Investigating associations between personality and the efficacy of interventions for cognitive ageing: A systematic review

Effects of Strategy-Based Memory Training for Older Adults: Do Booster Sessions Prompt Long-Term Benefits?

This study examined the efficacy of a strategy-based memory training for older adults at short- and long-term with two (5- and 11 months) follow-ups. We also explored whether booster sessions (additional training before the first follow-up) facilitated the maintenance of benefits. Thirty-three older adults received a training based on the teaching of different effective memory strategies. One group completed three booster sessions before the 5 months follow-up. Training gains were examined using a word-list and a face-surname association recall tasks, and transfer effects with a grocery-word list (GL) recall task, a working memory (WM) measure, and a perceived memory functioning questionnaire. Training gains and transfer effects to the WM measure emerged and were maintained up to the second follow-up. No benefits for the GL and perceived memory functioning were found. The "boosted" group had only a slight advantage-in one of the transfer tasks-as shown by effect sizes. This pilot study confirms the efficacy of strategy-based memory training in supporting older adults' memory performance up to 11 months since training completion. However, booster sessions seem not to make a clear difference in prompting long-lasting benefits. Training features capable of fostering generalized, prolonged effects are worth investigating.

Does Personality Moderate the Efficacy of Physical and Cognitive Training Interventions? A 12-month Randomized Controlled Trial in Older Adults

This study investigated whether personality traits moderate the effects of a 12-month physical or combined physical and cognitive training interventions on physical and cognitive functioning. Participants were community-dwelling 70-85-year-old adults (n=314). They were randomly assigned to physical training (weekly supervised walking/balance and strength/balance training, home exercises 2-3x/wk and moderate aerobic activity) or to a physical and cognitive training group (the same physical training and computer training on executive functions 3-4x/wk). The outcomes assessed at baseline and post-intervention were physical (maximum gait speed, six-minute walking distance, dual-task cost on gait speed) and cognitive functioning (Stroop, Trail-Making Test-B, verbal fluency, CERAD total score). Personality traits (NEO-PI-3, n=239) were assessed post-intervention. Personality traits did not moderate intervention effects on physical functioning. Higher openness was associated with greater improvement in CERAD scores, especially in the physical and cognitive training group (group×time×trait B=-.08, p=.038). Lower neuroticism (time×trait B=-.04, p=.021) and higher conscientiousness (time×trait B=.04, p=.027) were associated with greater improvement in CERAD scores in both groups. Personality traits had mostly null moderating effects across physical and cognitive outcomes, with the possible exception of CERAD score. Individuals with more adaptive personality traits gained more on global cognitive scores during a 12-month training intervention.

Five-factor model personality traits and grip strength: Meta-analysis of seven studies

OBJECTIVE

To examine the association between Five-Factor Model personality traits and grip strength.

METHOD

Adults aged 16 to 104 years old (N > 40,000) were from the Health and Retirement Study, the Midlife in the United States Study, The English Longitudinal Study of Aging, the National Health and Aging Trends Survey, the United Kingdom Household Longitudinal Study, and the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study graduate and sibling samples. Participants had data on personality traits, demographic factors, grip strength, and mediators such as depressive symptoms, physical activity, body mass index (BMI), and c-reactive protein (CRP).

RESULTS

Across all samples and a meta-analysis, higher neuroticism was related to lower grip strength (meta-analytic estimate: -0.07, 95%CI: -0.075; -0.056). Higher extraversion (0.04, 95%CI: 0.022; 0.060), openness (0.05, 95%CI: 0.032; 0.062), and conscientiousness (0.05, 95%CI: 0.04; 0.065) were associated with higher grip strength across most samples and the meta-analysis. Depressive symptoms were the most consistent mediators between neuroticism and grip strength. Depressive symptoms and physical activity partly mediated the associations with extraversion, openness, and conscientiousness. Lower CRP partly mediated the association with conscientiousness. Sex moderated the associations for extraversion, openness, and conscientiousness, with stronger associations among males. Age moderated the neuroticism association, with stronger associations among younger individuals.

CONCLUSION

This study provides replicable evidence that personality is related to grip strength and identifies potential moderators and mediators of these associations. Overall, higher neuroticism is a risk factor for low grip strength, whereas high extraversion, openness, and conscientiousness may be protective.

The role of personality traits in inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation response in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

BACKGROUND

The effectiveness of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is a critical issue for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. However, PR response is marked by a strong heterogeneity, partially unexplained to date. We hypothesized that personality traits defined by the Five-Factor Model could modulate the effect of inpatient-PR.

