Manfred Diehl - US grants

This study uses self-concept theory to examine the temporal stability in older adults' self-representations as one facet of their personality. Specifically, the proposed research will examine the stability of the context-independent self and the stability of role-specific selves in a sample of 160 older adults (young-olds: n=80; old-olds: n=80), at two times of measurement 3 months apart. This study extends previous research on older adults' self-representations in two ways: (1) it examines multiple self-facets and uses multiple methods of assessment; (2) it examines structural equation models of self-concept differentiation (SCD) and psychological outcomes, such as subjective well-being, depression, and anxiety. The specific aims of the study are: (1) To examine the stability of multiple self-representations in older adults over a 3-month period. It is expected that the context- independent self-representation will show significantly greater temporal stability than the role-specific self-representations. It is also expected that old-old adults show greater stability than young-old adults. (2) To examine the stability of the structural arrangement of older adults' self-representations. This study will examine whether there are differences in stability depending on the structural importance of self-descriptors. It is expected that self-descriptors of central and peripheral importance show greater stability than self- descriptors of intermediate importance. It is also hypothesized that this effect is constant across age groups. (3) To examine the convergent validity of three different indexes of SCD. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) will be used to examine the convergent validity of 3 separate indexes of SCD. It is expected that findings from the CFA will support the convergent validity of the three methods used. (4) To examine whether different indexes of SCD show the same relations with psychological outcomes. This study will examine whether the different indexes of SCD show the same predictive relations with measures of psychological functioning and personality, after the effects of age, education, and physical health have been controlled for. (5) To test conceptual models examining the effect of SCD on psychological outcomes. Structural equation modeling (SEM) will be used to examine direct and indirect predictor models of SCD and psychological outcomes. A third model will examine whether SCD itself is a mediator of the effects of other variables (e.g., self-esteem) on psychological outcomes.

This proposal is submitted in response to RFA PA-99-049 NIA: Pilot Research Grant Program, research objective 22. Personality and Experimental Social Psychology: Personality trait-structure- process interactions. The proposed study incorporates social- cognitive theory and multilevel assessment into research on adults' personality and extends existing research in several ways by: (1) using an adult life span sample; (2) linking adults' traits and dispositions with their personal goals, goal parameters, and goal orientations; (3) using a multidimensional measure of psychological well-being (PWB); and (4) applying path analysis to examine the direct and indirect effects of traits and goals on different dimensions of PWB. Using a sample of 240 adults (80 young, middle-aged, and older adults), the specific aims of this study are: (1) To examine age differences in Level I and Level II personality variables across the adult life span. The first aim is descriptive in nature and focuses on age differences in Level I (i.e., traits and dispositions) and Level II (i.e., personal goals, goal parameters, goal orientations) variables. Because most research on personal goals has been conducted with college students, findings from this study will provide a baseline for future work on the role of personal goals in adult personality. (2) To examine age differences in goal commitment and goal attainability across the adult life span. To our knowledge, no data exist on whether and how adults of different ages differ with regard to specific goal parameters, such as commitment or attainability. Several theories, however, suggest that the pattern of age differences for goal commitment and attainability may be positive. This study will examine this hypothesis explicitly. (3) To examine the associations between Level I and Level II personality variables. Little information exists about the associations between goal-related variables and enduring personality characteristics, such as traits. This study will examine the bivariate associations between the Big Five traits, general self-efficacy, optimism, and affect and goal-related variables. This study also examines whether the bivariate associations differ significantly by age. (4) To test a model examining the direct and indirect effect of Level I and Level II variables on adults' PWB. Past studies have examined the associations between traits or goals and PWB simply in terms of bivariate correlations. This study will use path analysis to examine to what extent the effects of negative affectivity, positive affectivity, and efficacy orientation on different dimensions of PWB are mediated by adults' goal commitment and goal attainability.

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Two studies are proposed to investigate age differences in self-concept organization across the adult life span, and the extent to which different self-concept organizations are related to affect regulation. These goals are addressed by studying (a) a sample of healthy adults, and (b) a sample of adults who are treated for cancer. The specific aims are: (1) To examine age differences in self-concept organization across the adult life span: Although research with younger age groups has documented the stress-moderating effects of self-complexity (SC) and self-concept differentiation (SCD), knowledge about the adaptive value of these self-concept organizations in adulthood and their relationship with age is limited. Based on findings from earlier work, it is hypothesized that SC will be highest in middle age and lower in young and older adults. Conversely, SCD is hypothesized to be lowest in middle age and higher in young and older adults. (2) To examine the self-regulatory effects of self-representations by modeling daily variation in affect as a function of self-concept organization and daily stress: Self-related knowledge is important for interpersonal functioning and for the regulation of one's own behavior. Building on the existing work in this area, a daily diary study is proposed to examine the self-regulatory functions of self-representations over a 30-day period. Specifically, intra- and inter-individual variability in affect will be modeled as a function of daily stress and SC and SCD. It is hypothesized that SC and SCD will moderate the effects of daily stress on intra- and inter-individual variability in daily affect. (3) To examine the self-regulatory effects of self-representations on affect regulation in adult cancer patients: Being treated for cancer challenges a person's self-concept, self-regulation, and PWB in profound ways. A daily diary study is proposed drawing on 60 men (age 45+) with prostate cancer and 60 women (age 45+) with breast cancer. It is expected that the effect of SC and SCD on affect variability will be significantly stronger in cancer patients than in their healthy counterparts. It is also hypothesized that the moderating effects of SC and SCD on affect variability are significantly (p < .05) greater in the cancer sample than in the healthy sample. The results of these studies will advance the field by providing a more accurate understanding of the role of self-concept organization in affect regulation in healthy and ill adults. This application is submitted under the new investigator provision

