title: Adequate proverb interpretation is associated with performance on the independent living scales.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine proverb interpretation performance and functional independence in older adults. From the limited literature on proverb interpretation in aging and its conceptualization as an executive function, it was hypothesized that proverb interpretation would be related to functional independence similar to other executive functions. Tests of proverb interpretation, additional executive functions, and functional ability were administered to nondemented older adults. Results showed that proverb interpretation accounted for a significant amount of unique variance of functional ability scores. This supports including a measure of proverb interpretation to the assessment of older adults.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , Eastern Illinois University , Charleston , IL , USA.
authors.forename: Fayeza S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: L Stephen
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D001045:Aphorisms and Proverbs as Topic; D003210:Concept Formation; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012660:Semantics
keywords: aging; executive function; functional ability; neuropsychology; proverb interpretation