OBJECTIVE

The aim was to assess the associations between these five personality traits and PR outcomes.

METHODS

74 persons with COPD admitted for a 5-week inpatient PR program had a personality assessment at the start of the program (T1). Exercise capacity, quality of life, sensory and affective dyspnea dimensions were assessed at T1 and at the end of the program (T2). Their evolution was evaluated using the delta score between T2 and T1. PR response was defined using the minimal clinically important change score for each of them. A composite response was established distinguishing the poor responders' group, made of patients who responded to 0, 1 or 2 parameters and the good responders' group, with patients who responded on 3 or 4 indicators.

RESULTS

Logistic regressions analyses highlighted that those with a high level of openness [OR = 0.36, 95% CI = 0.15-0.74, p < 0.01] were less likely to respond on quality of life, controlling for socio-demographic factors and the severity of the disease.

CONCLUSION

This study shows that the investigation of the personality constitutes an interesting perspective for better understanding the interindividual differences observed between patients in the PR response. Tailoring clinical intervention to the patient's personality could be a promising prospect for optimizing PR effectiveness.

Effect of a Social Networking Site Training on Cognitive Performance in Healthy Older People and Role of Personality Traits. Results from the Randomized Controlled Trial Ageing in a Networked Society-Social Experiment (ANS-SE) Study

OBJECTIVES

The study aimed to evaluate the short-term efficacy of social network sites (SNSs) training on cognitive performance in cognitively healthy older individuals, and to explore the influence of personality traits on cognitive benefits of SNSs training.

METHODS

The Aging in a Networked Society-Social Experiment study was a randomized controlled trial with three arms: intervention group (course on SNSs use), active control group (lifestyle education) and waiting list. Among the 180 eligible participants, 144 participated, 115 completed the study. The assessment comprised: Stroop Color and Word Test, Wechsler tests (Digit span, Symbol search, Coding), and Eysenck Personality Questionnaire- Revised- Short Form.

RESULTS

There was no significant cognitive improvement for treatment group versus the control groups. Time interference significantly worsened in lifestyle education group compared to the waiting list, after controlling for baseline test scores and personality traits.

CONCLUSION

The present study does not support the usefulness of SNSs training with healthy older adults. The educational content of lifestyle education is not an inert condition among individuals with high levels of neuroticism and socially desirable responding. There is a need to design experimental conditions in the control groups which do not influence participant's outcomes.

Using Theories of Behavior Change to Develop Interventions for Healthy Aging

Healthy aging requires people to adopt and maintain beneficial behaviors in all stages of the life span. Supporting behavior change, including via the motivation to make and maintain those changes, is therefore important for the promotion of healthy aging. The aim of this overview is to introduce theoretical frameworks from the psychology of motivation that lend themselves to the development of effective interventions promoting behavior change conducive to healthy aging. We discuss theoretical frameworks referring to the determinants, properties, and functionality of goals aimed at behavior change, and consider the implications of the various theories for designing interventions to support healthy aging. We first consider theories that focus on beliefs and attitudes as determinants of goals, then we address theories that focus on the structure and content as important properties of goals, and, finally, we examine theories drawing on conscious and nonconscious processes underlying the functionality of these goals. We will present if-then planning and mental contrasting, as well as nudging and boosting, that is, novel strategies of behavior change that support the creation of scalable interventions for healthy aging across the life span. Against this background, new perspectives emerge for modern, state-of-the-art, and individually tailored interventions with the aim of enhancing older people's healthy living.

Recalled Positive Influences within Life-Story Interviews and Self-Reported Generative Concern in German Older Adults: The Moderating Role of Extraversion

Previous research has shown that recalling positive influences in one’s life story correlates with generative concern. Given findings that not everyone benefits from generative efforts uniformly, however, the present study tested if extraversion moderates this relation. In total, 147 older German adults (59 through 83 years) recalled positive influences in their lives in an interview session and provided self-report questionnaire data on their generative concern (Loyola Generativity Scale), generative behavior (Generative Behavior Checklist), and extraversion (Mini-IPIP scales). Results from a moderated mediation model indicate that recalled positive influences related to generative concern but not generative behavior. Moreover, extraversion did indeed moderate between recalled positive influences and generative concern in that the relation was significantly positive for medium and high extraversion. The findings suggest that what people learn from generative role models is generative concern rather than generative behavior. They also suggest a twofold role of extraversion for generativity: It has been found to be a predictor of generativity but also affects what people gain from others’ generative efforts.