The finding that there is a decreasing prevalence of most mental disorders with age should be interpreted cautiously for which of the following reasons?
A) Older adults are more likely to remember having symptoms of a disorder.
B) Older adults who participate in surveys may reflect a survivor effect.
C) Older adults are less likely to express symptoms in somatic ways.
D) Older adults are more likely to participate in surveys because they have more time.
E) Older adults are more likely to report their symptoms.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The survivor effect is the phenomenon that people who have lived longer have survived past experiences or events that have killed others. Therefore, older adults who participate in surveys may be a biased sample of the entire older population, as they are likely to be healthier and more resilient than those who did not survive to participate in the survey. Thus the decreasing prevalence of most mental disorders with age should be interpreted cautiously.

The Finding That There Is a Decreasing Prevalence of Most