Ageing and Theory of Mind Abilities: The Benefits of Social Interaction

Autor/inn/en	Pearlman-Avnion, Shiri; Ron, Noa; Ezekiel, Smadar
Titel	Ageing and Theory of Mind Abilities: The Benefits of Social Interaction
Quelle	In: Educational Gerontology, 44 (2018) 5-6, S.368-377 (10 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0360-1277
DOI	10.1080/03601277.2018.1480130
Schlagwörter	Foreign Countries; Older Adults; Aging (Individuals); Theory of Mind; Interpersonal Relationship; Interaction; Predictor Variables; Hypothesis Testing; Outcomes of Treatment; Cognitive Tests; Cognitive Ability; Israel + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Ausland; Älterer Erwachsener; Aging; Altern; Interpersonal relation; Interpersonal relations; Interpersonelle Beziehung; Zwischenmenschliche Beziehung; Interaktion; Prädiktor; Hypothesenprüfung; Hypothesentest; Kognitiver Fähigkeitstest; Denkfähigkeit
Abstract	The present study investigates whether social interaction moderates age-related deterioration of theory of mind (ToM) abilities. The study population consists of 65 Israeli adults aged 19-102 with varying degrees of self-reported social interaction. It is hypothesized that as age increases, success at ToM-related tasks will decrease. Second, it is hypothesized that the level of social interaction will predict success in ToM tasks only among the older population. Third, it is hypothesized that elderly people who have frequent social interactions within and outside the family environment will exhibit an advantage in maintaining ToM abilities as compared to their peers with limited social interaction. The results of the study support the first hypothesis: with increased age, success on the two ToM tasks measured decreases. The second hypothesis is also supported: social interaction predicts ToM abilities only in the older subpopulation (aged 65-102). The third hypothesis is partially supported: those in the older age group perform better on only one of the two ToM tasks measured. The results of the study are consistent with the theoretical position that social interaction moderates the impact of ageing on certain ToM abilities. Practical implications of the findings are discussed. (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2020/1/01