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The association between felt gender typicality (self-perceived similarity to the same-gender peer group) and psychosocial adjustment (self-esteem, peer social competence, depression, victimization, and aggression) was examined in a sample of early adolescents in New Delhi, India (N = 296, 130 girls, mean age = 12.73 years). We also explored whether adolescents' gender-differentiating cognitions (felt pressure for gender conformity, work sexism, and entity beliefs) affect their adjustment, alone and in interaction with felt typicality. Results indicated that felt typicality was associated with higher self-esteem in girls and in older adolescents, with lower depression in older adolescents, and with higher peer social competence. Gender-differentiating beliefs were especially detrimental to girls' and younger adolescents' psychosocial adjustment, with mixed results for boys' adjustment. Gender beliefs also moderated the influence of felt typicality on adjustment. Felt atypicality was associated with greater depression and aggression when adolescents also reported strongly sexist beliefs; and with greater victimization for older adolescents who had high felt pressure or work sexism. Further, boys with strong entity beliefs failed to derive peer social competence from felt typicality. Results indicate that gender self-discrepancy--a disconnect between how one sees oneself in relation to the same-gender peer group and how one feels one's gender should be--is problematic.

Background: Refractive errors are common visual comorbidities among the elderly. Cognitive dysfunction also occurs in this population. A study by Ong et al (2013) demonstrated an association of refractive errors with poor cognitive performance. In this study, we explored the potential association between refractive errors (RE) and cognitive functions (CF) in an elderly population from South India. Method: This cross‐sectional analysis, based on the Tata Longitudinal Study on Aging (CBR‐TLSA) cohort (Sundarakumar et al., 2020), included participants with a minimum visual acuity of ≤ 0.52 LogMar using the LogMAR chart (Aurolab, India). Those meeting the criteria underwent objective refraction with a retinoscope (Welch Allyn, Dublin, USA) to classify RE (Emmetropia, Myopia, Hypermetropia). CF was assessed using Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination III (ACE III) and various cognitive tests, including Digit Forward/Backward, Trail Making Test A/B, Modified Taylor Complex Figure Immediate/Delayed Recall, Digit Simple Substitution Test (DSST), and COGNITO (Computerized assessment of adult information processing) battery domain‐specific tests. Cognitive tasks were performed post‐acuity correction with prescription glasses. Result: The demographic characteristics of the study sample are mentioned in Table 1. Among 856 participants, 149 (17%) were Emmetropes, 224 (26%) were Myopes, and 483 (56%) were Hypermetropes. The Myopes performed poorly in TMT‐B (β = 14.9 (CI: 1.16, 28.68), p = 0.03), MTCF IR (β = ‐2.15 (CI: ‐3.8, ‐0.49), p = 0.01), MTCF DR (β = ‐2.2 (CI: ‐3.9, ‐0.48), p = 0.011), and reading and sentence comprehension (β = ‐0.37 (CI: ‐0.63, ‐0.11), p = 0.004) compared to emmetropes. Hypermetropic showed poor performance in Ace visuo‐spatial (β = ‐0.43 (CI: ‐0.79, ‐0.06), p = 0.02), MTCF DR (β = ‐1.5 (CI: ‐3.08, ‐0.03), p = 0.045), and showed better performance in Digit Forward Total Correct (β = 0.96 (CI:0.03,1.89), p = 0.04) & span (β = 0.53 (CI:0.07,1.004), p = 0.02). Conclusion: Our study found that individuals with myopia and hypermetropia performed worse on certain cognitive tests compared to those with normal vision. Myopic individuals struggled with tasks involving complex figure recall and comprehension, while hypermetropic individuals had difficulties with visuospatial tasks and they did better in attention tasks. These findings suggest that corrected RE in older adults could contribute to cognitive challenges and needs to be further researched. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Frailty, synonymous with physical vulnerability and decline, may exert nuanced effects on cognitive functions.(Borges, Canevelli, Cesari, & Aprahamian, 2019) This study assesses possible association between frailty and cognitive performance with the aim of identifying vulnerable cognitive domains. Method: We analysed the baseline data from Tata Longitudinal Study of Ageing (TLSA)(Sundarakumar et al., 2020), an ongoing longitudinal study, based in urban Bangalore, India. Frailty was evaluated using clinical markers such as Timed Up and Go test (TUG), Hand Grip Strength right and left (HGSRt and HGSLt respectively), and Chair Stand test (CST). Cognitive function was evaluated using Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination III (ACE III), and Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scores. Generalized linear models/ Binary logistic regression were used to evaluate the relationship between frailty parameters and cognition. Result: In a cohort of 1484 participants (51% males, 49% females; mean age 62.3 ± 9.6, mean education 15.2±3.8 years), significant positive correlation was found between HGS and ACE scores and significant negative correlation was found between TUG and ACE scores. Notably, no significant association was found between the Chair Stand Test (CST) and ACE scores (Table 1&2). Individuals with higher HGSRt (Odds Ratio [OR] = 0.967, 0.939‐0.996, p value 0.026), and CST (OR = 0.903, 0.839‐0.972, p value 0.006) exhibited a lower likelihood of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Additionally, those with MCI took longer duration in TUG test (OR = 1.209, 1.122‐1.304, p value <0.001) compared to normal participants. There was no significant association between MCI and HGSLt (OR = 0.973, 0.945‐1.002, p value <0.069). Conclusion: The study reveals a significant association between frailty parameters and cognitive functions. These findings demonstrate the impact of physical resilience on cognitive well‐being, emphasizing the importance of addressing frailty as a modifiable factor in promoting cognitive health among aging individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We hypothesized that in adolescence, maladaptive narcissism interacts with low self-esteem to predict a preoccupied attachment style ("attachment for self-affirmation hypothesis"), and with high self-esteem to predict an avoidant attachment style ("attachment for self-enhancement hypothesis"). We expected gender differences in narcissistic adolescents' attachment strategies, with girls more likely to be motivated to self-affirm, and boys more likely to self-enhance. Early adolescents in England (N = 306, 156 girls, 150 boys, X-bar age = 13.38 years) responded to self-report measures of narcissism, self-esteem, and attachment styles to mother and a friend. Results supported the attachment for self-enhancement hypothesis only. For adolescent boys (but not girls) with high self-esteem, narcissism was associated with higher avoidant attachment toward the mother and a friend. The results suggest that maladaptive narcissism might derail normative separation-individuation processes in adolescent boys, thus contributing to their adoption of an avoidant attachment style with close relationship partners.

Background: Auditory attention and memory are the understudied aspects of cognition. Poor performance on cognitive tasks is assumed to be due to peripheral hearing loss, which is not always the case. Auditory processing issues may affect the auditory recall and attention tasks even though the hearing and cognition are normal. Education and nutrition influence cognitive function, including auditory attention and memory. Education provides individuals with strategies essential for effective auditory processing, while nutrition plays a crucial role in supporting brain health and optimal cognitive functioning. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between education, nutrition, and auditory cognition in adults, especially when the peripheral hearing and CDR scores are normal. Method: Educational backgrounds were assessed based on years of schooling and academic achievements, nutritional status was evaluated through blood sample biochemistry. The hearing is assessed through a handheld audiometer, and cognition through a CDR score. Auditory attention and memory through standardized cognitive tests, immediate and delayed recall and Digit span forward and backwards. Result: The results revealed that education played a very significant role in our study. Subject with postgraduate and above education levels performed better compared to primary education level on auditory attention (B(S.E.) = ‐0.49 (0.19), p < 0.01), Logical memory‐ immediate (B(S.E) = ‐3.93 (0.85), p<0.001) and delayed recall (B (S.E) = ‐4.5 (0.86), p<0.001) tasks and Digit Span forward (‐1.2 (0.35), p<0.01) and digit span backward tasks (B (S.E) = ‐0.98 (0.27), p<0.001). Additionally, older individuals with Vitamin D insufficiency (B (S.E.) = ‐0.44 (0.2), p < 0.05) and Vitamin B12 deficiency exhibited poorer auditory attention, Immediate memory (B (S.E.) = ‐7.2 (2.90), p < 0.05) and delayed memory (B (S.E.) = ‐6.3 (2.91), p < 0.05) performance, respectively. Conclusion: This study highlights the role of auditory processing and importance of good education and proper nutrition in supporting auditory cognition. Investing in quality education and promoting healthy dietary habits, including adequate intake of Vitamin D and Vitamin B12, can contribute to better outcomes, particularly in the domain of auditory cognition. These findings underscore the need for proper hearing assessments, diet, and education for comprehensive interventions to optimize cognitive functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the early stages of typical Alzheimer's disease, there is a well‐documented pattern of memory deficits, especially episodic memory, substantiated with evidence of medial temporal lobe atrophy, specifically of the hippocampus in line with the memory deficits. Studies have shown that several other demographic, biological, and lifestyle factors influence memory and there is a need for identifying early risk factors and for the development of clinical intervention programs to delay or prevent cognitive decline. Therefore, the objective of this study is to explore the impact of various factors on episodic memory decline in an urban cohort. Method: A longitudinal analysis within the TATA Longitudinal Study of Aging (TLSA) examined episodic memory in a Bangalore urban cohort (n = 212). The analysis utilized data from baseline and a 2‐year follow‐up, employing the logical memory test for episodic memory assessment. Various demographic, clinical characteristics, and lifestyle factors were analyzed with episodic memory. Chi‐square and binominal logistic regression were used to analyze the data. Result: In a study sample of 212,51.4% women and 48.6% were men. The mean age of the study sample was 67.71 and the mean years of education was 14.9. There was a statistically significant association between alcohol consumption and episodic memory delayed recall score after two years [OR = 3.31 (1.19, 9.21)], indicating that people who consumed alcohol were 3.31 times more likely to experience a decline in episodic memory performance. Additionally, a significant association was identified between hypertension and delayed recall score [OR = 2.76 (1.34‐5.66)], implying that individuals with hypertension were 2.76 times more likely to exhibit episodic memory decline over the two years. Age, gender, education, smoking, diabetes, depression and anxiety were not significant with episodic memory. Conclusion: There was an association between alcohol consumption, hypertension, and episodic memory decline, indicating that individuals who engage in alcohol consumption or have hypertension are more prone to experiencing a decline in episodic memory over two years. This research study underscores the importance of Clinical programs promoting healthier lifestyles, particularly around alcohol consumption and blood pressure management, which could significantly mitigate memory‐related problems in aging populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dementia, a global health challenge, drives the need for comprehensive understanding. Longitudinal cohort studies are vital, yet maintaining follow‐up in dementia cohorts poses challenges. This study explores challenges in follow‐up, refines protocols, and develops strategies that can elevate dementia research quality. Method: This is an ongoing longitudinal cohort study on dementia named TLSA (Tata Longitudinal Study of Ageing) in which healthy volunteers are recruited in the community through various strategies such as awareness talks, advertisements, and referrals from other volunteers. All of them undergo a set of clinical assessments, cognitive, blood biochemistry, and MRI examinations at baseline and annual follow‐up visits and are informed about the results of the same by clinicians, thereby maintaining contact regularly. For follow‐ups, each of them is contacted via calls, messages, and Emails once a year. To enlighten them on the findings of research, regular participant meets are conducted, and monthly newsletters are issued. House visits (via mobile unit customized for various assessments) were conducted for participants who were unable to come to the research center but did not want to drop out. This study explored the distinct reasons for dropouts when the volunteers were called for follow‐ups. Result: The total number of participants is 1484 till December 2023. The total number of dropouts is 113(7.6%). The reasons for dropouts were death 11 (9.7%), unable to contact 35 (30.9%), loss of interest in the study participation 30 (26.5%), relocation 10 (8.8%), health issues 17 (15%), family restrictions 5 (4%), and other unreported reasons 5 (4%). Conclusion: Enhancing motivation strategies tailored to specific groups such as those who lack interest, have relocated, or face family restrictions can effectively boost follow‐up participation, consequently reducing dropout rates. Tailoring strategies using technology such as social media, infographics, and messaging applications to each group's unique circumstances can reignite interest in participating in the study, ultimately leading to improved follow‐up rates, and enhancing the overall quality of the research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Evidence from multiple converging sources has demonstrated