We will test the hypothesis that psychological factors impact decision making, thereby affecting whether and how elderly perform challenging physical activities. In Part I, a correlational study of decision-making, 400 community- dwelling elderly (65 to 84 years) will answer questionnaires about four challenging tasks illustrated by photographs: a bimanual forward reach from a short step-ladder, stepping into a wet bathtub without hands, walking across an icy patch, and crossing a pedestrian crosswalk at a busy intersection. They will then complete questionnaires with regard to: (a) their self-reported task performance, (b) decision making (considerations of positive and negative consequences); (c) self-rated health, functional status, and three psychological variables (self-efficacy, self-esteem, personal mastery) affecting their performance decisions. Physical and cognitive capabilities will each be assessed using three measures. Multiple regression analyses and structural equation models will then be used to test the hypothesis that psychological factors influence the willingness to perform the tasks as well as actual performance on the four tasks. In order to control for factors hypothesized to effect their decision making and performance on these challenging tasks, and to validate further linkages in a proposed 22 parameter model, we will quantify disease and impairment/capacities (physical and cognitive) in this group. In Part II, by experimentally manipulating psychologically variables a subjects of varying age and functional status perform challenging tasks, we will examine causal mechanisms underlying how psychological factors affect observed performance of two Part I tasks: maximum forward reach from raised surface (120 subjects) and stepping onto a slippery surface (120 subjects). This research will field insight into how psychological variables affect decisions made by every elderly individual confronted with performing physically challenging activities. The insights should lead to better interventions for improving quality of life in those who un-necessarily limit their physical activities, and for reducing injury risk in those who continue to perform such tasks.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Research Program Projects (P01)
Project #
5P01AG010542-06
Application #
6098422
Study Section
Project Start
1999-04-15
Project End
2000-03-31
Budget Start
1998-10-01
Budget End
1999-09-30
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
1999
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Michigan Ann Arbor
Department
Type
DUNS #
791277940
City
Ann Arbor
State
MI
Country
United States
Zip Code
48109
Votruba, Kristen L; Persad, Carol; Giordani, Bruno (2016) Cognitive Deficits in Healthy Elderly Population With ""Normal"" Scores on the Mini-Mental State Examination. J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol 29:126-32
Albin, Roger L; Burke, James F; Koeppe, Robert A et al. (2013) Assessing mild cognitive impairment with amyloid and dopamine terminal molecular imaging. J Nucl Med 54:887-93
Hernandez, Manuel E; Goldberg, Allon; Alexander, Neil B (2010) Decreased muscle strength relates to self-reported stooping, crouching, or kneeling difficulty in older adults. Phys Ther 90:67-74
Kim, Kyu-Jung; Ashton-Miller, James A (2009) Segmental dynamics of forward fall arrests: a system identification approach. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon) 24:348-54
Schulz, Brian W; Ashton-Miller, James A; Alexander, Neil B (2008) The effects of age and step length on joint kinematics and kinetics of large out-and-back steps. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon) 23:609-18
Schulz, Brian W; Ashton-Miller, James A; Alexander, Neil B (2007) Maximum step length: relationships to age and knee and hip extensor capacities. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon) 22:689-96
Schulz, Brian W; Ashton-Miller, James A; Alexander, Neil B (2007) A kinematic analysis of the rapid step test in balance-impaired and unimpaired older women. Gait Posture 25:515-22
Murphy, Susan L; Gretebeck, Kimberlee A; Alexander, Neil B (2007) The bath environment, the bathing task, and the older adult: a review and future directions for bathing disability research. Disabil Rehabil 29:1067-75
Ahmed, Alaa A; Ashton-Miller, James A (2007) On use of a nominal internal model to detect a loss of balance in a maximal forward reach. J Neurophysiol 97:2439-47
Schulz, Brian W; Ashton-Miller, James A; Alexander, Neil B (2006) Can initial and additional compensatory steps be predicted in young, older, and balance-impaired older females in response to anterior and posterior waist pulls while standing? J Biomech 39:1444-53

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