(Stillness in the Storm Editor) To be alive means to be active, dynamic, and playful, ideally. Human beings are not meant to stop learning, creating, or sitting mindlessly in front of a TV for hours upon hours, especially during the latter stages of life. The fact our culture has taken the invaluable resource of wisdom accumulated by our elders and cut us off as a people is tragic. But we can restore this link. The following study indirectly supports this conjecture by showing that as we age, we need to continue to generate new dreams, goals, and visions of a fulfilled life. I argue community is the ultimate gateway for this fulfillment. And in the absence of that integrated community, we can do other things to keep our spirits alive and active.
– Justin
Related Social Needs: Achievement, Power, and Association | Psychology
by Staff Writer, May 16th, 2020
Certain middle-aged and older adults, especially women who tend to disengage from difficult tasks and goals after they retire, may be at greater risk of cognitive decline as they age, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.
“This study raises questions about how individual differences in motivation and gender may play a role in cognitive declines and points to the potential importance of continuing to engage in mentally stimulating activities in retirement,” said lead author Jeremy Hamm, PhD, of North Dakota State University. “This may be a significant challenge for people who have a tendency to let go of goals when they encounter initial obstacles and setbacks.”
The study, published in the journal Psychology and Aging, analyzed data from Midlife in the United States, a national longitudinal survey of 7,108 participants aimed at identifying the factors that influence health as people age. Hamm and his team used a subset of 732 participants from the survey to examine the differences in cognitive function between retired adults and similar others who chose to continue working past retirement age. Half of the participants were female and 94% of participants were white.
Previous research has shown that retiring is associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline, but little is known about the motivation factors that could make someone more susceptible to such a decrease, according to Hamm.
“Our premise was that not all those who retire are likely to be at higher risk of decline. We thought that individuals who retire may be more or less at risk, depending on their tendency to disengage from challenging tasks and goals that could otherwise provide a source of mental stimulation,” he said.
Researchers measured participants’ level of goal disengagement, or people’s tendency to lower their ambitions and decrease commitment to personal goals. Participants were asked to rate their level of agreement with statements such as “To avoid disappointments, I don’t set my goals too high” and “I feel relieved when I let go of some of my responsibilities” on a scale of one to four.
Participants also took a test by telephone to measure basic cognitive functions, such as memory, reasoning and processing speed.
The study found that retired women who were prone to disengagement had steeper declines in cognitive functioning than their peers who remained employed. However, no differences emerged between retired and working men who were prone to disengagement, whose higher socioeconomic status may have protected them from early declines, according to Hamm.
“Our findings suggest not everyone who retires is at greater risk of cognitive declines. There are many opportunities to engage in mentally stimulating activities in retirement, such as reading or playing word games,” he said. “However, personal agency and motivation may come to the fore at this stage of the lifespan since these activities often need to be self-initiated and autonomously maintained.”
Book The Memory Diet: More Than 150 Healthy Recipes for the Proper Care and Feeding of Your Brain
Story Source:
Materials provided by American Psychological Association. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.
Journal Reference:
- Jeremy M. Hamm, Jutta Heckhausen, Jacob Shane, Margie E. Lachman. Risk of cognitive declines with retirement: Who declines and why? Psychology and Aging, 2020; DOI: 10.1037/pag0000453
Stillness in the Storm Editor: Why did we post this?
Psychology is the study of the nature of mind. Philosophy is the use of that mind in life. Both are critically important to gain an understanding of as they are aspects of the self. All you do and experience will pass through these gateways of being. The preceding information provides an overview of this self-knowledge, offering points to consider that people often don’t take the time to contemplate. With the choice to gain self-awareness, one can begin to see how their being works. With the wisdom of self-awareness, one has the tools to master their being and life in general, bringing order to chaos through navigating the challenges with the capacity for right action.
– Justin
Not sure how to make sense of this? Want to learn how to discern like a pro? Read this essential guide to discernment, analysis of claims, and understanding the truth in a world of deception: 4 Key Steps of Discernment – Advanced Truth-Seeking Tools.
Stillness in the Storm Editor’s note: Did you find a spelling error or grammatical mistake? Send an email to [email protected], with the error and suggested correction, along with the headline and url. Do you think this article needs an update? Or do you just have some feedback? Send us an email at [email protected]. Thank you for reading.
Source:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/03/200316090346.htm
Leave a Reply