the clear benefits of physical activity in promoting mental health and improving cognitive function. However, more than 54% of Indians do not engage in the recommended amount of physical activity. The present study aims to explore the association of physical activity with cognitive abilities among the elderly aging population in an urban Indian setting. Methods: The study utilized baseline data of 1250 till Dec 2023 from the ongoing Tata Longitudinal Study of Ageing cohort study. We categorized subjects into physically active (PA) and sedentary groups (SG)based on the time they spend doing different types of physical activity in a typical week using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ). Cognitive assessments were performed using Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination III (ACE‐III). Multiple linear regression was performed where cog variables were loaded as dependent variables, physical activity was a predictor, and covariates used were education, gender, socioeconomic status, and clinical dementia rating scores. Result: The mean age SD) of the study sample was 62.6 (9.6) years. Among 1250 participants, 804 (64.3%) were physically active and 446 (35.7%) belonged to the sedentary group. The physically active group had significantly higher median years of education (14.9 vs 14.6; p = <0.001), more proportion of males (56.3% vs 43.5%, p < 0.001), upper socioeconomic class (62.8% vs 34.2%) and lesser people with mild cognitive impairment (6.1% vs 14.2, p <0.001) as shown in Table 1. Multiple linear regression analysis shows that after controlling for confounding variables, the physically active group performed better in ACE total (β = ‐1.330, p = 0.002), ACE memory (β = ‐0.627, p < 0.001), ACE fluency (β = ‐0.257, p = 0.043) and ACE language (β = ‐0.263, p = 0.012) when compared to the sedentary group as shown in Table 2. ACE attention and ACE visuospatial scores were not statistically significant between both groups. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that physically active participants had better global cognition and better performance in memory, executive functioning, and perceptual‐motor function. Promotion of physical activity should hence be implemented for enhancing cognitive abilities in elderly individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cognitive control deficits can be early indicators of cognitive decline in individuals. Studies have found a bilingual advantage in cognitive control, however, there is little research on the Indian population, particularly those residing in rural areas. We aimed to investigate how cognitive control is influenced by the number of languages known to individuals among the aging population in both urban and rural settings in South India. Method: The study comprises cross‐sectional data from healthy individuals aged 45 years and above, with 1058 participants from the urban Tata Longitudinal Study on Ageing (CBR‐TLSA) cohort and 4820 participants from the rural Srinivaspura Ageing, Neuro Senescence, and Cognition (CBR‐SANSCOG) study cohort. Both study protocols are harmonized. Cognitive control was assessed using the Stroop, visuospatial span, categorical fluency, and letter fluency tests. Mann‐Whitney U test was used to compare monolingual and multilingual participants' performance in cognitive control tasks separately. The differences in monolingualism and multilingualism on cognitive control were adjusted with age, gender, years of education, cohort, and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (Ham‐D) scores using the General Linear Model. Result: Urban participants performed better than their rural counterparts in all four cognitive control tasks (Table 1). Within the urban cohort, multilingual participants' performed better than the monolingual participants in the categorical fluency task, whereas, in the rural cohort, multilingual participants performed better in all four tasks. Monolingual and multilingual participants in the urban cohort performed better than their respective counterparts in the rural cohort in the cognitive control tasks. After adjusting for the covariates, we found a significant difference between monolingual and multilingual participants on the categorical fluency task, with multilingual participants performing better than monolinguals (Table 2). Conclusion: Our results indicated a multilingual advantage in cognitive control in aging Indians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Visuo‐cognitive skills represent a network of different abilities that rely on vision and cognition. While visuo‐cognitive abilities have been considered prominent indicators of dementia, there is a dearth of studies that profile these abilities with demographic correlates in an aging Indian population. Investigating the pattern of visuo‐cognitive abilities is essential to