Longitudinal Change and Prediction of Everyday Task Competence in the Elderly

Abstract

The present study examined longitudinal change in everyday task competence in a sample of 102 community-dwelling older adults from central Pennsylvania. Subjects were assessed on cognitive abilities, intellectual control beliefs, and everyday task competence in 1979 and 1986. The results indicated significant mean level decline on everyday task competence. However, wide individual differences were apparent in the timing and rate of decline; 62% of the sample remained stable or improved in competence over this seven-year period. Structural equation analyses were conducted to examine lagged relationships among the ability, intellectual control, and everyday task competence constructs. Fluid reasoning ability was a significant longitudinal predictor of subsequent everyday task competence. Everyday task competence was a significant longitudinal predictor of subsequent self-efficacy beliefs regarding intellectual aging. The results suggest that mean level decline in everyday task competence may not represent the intraindividual developmental trajectory of many subjects. Prior level of fluid ability influences subsequent everyday task competence, and prior level of everyday task competence influences levels of self-efficacy beliefs.