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Impact of Age, and Cognitive and Coping Resources on Coping

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 November 2011

Raphaël Trouillet ,
Loane-Martine Doan-Van-Hay ,
Michel Launay  and
Sophie Martin
Raphaël Trouillet*
Affiliation:
Epsylon Laboratory
Loane-Martine Doan-Van-Hay
Affiliation:
Epsylon Laboratory
Michel Launay
Affiliation:
Epsylon Laboratory
Sophie Martin
Affiliation:
Epsylon Laboratory
*
*Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Raphaël Trouillet, Ph.D. Epsylon Laboratory EA4556 University of Montpellier 4 Boulevard Henri IV 34199 Montpellier, France ([email protected])
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Abstract

To explore the predictive value of cognitive and coping resources for problem- and emotion-focused coping with age, we collected data from community-dwelling adults between 20 and 90 years old. We hypothesized that age, perceived stress, self-efficacy, working-memory capacity, and mental flexibility were predictors of coping. We collected data using French versions of the Perceived Stress Scale, General Self-Efficacy Scale, and Way of Coping Checklist. Cognitive assessments comprised the WAIS III digit-span subtest and the Trail Making Test parts A and B. In multivariate analyses, neither working-memory nor mental-flexibility deficit predicted problem-focused coping. Age was found to predict only problem-focused coping. Self-efficacy predicted problem-focused coping, and perceived stress predicted emotion-focused coping. Our results confirmed that use of an emotion-focused coping style would not significantly change with age. Problem-focused coping increases with age and depends primarily on participants’ confidence in their ability to successfully solve problems (i.e., self-efficacy).

Résumé

Afin d’explorer la valeur prédictive des ressources congnitives et de coping pour le coping centré sur le problème et sur 1’émotion en prenant en compte 1’âge, nous avons recueilli des données auprès d’adultes vivant à domicile et âgés de 20 à 90 ans. Nous avons fait 1’hypothèse que 1’âge, le stress perçu, 1’auto-efficacité, la capacité de mémoire de travail, et la flexibilité mentale sont des facteurs prédisant le coping. Nous avons recueilli des données en utilisant des versions françaises de 1’échelle de stress percu (PSS), d’autoefficacité (GSE) et un questionnaire de coping (WCC). Les évaluations cognitives ont inclus le subtest des empans envers-endroit (WAIS), et les parties A et B du Trail-Making Test (TMT). Dans les analyses multivariées, ni le déficit de mémoire de travail, ni le deficit de la flexibilité mentale ne prédisent significativement le coping centré sur le probleme. L’âge ne prédit que le coping centré sur le problème. L’auto-efficacité prédit le coping centré sur le problème alors que le stress perçu prédit le coping centré sur 1’émotion. Nos resultats ont confirmé que le coping centré sur 1’émotion resterait stable avec 1’âge. Le Coping centré sur le problème augmente avec 1’âge et depend essentiellement de la confiance des participants concernant leur capacité à résoudre des problèmes (i.e., 1’auto-effi cacité).

Keywords

vieillissement normalmodélisation par équation structuralemémoire de travailflexibilité mentalenormal agingstructural equation modelingworking memorymental flexibility
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 30 , Issue 4 , December 2011 , pp. 541 - 550
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 2011

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