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This application seeks 2 years of funding to develop a reliable and valid self-report questionnaire to assess middle-aged and older adults' Awareness of Age-Related Change (AARC). Diehl and Wahl (2010) defined AARC as all those experiences that make a person aware that his or her behavior, level of performance, or ways of experiencing life have changed as a consequence of having grown older (i.e., chronological age) (p. 340). Developing and validating this measurement instrument is essential for establishing the AARC concept empirically and for showing in subsequent studies that this new concept has explanatory value beyond the traditional concepts of subjective aging and age identity. Thus, this application is consistent with the Exploratory/ Developmental Grant (R21) mechanism which is intended to encourage exploratory and developmental research projects by providing support for the early and conceptual stages of these projects (PA-10-069). The proposed project has three specific aims: 1.To develop the item pool for the questionnaire measuring adults' AARC: This aim builds on the theoretical work that the Principal Investigator has done over the past 3 years. This work was recognized in 2008 by an award from the Gerontological Society of America for theoretical innovation in social gerontology. The Principal Investigator's empirical work related to AARC is now focused on the generation of an exhaustive item pool for a first version of a multi-dimensional questionnaire. To generate such an item pool, 10 focus groups with middle-aged and older adults will be conducted and questionnaire items will be derived from the transcribed focus group protocols, resulting in an initial version of the questionnaire. 2. To establish the psychometric properties of the new questionnaire: The psychometric properties of the AARC questionnaire will be established using two independent samples of adults. The initial version will be given to a representative sample of 400 middle-aged and older adults (age range 40 to 90 years) in Northern Colorado. Using the data obtained from this sample, reliability (e.g., internal consistency, test-retest reliability) ad validity (e.g., predictive and convergent validity) will be established and poorly performing items will be eliminated. The revised version of the questionnaire will then be given to a second representative sample of 600 middle-aged and older adults in the Denver metropolitan area. Additional psychometric work will be performed to refine the questionnaire using the data from this second sample. 3. To generate two short forms of the questionnaire for use in different settings: Using the data from both samples and applying Item Response Theory (IRT), a ten-item and a five-item version of the questionnaire will be created. These short forms will be designed for possible use in large-scale surveys, ecological momentary assessment studies, and laboratory-based studies. These short forms are also highly desirable for use in clinical practice. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: This application proposes the development of a multidimensional questionnaire to measure adults' Awareness of Age-Related Change (AARC). Having such a measure is relevant from a public health perspective because adults' self-perceptions of aging are powerful predictors of important real-life outcomes, such as preventive health behaviors and morbidity. Yet, to date there are no sophisticated measures available that assess middle-aged and older adults' AARC in a multidimensional way. The new measure is significant because it would enrich health-related research in several areas, including work in clinical practice settings.

This resubmission of application 1 R01 AG051723-01 seeks 5 years of funding to conduct a randomized con- trolled trial (RCT) to test the efficacy of a multi-component intervention called AgingPLUS. AgingPLUS targets neg- ative views on aging (NVOA), low control beliefs, and deficient goal-planning as a cluster of risk factors for un- healthy aging. Specifically, we will examine whether making adults' NVOA more positive and strengthening their personal control beliefs and goal planning will result in increases in physical activity (PA). PA is chosen as the outcome behavior of interest because it is the best non-pharmacological, non-invasive, and most cost-ef- fective method of health promotion. The proposed study addresses several issues of critical importance to indi- viduals and society at large. First, the project extends a large body of evidence showing that NVOA, low control beliefs, and poor goal-planning keep adults' from engaging in health-promoting behaviors, including engage- ment in PA. Second, the project also responds to calls for intervention programs that address attitudinal and motivational factors that undermine adults' ability to age in healthier ways. Finally, the project addresses critical issues with regard to the long-term maintenance of positive behavior change. The proposed project has three specific aims: 1. To conduct a randomized trial to examine the efficacy of the AgingPLUS program. Using a randomized single-masked pretest-posttest design with a social contact control group, we will examine if adults' NVOA, personal control beliefs, and goal planning can be improved over the course of a 4-week intervention pro- gram. 2. To test a conceptual model of the mechanisms underlying the intervention effects. Because partici- pants in the AgingPLUS group will practice a self-defined PA goal after they have completed the intervention, we will use accelerometry and daily activity logs to assess their PA. Using a multiple mediator model, we will examine if improved NVOA, control beliefs, and goal planning are the putative mechanisms that pro- duced the change in PA. We hypothesize that improvements in NVOA, control beliefs, and goal planning will be significant mediators of the association between the intervention and PA at the Week 8 posttest. 3. To conduct a 6-months follow-up to examine the long-term effects of AgingPLUS. We will conduct a 6- month follow-up and use multilevel modeling to describe participants' change trajectories across all 4 times of assessment. In addition, we will examine if intermittent monitoring of participants' PA facilitates the maintenance of a physically active lifestyle. This aim examines the natural time course of the intervention effects to inform the next stage of development of the AgingPLUS program.