Longitudinal selectivity in aging populations: separating mortality-associated versus experimental components in the Berlin Aging Study (BASE).
The authors examined 3.7-year selectivity in the Berlin Aging Study by comparing the T1 parent sample (N = 516) with the T3 sample (N = 206). Selectivity was partitioned into a mortality-associated component, reflecting the degree to which individuals still alive at T3 (T3 survivors, N = 313) differ from the T1 parent sample (N = 516) from which they originated, and an experimental component, reflecting the degree to which the T3 sample (N = 206) differed from T3 survivors (N = 313). Across 48 variables representing medical, sensorimotor, cognitive, personality-related, and socioeconomic domains, the mortality-associated component accounted for 64% of total selectivity, and the experimental component for 36% (0.18 vs 0.10 SD units; t = 7.20, p <.01). Except for age and intelligence, experimental selectivity effects regarding means and prevalence rates were generally small. Partitioning selectivity into mortality-associated and experimental components is a useful tool in the longitudinal study of aging populations.
Lindenberger
Ulman
U
Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany. lindenberger@mx.uni-saarland.de
Singer
Tania
T
Baltes
Paul B
PB
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001290:Attitude; D032921:Consensus; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D005853:Geriatrics / Q000379:methods; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009026:Mortality; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010551:Personality; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors