Percepfual and Motor Skills, 1992, 75, 722.

@ Perceptual and Motor Skills 1992

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PSYCHOMOTOR FUNCTIONING AND HEALTH STATUS AMONG ELDERLY PERSONS?' A. W. SALMON1 A N D M. GUAY

Summary.-45 older adults were tested twice per year for three years in a 9 (psychomotor) by 30 (health status, well-being) matrix of variables. That only 84 significant correlations were found suggests no relationship between psychomotor performance and health status. Findings from studies of the link between health status and psychomotor performance among elderly respondents have been mixed. For example, in one study (2) an improvement in aerobic fitness over a four-month fitness program for elderly people also led to an improvement in choice RT, whereas in another (1) study no change in RToccurred after significant changes in aerobic fitness. Plante and Rodin (3) reviewed such inconsistencies. While not our primary purpose in a three-year longitudinal study, the relation of health status to psychomotor functioning was examined as these measures for 18 men and 27 women aged 58 to 73 years were assessed twice a year for three years. Tests were linear positioning, simple RT, 4-choice RT, reciprocal tapping, spatial memory, Canada Standardized Test of Fitness, CorneU Medical Index, a lifestyle q u e s t i o ~ a i r e ,depression, self-esteem, anxiety, and an activities-of-daily-living questionnaire. A 9 (psychomotor variables) x 30 (health status and wellbeing variables) correlation matrix was computed for each of the six sessions. By chance some 8 1 significant correlations were expected across the total computed; indeed, 84 values were s i g d i c a n t . I n general, these data provide little supporc for a relationship between psychomotor performance and health status, but there were some consistent exceptions (i.e., a significant correlation on two or more testing sessions). Both simple and choice R T were correlated with the subjects' perceptions of ease in completing daily-living tasks. Also, simple R T was correlated with depression (more depression, slower RT) and choice R T with self-esteem (more self-esteem, Faster RT). Subjects with faster movement times reported greater ease in completing daily-living tasks, and those with higher resting heart rates had slower movement times. No consistent correlations emerged between health status and spatial memory or linear positioning. Why have the results of this and other studies been inconsistenr? \Ve know of n o study which has included different levels of fitness and psychomotor functiorung as ~ n d e ~ e n d e nvarit ables. Since individual differences are large among elderly persons, the functional characteristics of subjects must become a critical dimension for further study. REFERENCES 1. BLUMENTHAL, J. A,, & MADDEN,D. J. (1988) Effects of aerobic exercise training, age, and physical fitness on memory-search performance. Psychology and Aging, 3, 280-285. 2. DUSTMAN,R. E., RUHLING,R. O., RUSSELL,E . M., SHEARER,D . E., BONEKAT,H. W., SHIGEOKA,J. W., WOOD,J. S., & BRADFORD,D . C . (1984) Aerobic exercise training and improved neuropsychological function of older individuals. NeurobioIogy and Aging, 5 , 35-42. 3. PLANTE,T. G., & RODIN,J. (1990) Physical fitness and enhanced psychological health. Current Psychology: Research and Review, 9 , 3-24.

Accepted September 14, 1992 'For information o n specific tests or reprints write to A. Salmoni, Centre for Research in Human Development, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada P3E 2C6.