Robert S Stawski1, Jacqueline Mogle, Martin J Sliwinski. 1. Department of Human Development and Family Studies, and The Gerontology Center, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, USA. rstawski@isr.umich.edu
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The current study examined emotional and cognitive reactions to daily stress. We examined the psychometric properties of a short cognitive interference measure and how cognitive interference was associated with measures of daily stress and negative affect (NA) between persons and within persons over time. METHODS: A sample of 87 older adults (M(age) = 83, range = 70-97, 28% male) completed measures of daily stress, cognitive interference, and NA on 6 days within a 14-day period. RESULTS: The measure yielded a single-factor solution with good reliability both between and within persons. At the between-person level, NA accounted for the effects of daily stress on individual differences in cognitive interference. At the within-person level, NA and daily stress were unique predictors of cognitive interference. Furthermore, the within-person effect of daily stress on cognitive interference decreased significantly with age. DISCUSSION: These results support theoretical work regarding associations among stress, NA, and cognitive interference, both across persons and within persons over time.
OBJECTIVES: The current study examined emotional and cognitive reactions to daily stress. We examined the psychometric properties of a short cognitive interference measure and how cognitive interference was associated with measures of daily stress and negative affect (NA) between persons and within persons over time. METHODS: A sample of 87 older adults (M(age) = 83, range = 70-97, 28% male) completed measures of daily stress, cognitive interference, and NA on 6 days within a 14-day period. RESULTS: The measure yielded a single-factor solution with good reliability both between and within persons. At the between-person level, NA accounted for the effects of daily stress on individual differences in cognitive interference. At the within-person level, NA and daily stress were unique predictors of cognitive interference. Furthermore, the within-person effect of daily stress on cognitive interference decreased significantly with age. DISCUSSION: These results support theoretical work regarding associations among stress, NA, and cognitive interference, both across persons and within persons over time.
Authors: Natalie Sachs-Ericsson; Edward A Selby; Jennifer L Hames; Thomas E Joiner; Karen L Fingerman; Steven H Zarit; Kira S Birditt; Lori M Hilt Journal: Personal Ment Health Date: 2014-09-02