Socio-Psychological Factors of Aging: A Cohort-Sequential Analysis

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Abstract
The present study analyses the test-retest results of 380 Ss between the ages of 55 to over 80 yr. At both testings the samples were subdivided into 5 successive age groups with age spans of 5 yr. each, A 5 year interest interval was used. Two hundred two Ss participated in the retesting; 62 Ss had died during the intervening period, 32 Ss were too ill and 84 refused to cooperate again. Results on the means, variances, and stability coefficients as well as on their age trends are given. An interaction between age differences in verbal performance, the original level of functioning and the type of tasks has been observed. The variability increases with age in tasks for which the relation between stimulus and response terms is ambiguous i.e. in tasks in which Ss have to apply rather unusual associations, but decreases when performance relies on long-term verbal habits and associations. The interpretation of the observed age differences in variability also has to consider changes brought about by the selective drop-out of less able, more rigid, and dogmatic persons at the younger age levels. This selective drop-out enables prediction of the ensuing death of Ss, and possibly, the unwillingness of Ss to cooperate again, with a fairly high degree of accuracy. The selective drop-out of Ss also affects the average trends of scores because successive age samples in cross-sectional as well as longitudinal studies are increasingly biased with superior Ss. Consideration was given to the interaction between psychological changes within the individuals and those of the prevailing social and cultural conditions.

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