Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.5559/di.24.2.05
Cognitive Training in the Elderly: The Effect of Cognitive Training on Dispositional Variables and Subjective Well-Being
Jadrana Bekavac
; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Zagreb
Andrea Vranić
orcid.org/0000-0002-4235-8014
; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Zagreb
Abstract
Evaluations of cognitive training programs for the elderly
usually show marked improvement in cognitive abilities after
the training and maintenance effects in a longer period after
the training. Some studies find transfer effects to non-trained
cognitive tasks. The effect of cognitive training has rarely
been tested on non-cognitive variables. This study tested a
10-week memory training based on the hypothesis of
metacognitive changes moderating the process of cognitive
aging to investigate its effect on dispositional variables
(optimism/pessimism, locus of control) and subjective well-
-being. Retirement homes residents, randomly assigned to
treatment (N = 21) or active control (N = 20) group,
participated in this study. Measurement of training-related
gains – i.e. changes in non-cognitive measures compared to
pretest – was conducted after the training (posttest) and at
the 6-month follow-up. Results revealed significant changes
in some dispositional variables (optimism, external locus of
control) and subjective well-being at the posttest. Although
somewhat moderated, a similar pattern of results was found
at the follow-up. These results suggest that cognitive training
programs, combining strategy learning and metacognitive
activities, can improve the quality of life in the elderly, i.e.
improvement in optimism, internal locus and subjective
well-being, and decline in pessimism and external locus.
Keywords
cognitive aging; memory training; optimism; locus of control; subjective well-being
Hrčak ID:
144470
URI
Publication date:
1.9.2015.
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