facilitate early indication, better prognosis and treatment of symptoms. Method: The sample comprises baseline data collected from 1271 urban aging individuals (≥ 45 years) who are a part of the Tata Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TLSA), Bangalore, India. Visuo‐cognition was measured by Visuospatial span (VS), Visual Attention (VA), Modified Taylor Complex Figure (MTCF) Copy, Immediate Recall (IR), Delayed Recall (DR), and the visuospatial domain from Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination (ACE) III. Unadjusted effect was performed using Mann Whitney U and adjustments were made using General Linear Model to examine the association between each visuo‐cognitive test and demographic factors. Result: In the total sample of 1271 participants, there were 620 females and 651 males. Mean age of females and males is 60.2±8.68 & 63.69 ±9.61 respectively. Mean years of education in females was 14.36 with a standard deviation of ±3.92. Mean years of education in males was 15.33 with a standard deviation of ±4.07. The correlation between age and MTCF Copy Time was positive, whereas with visuospatial span, visual attention, MTCF Copy, MTCF DR, and visuospatial domain of ACE III age was negatively correlated. Females performed better on tests of VA, MTCF IR, and the visuospatial domain on ACE III. There was a positive correlation between education and visuospatial span, visual attention, MTCF Copy, IR, DR, and visuospatial domain of ACE III. A negative correlation was found between education and MTCF Copy time and no significant association of the variables with MTCF IR Time. Conclusion: Age and education influenced various visuo‐cognitive components, while gender had specific impacts on visual attention and MTCF measures. These findings provide insights for early diagnosis, tailored interventions, and further investigations into cognitive health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs) are the non‐invasive tests to measure the lung function. Relationship between pulmonary function and cognition is an emerging area of research, understanding this is crucial for prevention and management of dementia. Hence this study aims to investigate the association between pulmonary function and cognition. Method: This cross sectional analysis includes the participants aged 45 years and above (N = 924) from an ongoing longitudinal study, the Tata Longitudinal Study of Aging (TLSA), conducted in urban Bangalore, India. The pulmonary function was assessed through spirometry, Z scores were calculated for Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV1), and Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF), then categorized into equal quartiles. Cognition was assessed using Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination III (ACE III). The association between pulmonary function and cognition was examined using multiple linear regression with three models: Model 1 – unadjusted, model 2‐adjusted for age and gender, model 3 – adjusted for age, gender, education, smoking status, depression, anxiety, hypertension, diabetes, cardiac illness and respiratory disease. Result: Regression analysis revealed an association between pulmonary function and cognition across all the models. In the fully adjusted model, compared to the lowest quartile (quartile 4), participants in highest quartiles of FVC performed better in ACE [quartile 1 (β = 2.36, 95% CI, 0.56‐4.15, p = 0.01), quartile 2 (β = 2.62, 95% CI, 1.08‐4.15, p = 0.001), quartile 3 (β = 1.87, 95% CI, 0.53‐3.22, p = 0.006)], similarly for PEF, participants in highest quartiles exhibited better ACE score [quartile 1 (β = 3.42, 95% CI, 2.02‐4.82, p <0.001), quartile 2 (β = 3.49, 95% CI, 2.16‐4.81, p <0.001), quartile 3 (β = 3.72, 95% CI, 2.41‐5.03, p ≤0.001)], there was no significant association found between FEV1 and ACE score. Conclusion: These findings indicate the link between pulmonary function and cognitive performance, highlighting the importance of respiratory well‐being in preserving the cognitive function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Narcissism--a strong need to be admired for a grandiose self--is a problematic personality trait for children as well as adults. This study of 236 preadolescents (M age = 11.3 years; 129 girls, 107 boys) evaluated 2 intrapersonal (cognitive) pathways by which narcissism might contribute to maladjustment. The first was that narcissism combines with salient self-serving gender stereotypes to encourage aggressive and selfish behavior. The second was that narcissism places children who perceive that they are failing to realize their grandiose self at risk for aggression and depression. Although concurrent-correlational, the data support the pathways, illuminate the content and dynamics of narcissistic children's minds, and suggest directions for future investigation.

