DIMENSIONALITY OF EVERYDAY PROBLEM-SOLVING IN OLDER ADULTS

This study investigated individual differences in older adults' everyd ay problem-solving performance using 3 instruments. Past research, typ ically using only single measures, has yielded a multitude of findings regarding age effects in everyday problem solving. The present sample consisted of 111 older adults (44 men, 67 women) who ranged in age fr om 68 to 94 years. Confirmatory factor analyses revealed that, within each of the 3 instruments, subscales representing particular content d omains could be reliably identified. There was, however, little relati on between the different instruments, and the measures also differed i n their relation with chronological age. These results support the vie w that everyday problem-solving competence is a multidimensional const ruct, of which previous investigations may only have studied particula r dimensions.