OBJECTIVES: The current study explores whether personal social network characteristics are associated with older adults' memory and/or social cognitive function (e.g., ability to infer other's mental states-theory of mind). METHOD: 120 older adults completed a social network interview, a memory measure, and 2 core measures of social cognitive functions: emotion recognition and theory of mind. RESULTS: Variation in memory and social cognitive abilities predicted distinct aspects of older adults' social networks. Having better memory predicted having larger, less-dense social networks, but better theory of mind was associated with having at least one acquaintance in the network, and having more heterogeneous social relationships within the network. DISCUSSION: Together our findings suggest that disparate social cognitive abilities may serve unique functions, facilitating maintenance of beneficial social connections.
OBJECTIVES: The current study explores whether personal social network characteristics are associated with older adults' memory and/or social cognitive function (e.g., ability to infer other's mental states-theory of mind). METHOD: 120 older adults completed a social network interview, a memory measure, and 2 core measures of social cognitive functions: emotion recognition and theory of mind. RESULTS: Variation in memory and social cognitive abilities predicted distinct aspects of older adults' social networks. Having better memory predicted having larger, less-dense social networks, but better theory of mind was associated with having at least one acquaintance in the network, and having more heterogeneous social relationships within the network. DISCUSSION: Together our findings suggest that disparate social cognitive abilities may serve unique functions, facilitating maintenance of beneficial social connections.
Authors: Oscar Ybarra; Eugene Burnstein; Piotr Winkielman; Matthew C Keller; Melvin Manis; Emily Chan; Joel Rodriguez Journal: Pers Soc Psychol Bull Date: 2008-02
Authors: Elena Cachicatari-Vargas; Karimen Jetzabel Mutter Cuellar; Wender Florencio Condori Chipana; Flor de Maria Miranda Socasaire; Ángel Acevedo-Duque; Orfelina Arpasi-Quispe Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-09-12 Impact factor: 4.614