THE RIGHT KIND OF SMART? EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT IN OLDER ADULTS

摘要

>Background: Health psychology, emphasizes the potential of individual resources in effectively adapting to health challenges. Older adults with cognitive impairment (CI) suffer depletion of individual resources (e.g.: intelligence, certain personality traits, etc.) that jeopardizes their ability to adapt and function. Emotional intelligence (EI), a relatively new concept, holds promise as a pivotal resource for health challenges that until recently went unnoticed. In this pilot study we examined the distribution and inter-correlations among individual resource measures against a cognitive impairment measure to test EI’s potential role as a resource for older adults coping with CI. >Methods: Applying a correlational study design, 66 older adults (mean age 77.92 ± 6.83), 60% of whom were women, were recruited from a memory clinic in central Israel. The participants showed a broad spectrum of cognitive function on Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA scores 15–30), ranging intact through Mild Cognitive Impairment to dementia. General intelligence (GI), EI, Instrumental ADL (IADL), social support and comorbidities were assessed. >Results: EI positively associated with IADL (r=.37; p<.01) GI (r=.26; p<.05) and social support (r=.27; p<.05). In a regression analysis controlling for intervening factors EI did not correlate with MoCA while showing associations with GI (β=.26; p<.05), IADL (β=.21; p<.05) and education level (β=.42; p<.01). >Conclusions: As GI decreases with CI, EI remains relatively intact as an individual resource. This first of its kind evidence supports the possibility that EI may serve as a resilient resource in older adults with CI that may facilitate coping with the challenges of this condition.