The Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure as a Measure of Hopelessness in the Elderly: An Exploratory Study

The current study aimed to investigate whether the Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure (IRAP) can be a suitable measure of hopelessness in elderly people. At the moment, studies involving implicit attitude assessments in this population are scarce and this study sought to contribute to the literature in this field. Thirty-seven participants (average age = 65) with normal cognitive functioning completed the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS) and an IRAP designed to measure hopelessness. Results revealed significant correlations between BHS and IRAP scores. In addition, performance in two IRAP trial types predicted BHS clusters on high and low hopelessness. To the extent of our knowledge, this is the first article describing an attempt to apply the IRAP as a procedure for psychological assessment of elderly people. The results suggest that further research for procedural refinement is needed and the potential application of the IRAP as a complement to self-report instruments for the diagnosis of hopelessness and depression.