Md. Zwahr et al., Judgments about estrogen replacement therapy: The role of age, cognitive abilities, and beliefs, PSYCHOL AG, 14(2), 1999, pp. 179-191
This study investigated age, cognitive abilities, health beliefs, and other
factors in women's judgments about effective treatments for menopause. Wom
en (N = 102) ranging in age from 20 to 79 read a vignette about a woman fac
ing a decision about Estrogen Replacement Therapy (ERT) and then made judgm
ents about what should be done. Participants also completed a battery of qu
estions pertaining to ERT and cognitive abilities. Path-analytic techniques
were used to determine the role of specific cognitive abilities and the re
presentation of menopause and its treatment in making judgments about ERT t
reatments. Cognitive abilities had direct effects on treatment decisions. E
ducation affected the number of perceived options for treatment. Age and ed
ucation indirectly affected treatment decisions, operating through cognitiv
e abilities. Factors related to the mental representation of menopause had
no direct effects and few indirect effects on treatment decisions. Potentia
l mechanisms that can help older adults compensate for declines in cognitiv
e abilities in medical decisions are discussed.