This study evaluated the hypothesis that self-perceived gender nonconformity is distressing to children because it undermines a confident sense of gender compatibility. Participants were 357 early adolescents (180 boys, M age = 12.68 years) in England who responded to questionnaires measuring friendship styles (preoccupied, avoidant), gender compatibility (typicality, contentedness), and adjustment (self-esteem, peer social competence, depression, narcissism). Sex differences in friendship styles indicated that preoccupied and avoidant styles were typical for girls and boys, respectively. Gender-atypical friendship styles predicted poor adjustment, and their impact on adjustment was partially mediated by felt gender compatibility. Results suggest that perceiving gender-atypical attributes in the self undermines adjustment partly because it leads children to feel incompatible with their gender collective.

This article outlines a model of the structure and the dynamics of gender cognition in childhood. The model incorporates 3 hypotheses featured in different contemporary theories of childhood gender cognition and unites them under a single theoretical framework. Adapted from Greenwald et al. (2002), the model distinguishes three constructs: gender identity, gender stereotypes, and attribute self-perceptions. The model specifies 3 causal processes among the constructs: Gender identity and stereotypes interactively influence attribute self-perceptions (stereotype emulation hypothesis); gender identity and attribute self-perceptions interactively influence gender stereotypes (stereotype construction hypothesis); and gender stereotypes and attribute self-perceptions interactively influence identity (identity construction hypothesis). The model resolves nagging ambiguities in terminology, organizes diverse hypotheses and empirical findings under a unifying conceptual umbrella, and stimulates many new research directions. (Contains 1 table.)

This longitudinal study examined the interactive effects of secure attachment and self-esteem on change in internalizing and externalizing problems in a sample of preadolescents. 407 youth (M age = 11.1 years) completed measures of self-esteem, secure attachment style, and peer nomination inventories tapping internalizing and externalizing problems at the beginning of the fourth and fifth grades. Results suggest that internalizing and externalizing problems may be reduced for securely attached youth with high self-esteem. Implications for future research are examined, along with a discussion on clinical applications of studies involving interaction effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To purchase or authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2007.01089.x Byline: Madhavi Menon (1), Desiree D. Tobin (1), Brooke C. Corby (2), Meenakshi Menon (3), Ernest V. E. Hodges (4), David G. Perry (5) Abstract: Two hypotheses-high self-esteem leads children to act on antisocial cognitions (disposition-activating hypothesis) and high self-esteem leads children to rationalize antisocial conduct (disposition-rationalizing hypothesis)-were investigated in two longitudinal studies. In Study 1 (N= 189; mean age = 11.1 years), antisocial behavior was aggression; in Study 2 (N= 407; mean age = 10.8 years) it was avoidance of the mother. In both studies, there was little evidence for the disposition-activating hypothesis but considerable support for the disposition-rationalizing hypothesis. Over time, aggressive children with high self-esteem increasingly valued the rewards that aggression offers and belittled their victims, and avoidant children with high self-esteem increasingly viewed their mother as harassing and uninvolved. For antisocial children, high self-esteem carries costs. Author Affiliation: (1)Florida Atlantic University (2)Lynn University (3)Florida Atlantic University (4)St. John's University (5)Florida Atlantic University Article note: Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to David G. Perry, Department of Psychology, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431. Electronic mail may be sent to perrydg@fau.edu.

We examined whether attachment security moderates influences of two gender identity variables-felt gender typicality and felt pressure for gender differentiation-on preadolescents' well-being. We tested two hypotheses. The first was that attachment security protects children from the distress that can stem from feeling gender atypical or from feeling pressure for gender conformity. The second was that secure children derive well-being from believing they are similar to same-gender peers whereas insecure children derive well-being from believing it important to be different from other-gender peers. We assessed children's attachment security, gender identity, and well-being (self-esteem, internalizing problems) in two successive years (N = 211, M initial age = 10.1 years). Results supported the second hypothesis. Attachment security may govern children's contingencies of well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]