Saturday 10th of May 10.15-11.45
Aula Magna
Decision-making processes in older adults: The role of cognitive and emotional factors in financial and healthcare choices
Decision making is fundamental in everyday life, supporting individuals’ autonomy and well- being. As age increases, it becomes crucial to better understand how to prevent potential impairments in decision making in order to avoid consequences that could negatively affect the quality of life and the whole aging process.
The present Symposium aims to present a series of contributions specifically focused on older adults which deepen the role of both cognitive and emotional factors underlying risk- taking behavior, and decisions in financial and healthcare domains. A comprehensive in- depth understanding of these aspects appears fundamental to empower functional decisions during aging through designing effective communication and prevention strategies.
Chair |
Laura Colautti & Paola Iannello |
|
Speaker |
Teindra Capri |
Can risk-taking propensity be a trait that captures individual differences across measures and time? Age patterns and cognition |
Chaira Barbara Dadà |
Uncovering susceptibility to fraud in aging: analysis of the phenomenon and proposals for prevention. |
|
Riva Silvia |
Reasoning processes and cognitive patters in vaccine hesitancy – a focus on SARS-CoV-2 booster uptake among individuals aged 50+ in the UK |
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Abstracts
Talk 1: Can risk-taking propensity be a trait that captures individual differences across measures and time? Age patterns and cognition
by Tindara Capri
Authors: Tindara Capri | Giulia Picciotto
Department of Life and Health Sciences and Health Professions, Link Campus University, Rome, Italy
This study examines general risk propensity and specific risk-taking in different age groups. Previous research indicates a U trend in risk propensity throughout the life cycle, peaking in adolescence and older age. It is hypothesized that adolescents are more likely to engage in risky behaviors in specific contexts compared to young adults and adults.
A sample of 231 subjects aged between 14 and 70 years (M = 42.25; SD = 17.82) was divided into four age groups: 31 adolescents (14-24 years), 34 young adults (25-39 years), 30 adults (40-60 years), and 36 older adults (61-70 years). Participants completed the Sensation Seeking Scale (SSS), Risk Propensity Scale (RPS), Tests of Self-Conscious Affect-III (TOSCA-3) and Big Five Inventory (BFI).
Results indicate that adolescents and young adults exhibit similar levels of risk-taking, confirming that risk propensity peaks in adolescence and declines into adulthood. Young adults display riskier behaviors than adolescents in seeking unconventional experiences. While no significant differences in affectivity were found, risk-taking was positively correlated with extraversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness across all groups. These findings highlight the need for educational initiatives aimed at addressing personality traits in adolescents to reduce negative risk-taking.
This project is funded by the European Union-Next Generation EU.
Talk 2: Uncovering susceptibility to fraud in aging: analysis of the phenomenon and proposals for prevention.
by Chiara Barbara Dadà1
Authors: Chiara Barbara Dadà1 | Laura Colautti1 | Alessia Rosi2 | Elena Cavallini2 | Alessandro Antonietti1 | Paola Iannello1
1Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy
2Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
Frauds and scams are widespread worldwide both resulting in significant monetary losses for the population and society and causing detrimental psychological consequences to victims and their families. This research provides a comprehensive analysis of the phenomenon in Italy, focusing on identifying the main risk factors for different types of fraud in different age groups.
Starting from a systematic review, several individual variables – including socio-demographic, psychological, and cognitive ones – were identified as significant risk factors. Based on these findings, we conducted a survey on a representative sample of 500 Italian adults and older adults to assess the prevalence of scams in Italy and identify the main individual variables involved. Our analysis outlined different individual factors between victims and non-victims across the lifespan.
Finally, 50 elderly victims of scams underwent an individual assessment including psychological and cognitive tools to develop comprehensive risk profiles, recognizing the specific challenges faced by this target group, such as loneliness and cognitive decline.
Our results provide valuable insights into individual characteristics that increase susceptibility to scams, identifying modifiable and non-modifiable risk profiles to guide future prevention strategies.
Talk 3: Reasoning processes and cognitive patters in vaccine hesitancy – a focus on SARS-CoV-2 booster uptake among individuals aged 50+ in the UK
by Riva Silvia
Authors: Riva Silvia | Samuel Lam
School of Allied Health, and Life Sciences, St Mary’s University, Twickenham, London, U.K.
Background:
New variants of SARS-CoV-2 have highlighted the critical role of booster vaccinations as a public health strategy. However, the uptake of booster jabs among individuals aged 50 and above has shown considerable variation, influenced by factors such as ethnicity, socioeconomic background, and education level.
Methodology:
The TRUST study aimed to explore these cognitive and psychological dimensions by conducting qualitative interviews with 30 individuals aged 50+ who declined booster vaccinations, recruiting 15 participants each from South London and the West Midlands. Data were thematically analyzed using NVivo V.12, with transcripts generated by Otter.ai.
Results:
Thematic analysis revealed four key themes: ‘Vaccine production and administration,’ ‘Health (mis)information and beliefs,’ ‘Personal circumstances and social influences,’ and ‘Policy and logistical factors.’ The analysis also uncovered important cognitive patterns, including the influence of epistemic trust—the level of confidence in the knowledge provided by others—and the bandwagon effect, where individuals’ decisions are shaped by the perceived behaviour of their social group.
Conclusion:
The TRUST study sheds light on the reasoning processes, cognitive biases, and psychological constructs influencing SARS-CoV-2 booster hesitancy among individuals aged 50+. These findings emphasize the need for health promotion strategies that account for diverse cognitive patterns and social influences. T