Cognitive plasticity in successful ageing: contributions from a learning potential assessment / Plasticidad cognitiva en el envejecimiento exitoso: aportes desde la evaluación del potencial de aprendizaje

Abstract

Despite numerous studies on the subject of successful ageing, few studies address the issue from a learning potential (LP) perspective. In Latin America there is no empirical background describing LP in successful ageing. In this study, 157 elderly Argentines were categorized into ageing trajectories (successful, normal and pathological ageing) based on objective scores from autonomy level, cognitive performance and mood state scales. Subjects were assessed with classic neuropychological tests, a cognitive reserve scale and an LP test. The results show differences in LP and cognitive reserve according to different ageing trajectories. This study establishes a regional precedent of relevance in the study of LP in elderly people pursuing successful ageing. It also provides evidence of the usefulness of incorporating instances of delayed free recall and recognition in an episodic memory and LP test.     

Variables that favour successful ageing / Variables que favorecen un envejecimiento exitoso

Abstract

The construct of successful ageing appears in the sixties, with a focus on physiological factors. However, its definition progressively develops into a more multidisciplinary construct and begins to include psychological, psychosocial and environmental factors; today, all these aspects are seen as essential to its study. In this monograph devoted to successful ageing, both this work and those that appear beside it aim to highlight the different areas of research that have been forged — mainly from psychology but also, in certain cases, together with associated disciplines — to try to outline a comprehensive model of ageing with the ultimate goal of creating intervention tools to foster successful ageing. Thus, this issue analyses the roles played by the Mediterranean diet, resilience, training programmes and training caregivers, among others, as explored by different experts in the area in an attempt to unveil the keys to ageing successfully from a psychosocial perspective.     

Optimism as a mediator between resilience and affective states in older adults / El optimismo como mediador entre la resiliencia y estados afectivos en adultos mayores

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore whether resilience is associated with and a predictor of depression, anxiety, negative and positive affect, life satisfaction and subjective happiness in older adults, and whether these relationships are mediated by optimism. To analyse this, different scales were administered to a sample of 240 elderly people and correlational and mediational analysis was carried out. The results showed relationships between all the variables. Similarly, we found that optimism is a partial mediator of the relationship between resilience and the aforementioned variables. Our results evidenced that increasing resilience and optimism in elderly people could be favourable to successful ageing.     

Emotions,positive self-regulation and resilience. Development and validation of alternative theoretical models and its assessment instrument / Emociones,autorregulación positiva y resiliencia. Desarrollo y validación de modelos teóricos alternativos y su instrumento de evaluación

Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine the organization of emotion coping strategies that reflect positive emotional self-regulation through the contrast of four theoretical models, as well as the relationship between such strategies and resilience. With this aim, the Positive Emotional Self-regulation Questionnaire (PEMSR-Q) for adolescents was developed. A total of 336 secondary school students formed the sample. In order to analyse model fit, four confirmatory factor analyses were realized (a one-factor model/a-three factors model/a hierarchical model/a bifactor model), as well as correlation and regression analyses to determine its concurrent validity. Results have shown that the bi-factor model has the best fit. Besides, the combination of positive self-regulation strategies and problem-focused strategies is associated with better resilience. These results underlie the importance of helping adolescents to develop and use positive self-regulation strategies to increase their resilience.     

How do Relationship Stability and Quality Affect Wellbeing?: Romantic Relationship Trajectories,Depressive Symptoms,and Life Satisfaction across 30 Years

Lifecourse theory scholars focus on how individuals traverse social roles, such as marriage, parenthood, and employment, in similar and different ways across their lives. This study examined one specific role trajectory: romantic relationships. This study examined men’s and women’s (N?=?3617) relationship status and quality across approximately 30 years. Using second-order latent class analysis, results showed four predominant relationship role trajectories: (a) Multiple Transitions, (b) Stable Marriage with High Conflict, (c) Stable Marriage with High Satisfaction, and (d) Marriage to Divorce/cohabitation. These relationship role trajectories differed on two aspects of quality of life: life satisfaction and depressive symptoms. Individuals in the Multiple Transitions trajectory consistently reported poorest quality of life; however, those in the Multiple Transitions and Stable Marriage with High Conflict trajectories were the only that reported decreases in depressive symptoms over 30 years. Relationship satisfaction poorly differentiated the trajectories compared to relationship conflict and stability.     

Emotional Intelligence Profiles in College Students and Their Fathers’ and Mothers’ Parenting Practices

The present study has two objectives: first, to analyze whether the dimensions that make up emotional intelligence (attention, clarity, and repair) give rise to different profiles of university students, and secondly, to determine whether these different profiles are differentially associated with the parenting practices that students report with regard to their fathers and mothers. Results obtained indicate the existence of different profiles of college students. The profile that corresponds to adequate emotional skills presents a lower score in attention, but higher scores in clarity, and especially in mood repair. The other two profiles are inadequate, in the first case because a higher score in emotional attention is accompanied by low scores in mood repair, and in the second case because low scores are presented in all three dimensions. Likewise, we verified the existence of significant differences in the educational practices of parents, the adequate profile is characterized by greater use of parenting dimensions considered to be positive, and at the same time, lower scores on dimensions considered to be negative. One of the dysfunctional profiles is associated with higher scores in positive practices, and is also associated with higher scores in practices considered to produce a negative effect. The second dysfunctional profile is associated with higher scores on the dimensions considered to be negative and lower scores on positive dimensions.     

Posttraumatic Overmodulation,Callous–Unemotional Traits,and Offending Among Justice-Involved Youth

A large body of research has demonstrated an association between childhood trauma exposure (TE) and adolescent delinquency. This association may be explained by callous–unemotional (CU) traits, which may stem from TE and are associated with persistent offending and recidivism. However, research on the mechanisms underlying TE and delinquency has lacked specificity regarding the posttraumatic symptoms that may drive this effect, particularly new models that distinguish between posttraumatic symptoms (PTS) of overmodulation versus undermodulation. This article sought to investigate the role of overmodulation in the association between TE and CU traits and their relations with persistent offending. Participants included 829 detained youth who completed self-report measures of TE, PTS, and CU traits. Official records of youth offenses were also obtained. Results of path analyses demonstrated that the association between interpersonal TE and persistent offending exhibited an indirect effect through overmodulation and CU traits. Efforts to address overmodulation among traumatized detained youth may represent a promising avenue of intervention for reducing recidivism.     

“Breaking Her Spirit” Through Objectification,Fragmentation, and Consumption: A Conceptual Framework for Understanding Domestic Sex Trafficking

It is now recognized that sex trafficking is an issue present in the United States as victims are frequently children and adults who were born and raised in the United States. Anti-trafficking researchers and advocates state that the problem is one of supply and demand and that trafficking of vulnerable individuals will continue until the demand for commercial sex ceases. One goal of this article is to show how Carol Adams’ model of violence against women is uniquely applicable to the issue of sex trafficking. In particular, this article outlines the ways in which objectification, fragmentation, and consumption allow commercial sexual exploitation through sex trafficking to continue. The article also explores links between pornography and sex trafficking as well as the processes traffickers use to groom individuals for exploitation through prostitution in a manner that helps to ensure compliance. Finally, the article seeks to implore clinicians to increase their understanding of the issues unique to sex trafficking survivors and take an integrative theoretical approach when working with trafficked individuals.     

Does letter rotation slow down orthographic processing in word recognition?

Psychonomic Bulletin & Review - Leading neural models of visual word recognition assume that letter rotation slows down the conversion of the visual input to a stable orthographic...