .83 (N = 1,230, p less than .001). The revised DACL was included in a national probability sample survey (N = 1253; 699 females and 544 males). T score and percentile norm distributions are skewed toward the left. Raw scores above 20 are rare.

Contents Vol. 56, 2010

Behavioural Science Section K.J. Anstey, Canberra L. Clare, Bangor D. Gerstorf, University Park, Pa. J.D. Henry, Sydney T. Hess, Raleigh, N.C. S.M. Hofer, Victoria I. Kryspin Exner, Wien D.C. Park, Dallas, Tex. K. Ritchie, Montpellier J. Smith, Ann Arbor, Mich. Experimental Section C. Bertoni-Freddari, Ancona R. Faragher, Brighton C. Franceschi, Bologna T. Fülöp, Sherbrooke L. Gavrilov, Chicago, Ill. L. Haynes, Saranac Lake, N.Y. K. Hirokawa, Tokyo G.J. Lithgow, Novato, Calif. M. Rose, Irvine, Calif. A. Viidik, Wien J. Vijg, Bronx, N.Y.