title: Psychological well-being and metacognition in the fourth age: an explorative study in an Italian oldest old sample.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The research largely aimed at exploring the impact of marital status, cognitive efficiency, gender, physical health and sociocultural context on self-rated emotional competence, depression, memory and cognitive measures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-four healthy adults aged 75-99 were recruited in the Sardinian province of Ogliastra, where a collectivistic culture prevails, and in northern Italy, which in turn is characterized by the prevalence of individualistic cultural traits. Participants were administered self-referent metacognitive efficiency, subjective wellness and depression measures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sardinian elders self-rated lower levels of depression and cognitive failures and had greater levels of emotional competence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Perceived psychological well-being, metacognitive efficiency and depression seem to be affected by sociocultural context.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pedagogy, Psychology, Philosophy , University of Cagliari , Cagliari , Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Chiara
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Fastame
authors.forename: Maria Pietronilla
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Penna
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000369:Aged, 80 and over / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003071:Cognition; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: depression; metacognition; oldest old; psychological well-being