The present study aims to investigate the functioning and change of pragmatic abilities in aging, and specifically whether these variations have a greater impact in the age group above 75 years. It also wants to investigate the relationship between these pragmatic abilities and cognitive and socio-cognitive abilities, such as the Theory of Mind and Executive Functions. This work presents data from a cross-sectional study in which 68 senior citizens residing in the province of Milan took part. Participants were divided into two different groups: young-older (65 to 75 years) and old-older (over 75 years). Participants were assessed on pragmatic skills, Executive Functions and ToM. To measure pragmatic abilities, a test of Metaphors and a test of Jokes were administered. Notably, these tasks included both physical and mental items. The Executive Functions were analyzed by measuring its individual components: Digit-Symbol Substitution, for processing speed, Stroop Test for inhibition, Digit Span Backward for working memory, Trail Making Test for visual attention and shifting. Strange Stories were administered to evaluate the ToM. The results reveal differences in pragmatic skills between the two age groups. However, these differences disappear once controlling for the level of education. Results also show that ToM and Executive Functions are involved in pragmatic skills in different ways depending on whether the type of stimulus is mental or physical. Finally, the results are discussed in relation to the literature examined.
Il presente studio ha lo scopo di indagare il funzionamento e il cambiamento delle abilità pragmatiche nell'invecchiamento, in particolare, se tali variazioni hanno una rilevanza maggiore nella fascia di età superiore ai 75 anni. Vuole, inoltre, indagare la relazione esistente fra tali abilità pragmatiche e le abilità socio-cognitive e cognitive, quali la Teoria della Mente e le Funzioni Esecutive. L'elaborato presenta i risultati di una ricerca trasversale a cui hanno partecipato 68 anziani residenti nella provincia di Milano che sono stati suddivisi in due diversi gruppi: giovani-anziani (dai 65 ai 75 anni) e anziani-anziani (over 75 anni). I partecipanti sono stati valutati sulle abilità pragmatiche, sulle Funzioni Esecutive e sulla ToM. Per misurare le abilità pragmatiche sono state somministrate una prova di Metafore e una prova di Barzellette. Gli stimoli di queste prove erano distinti in fisici e mentali. Le Funzioni Esecutive sono state analizzate misurando le sue singole componenti: Digit-Symbol Substitution, per la velocità di elaborazione, Test di Stroop per l'inibizione, Digit Span Backward per la memoria di lavoro, Trail Making Test per l'attenzione visiva e la flessibilità cognitiva. Per valutare la ToM sono state somministrate le Strange Stories. Dai risultati emergono differenze significative nelle abilità pragmatiche tra i due gruppi di età, che tuttavia si annullano controllando per il livello di istruzione. Si evidenzia anche che la ToM e le Funzioni Esecutive sono coinvolte nelle abilità pragmatiche con modalità differenti a seconda che la tipologia di stimolo pragmatico sia mentale o fisica. Infine, i risultati sono discussi in relazione alla letteratura di riferimento.
Invecchiamento fisiologico sano e abilità pragmatiche. Giovani-anziani e anziani-anziani a confronto.
CARNOLI, MARZIA ELISA
2018/2019
Abstract
The present study aims to investigate the functioning and change of pragmatic abilities in aging, and specifically whether these variations have a greater impact in the age group above 75 years. It also wants to investigate the relationship between these pragmatic abilities and cognitive and socio-cognitive abilities, such as the Theory of Mind and Executive Functions. This work presents data from a cross-sectional study in which 68 senior citizens residing in the province of Milan took part. Participants were divided into two different groups: young-older (65 to 75 years) and old-older (over 75 years). Participants were assessed on pragmatic skills, Executive Functions and ToM. To measure pragmatic abilities, a test of Metaphors and a test of Jokes were administered. Notably, these tasks included both physical and mental items. The Executive Functions were analyzed by measuring its individual components: Digit-Symbol Substitution, for processing speed, Stroop Test for inhibition, Digit Span Backward for working memory, Trail Making Test for visual attention and shifting. Strange Stories were administered to evaluate the ToM. The results reveal differences in pragmatic skills between the two age groups. However, these differences disappear once controlling for the level of education. Results also show that ToM and Executive Functions are involved in pragmatic skills in different ways depending on whether the type of stimulus is mental or physical. Finally, the results are discussed in relation to the literature examined.È consentito all'utente scaricare e condividere i documenti disponibili a testo pieno in UNITESI UNIPV nel rispetto della licenza Creative Commons del tipo CC BY NC ND.
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https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14239/4515