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Executive Function and Instrumental ADL Performance in Older Adults with Heart Failure

Alosco, Michael L
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1364204867

Abstract Details

2013, MA, Kent State University, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychological Sciences.
Impairments in cognitive function are common among older adults with heart failure (HF) and associated with reduced quality of life and increased mortality risk. Executive function has been identified as a significant contributor to instrumental activities of daily living (ADL) performance among various medical populations, though this has yet to be fully examined in a HF population. The current study examined whether executive function mediates the relationship between HF severity and performance of instrumental ADLs. The current sample consisted of 120 persons with HF (67.71 ± 9.17 years of age, 33.3% female). Participants completed a brief neuropsychological battery, a series of psychosocial self-report measures, and impedance cardiography was conducted to quantify cardiac index. Executive dysfunction and reduced instrumental ADL performance was common in the current sample. Bivariate correlations revealed that cardiac index was not significantly associated with executive function or total instrumental ADLs (p > .05 for both) and thus mediation analyses were not conducted. Post-hoc analyses revealed a trend between executive function and total instrumental ADLs (¿F(1,118) = 3.02, ¿R2 = .02, p = .085), with better executive function associated with increased ability to perform instrumental ADLs. Partial correlation analyses also revealed reduced executive function was associated with decreased physical quality of life, mental quality of life, and basic ADL performance (p < .05 for all). In sum, the current findings do not support executive function as a mediator between the relationship of cardiac index and instrumental ADLs. However, our findings suggest a possible role for executive function in the performance of instrumental ADLS and prospective studies should further explore this link.
John Gunstad (Advisor)
Mary Beth Spitznagel (Committee Member)
Hughes Joel (Committee Member)
Merriman William (Committee Member)
58 p.
Clinical Psychology; Neurosciences; Psychology
Heart failure; executive function; activities of daily living; cognitive function

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Alosco, M. L. (2013). Executive Function and Instrumental ADL Performance in Older Adults with Heart Failure [Master's thesis, Kent State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1364204867

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Alosco, Michael. Executive Function and Instrumental ADL Performance in Older Adults with Heart Failure. 2013. Kent State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1364204867.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Alosco, Michael. "Executive Function and Instrumental ADL Performance in Older Adults with Heart Failure." Master's thesis, Kent State University, 2013. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1364204867

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

kent1364204867
868
© 2013, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Kent State University and OhioLINK.