Autobiographical memory specificity predicts social problem-solving ability in old and young adults.
Based on recent research with young, depressed adults, age-related cognitive declines and decreased autobiographical specificity were hypothesized to predict poorer social problem-solving ability in older than in younger healthy adults. Priming autobiographical memory (ABM) was hypothesized to improve social problem-solving performance for older adults. Subsequent to cognitive tests, old and young participants' specific ABMs were tested using a cued recall task, followed by a social problem-solving task. The order of the tasks was counterbalanced to test for a priming effect. Autobiographical specificity was related to cognitive ability and predicted social problem-solving ability for both age groups. However, priming of ABM did not improve social problem-solving ability for older or younger adults. This study provides support for the hypothesis that autobiographical memory serves a directive function across the life-span.
Centre for Research in Human Development, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. a_beaman@alcor.concordia.ca
Amanda
A
Beaman
Dolores
D
Pushkar
Sarah
S
Etezadi
Dorothea
D
Bye
Michael
M
Conway
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001325:Autobiographies as Topic; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012917:Social Adjustment; D014936:Word Association Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data