Collaborative Everyday Problem Solving: Interpersonal Relationships and Problem Dimensions

Abstract

Older adults' preferred partners for collaborative everyday problem solving and the types of everyday problems solved alone and with others were examined in a sample of community dwelling older adults (N = 112, M age = 71.86 yrs., SD = 5.92 yrs.). Family members (i.e., spouses, adult children) were the most frequently nominated partners for collaborative everyday problem solving, but friends, neighbors, and church members also were nominated. Older adults reported that they solved numerous types of problems, including finance, house repair, and health, in collaboration with others. These problems were also prominent when older adults reported the problems that they consulted others for advice on how to solve and the problems they solved alone. Together the results suggest new directions for research on collaborative everyday problem solving in terms of the types of interpersonal relationships and problems to be investigated. Implications of the findings for researchers and practitioners are discussed in terms of how to best understand and promote successful aging.

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