Perceptions of the cognitive compensation and interpersonal enjoyment functions of collaboration among middle-aged and older married couples.
Perceptions of cognitive compensation and interpersonal enjoyment of collaboration were examined in three hundred middle-aged and older couples who completed measures of perceptions of collaboration, cognitive ability, marital satisfaction, an errand task and judged their spouse's affiliation. Older adults (especially men) endorsed cognitive compensation and interpersonal enjoyment and reported using collaboration more frequently than middle-aged adults. Greater need for cognitive compensation was related to lower cognitive ability only for older wives. Greater marital satisfaction was associated with greater interpersonal enjoyment. These two functions related to reports of more frequent use of collaboration and perceptions of spousal affiliation in a collaborative task.
Department of Psychology, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA. Cynthia.berg@psych.utah.edu
Cynthia A
CA
Berg
Ines
I
Schindler
Timothy W
TW
Smith
Michelle
M
Skinner
Ryan M
RM
Beveridge
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003071:Cognition; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010465:Perception / Q000502:physiology; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires