Author: Joshua W. PollockPublisher:
ISBN:
Category : Aging
Languages : en
Pages : 151
Book Description
The current study analyzed age and other potential predictors for risky decision making. Forty younger adults (19-25 years) and 40 older adults (63-86 years) made risk based decisions related to health, nutrition and finance. Variables hypothesized to influence risky decision making were measured and investigated as possible predictors across each of the domains and in total. Contrary to what was hypothesized, older adults did not make riskier decisions in any domain or in total. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that age did not account for significant variance in the risky decision making domains. Stepwise regression analyses revealed response time on the Tower of Hanoi as a predictor of risky financial decision making. Stepwise regression analyses also revealed Iowa Gambling Task scores, gender, extroversion, and errors on the Tower of Hanoi as predictors of nutritional risky decision making scores. They also revealed scores on the Iowa Gambling Task and average response time on the Tower of Hanoi to be predictors of overall risky decision making scores. Age was not a significant predictor of any of the domains of risky decision making, however moderated regression analyses revealed age-related influences on cognitive regulation components for risky financial decision making. It is hypothesized that aspects of cognitive dynamics (cognitive regulation and emotional regulation), along with age influences in the financial domain, are responsible for differences in risky decision making.