A study conducted in England (Goebel, 1982) showed that older English adults preferred middle-aged and older persons over young persons in important relationships. Since research has shown Americans to have negative attitudes toward the elderly, it was hypothesized that older Americans might not share the English sample's preferences. To examine…

Research has consistently shown that among the non-institutionalized elderly, prevalence rates of heavy alcohol use and problem drinking are relatively small in comparison to younger age groups. This study examines how maximum annual alcohol consumption and problem drinking change as a concomitant of the aging process. This study of alcohol-use…

Recent theories in cognitive psychology have emphasized the role of capacity requirements in encoding tasks. To examine the notion that age-related differences in the recall performance reflect differences in cognitive capacity, 80 adults (40 undergraduates, and 40 senior citizens) recalled newspaper advertisements under free recall and cued…

While research has examined both life satisfaction and intellectual functioning of older adults, the relationship between these two dimensions has been investigated very little. A study was conducted to explore continuity in intellectual functioning over time in advanced old age, continuity in life satisfaction during the same period, the…

The housing industry for the elderly has changed from being primarily the effort of charitable organizations to include a large number of for-profit businesses. Psychologists interested in dealing with this industry will have to be aggressive. Important considerations include the following: (1) managers make decisions about finances, products, and…

Middle-aged women have traditionally been the main care providers for their elderly relatives. As the percentage of these women who are employed increases and family size decreases, this support for the elderly may decline. To examine the impact of women's work on their parent care activities, the following three members of each of 150 families…

Research has suggested significant relationships between satisfaction with life, successful aging, subjective well-being, and satisfaction with personal leisure. Vitality is used to imply high levels of energy and hope, personal growth, involvement with life, meeting change with eagerness or equanimity, positive self-regard, and an ability to cope…

While research on humor in children has increased in the past 20 years, there is less information on adult humor. The Humor Assessment Instrument (HUMA) was developed as part of an ongoing humor intervention project. HUMA was used to interview 398 adults on their perception of humor in the media, humor among acquaintances, humor in parents, most…

The number of male primary caregivers has increased as social change has reduced the availability of female family members to fulfill the caregiving role. This study examined the perceived and actual role of caregiver by older men, especially in homemaker activities, and how this aspect of the caregiving role is impacted by age. Subjects (N=74)…

Full-timing, living year-round in a recreational vehicle, may be a viable housing alternative for older people. Full-timers can enjoy life in recreational vehicles that are modern, convenient, and well-built. Full-timing can be as expensive or as economical as the individual circumstances are. The economic benefits of full-timing increase when the…

This set of instructions is designed for use by instructors in aerobic dance, although the instructions can also be used by individuals for an exercise program. Descriptions are given of specific exercises for the head and neck, shoulders, arms, legs, and chest and trunk. Routines for a complete aerobic dance session (warm-up, aerobic, and…

Elderly subjects and college-age subjects were compared on the strategy used to answer a question based on information in memory. The two strategies studied were direct retrieval and plausibility. The first experiment tested the hypothesis that older subjects will rely on the plausibility strategy more than young subjects. A second experiment…

Although activity theory proposes a strong relationship between social activity and life satisfaction among older individuals, little research has considered the salience of the activity to the individual. In order to consider the salience of the activity, using volunteer activity as a measure, survey results from the Myths and Realities of Aging…

Classical models of the grieving process include Freud's concept of withdrawal of ties to the love object called decathexis, and Lindemann's emancipation from the bondage to the deceased involving adjusting to the loss in one's environment and the ability to form new relationships. Most of the models and explanations of the grieving process over…

This study examined the relationship between qualitative and quantitative indicators of social support in the prediction of depression. Quantitative indicators were examined with regard to their direct effects on depression as well as their indirect effects through their relationship to perceived social support. Subjects were 301…