Title

Self-reported craft expertise predicts maintenance of spatial ability in old age

Authors

Authors

S. K. T. Bailey;V. K. Sims

Comments

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Abbreviated Journal Title

Cogn. Process.

Keywords

Spatial ability; Crafting; Expertise; Older adults; Aging; LIFE-SPAN; VISUALIZATION; PERFORMANCE; EXPERIENCE; Psychology, Experimental

Abstract

Three hundred and three female participants between the ages of 18 and 77 reported their experience in crafting (sewing, knitting, and crocheting) and completed a measure of spatial ability: The Paper Folding Test. To investigate the connection between spatial ability performance, age, and craft expertise, an ANOVA was conducted for the Paper Folding Test using two levels of crafting expertise (High and Low) and three age categories (younger adults: 18-39, middle-aged adults: 40-59, and older adults: 60-77). Performance on the spatial ability test declined with age as predicted from previous literature. However, there was a significant Age by Expertise interaction. No difference was found between High and Low craft expertise groups in younger adults (18-39), but there was a growing difference between expertise groups in middle-aged adults (40-59) and older adults (60-77). The results suggest that continued hands-on experience in spatial domains is a predictor of maintenance of spatial ability across the life span.

Journal Title

Cognitive Processing

Volume

15

Issue/Number

2

Publication Date

1-1-2014

Document Type

Letter

Language

English

First Page

227

Last Page

231

WOS Identifier

WOS:000346037900010

ISSN

1612-4782

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