Social Inference from Middle to Older Adulthood

Objective: Inferring the emotional state or the true meaning of another person’s utterance is a key aspect of social cognition and critical for successful social interactions. In this study, we assess age-related differences in emotion recognition and sincere and sarcastic social exchanges in the context of cognitive and demographic factors.

Method: One hundred and eighty-seven adults ranging from middle to older adulthood completed the Mini-SEA Emotion Recognition test and Part B of The Awareness of Social Inference Test – Short Form (TASIT-S). Fluid intelligence and executive abilities were also assessed. Sex differences and the relationship with education level were also investigated. Regression models were used to assess age-related differences controlling for baseline cognitive and demographic factors.

Results: Age was negatively associated with accuracy for inferring sincere social exchanges. No differences were identified for accuracy for inferring sarcastic exchanges. Likewise, no age differences were identified for emotion recognition (Mini-SEA). Fluid intelligence was associated with accuracy for inferring sincere exchanges, but this was independent of age-related effects. A female advantage was identified for emotion recognition.

Conclusion: Age is associated with difficulty in inferring sincere exchanges, which is not explained by fluid intelligence, verbal abstract reasoning, or auditory verbal attention. A female advantage in emotion recognition is consistent with findings reported in younger adults. Both age and sex should be considered in clinical assessments using the Mini-SEA and the TASIT-S.