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Tharaud JB, Murphy J, Smith DL, Valdespino-Hayden ZE, Held P. Changes in emotion regulation difficulties and PTSD symptom severity in an intensive treatment program for PTSD. J Affect Disord 2024; 361:620-626. [PMID: 38844167 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.06.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/01/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Greater difficulties in emotion regulation (ER) and decreased use of adaptive ER strategies have been associated with higher levels of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. To date, limited research has explored whether ER improves with PTSD treatment or whether such improvements are linked with improvements in PTSD symptoms. METHODS Veterans and service members with PTSD (N = 223) participated in a 2-week intensive treatment program (ITP) based in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT). ER was measured using the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Short Form (DERS-SF) at baseline and on days 4 and 9 of treatment. PTSD symptoms were reported on the PTSD Symptom Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) at baseline, on days 3, 5, 6, and 8 of treatment, and at post-treatment. RESULTS DERS-SF scores decreased during treatment (Mchange = 5.12, d = 0.38). Baseline DERS-SF did not predict overall PCL-5 scores across timepoints (p = .377). However, scores on the DERS-SF over time were significantly associated with PCL-5 improvement over the course of treatment (p < .001, R2b = 0.07). Finally, improvements in all subscales of the DERS-SF across time except clarity were significantly associated with improvement in PCL-5 over time. LIMITATIONS Additional treatment components in the ITP beyond CPT may have contributed to ER improvements. Conclusions are also limited by the use of self-report data. CONCLUSIONS An intensive CPT-based treatment program for veterans and service members can lead to improved ER in two weeks. ER improvements are associated with PTSD symptom severity during the ITP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica B Tharaud
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, United States of America; Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, United States of America
| | - Jonathan Murphy
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, United States of America
| | - Dale L Smith
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, United States of America; Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, United States of America
| | | | - Philip Held
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, United States of America.
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Graham-Engeland JE. Moving toward affective immunology: Legacy and future directions. COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY 2024; 19:100241. [PMID: 38910934 PMCID: PMC11190499 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpnec.2024.100241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The term "affective immunology" has recently been used to denote a field focused on the interplay between affective processes (including mood states, specific emotions, and regulatory processes) and various aspects of immune function. The overarching goals of this commentary are a) to provide historical underpinnings of this field with a focus on the profound impact of the work of Janice Kiecolt-Glaser, who is further honored in this special issue, b) to review important off-shoots of her legacy work in this domain, and c) to highlight important future directions for the field. Kiecolt-Glaser's work laid much of the foundation for affective immunology, with groundbreaking research related to depression, hostility and dyadic interactions, loneliness, and other affective patterns, often in the context of holistic models, novel experimental designs, and interventions. Her former mentees (and many of their mentees) have carried on her legacy in these domains, in ways that continue to advance appreciation of how affective processes relate to immune function. There are numerous remaining questions for the field to pursue, including better understanding of the role of emotion regulation, emotional reactivity and recovery, restorative processes, affective variability, and developmental and dynamic social processes. Such work will require greater use of longitudinal and within-person approaches and/or examination of processes in daily life, as well as models that account for interactive and reciprocal processes and which integrate behavior, social context, sociocultural factors, individual differences, and other aspects of health. As more work in these domains continues, building on Kiecolt-Glaser's rich legacy, we move toward the emergence of affective immunology as an important subfield in the domain of psychoneuroimmunology, one which will offer more nuanced understanding of the role of affective processes in immune health.
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Jiang D, Tse DCK, Gong X, Tsang VHL, Fung HH, Mann AS, Nakamura J, Tsai JL. Reducing discrepancies between actual and ideal affect across adulthood: the roles of activity flow conduciveness, pleasantness, and familiarity. Cogn Emot 2024:1-15. [PMID: 39021053 DOI: 10.1080/02699931.2024.2367782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
Previous findings demonstrate that people often do not feel how they want to feel, supporting the distinction between "actual affect" and "ideal affect." But are there certain activities that reduce the discrepancy between actual and ideal affect? Based on flow theory and socioemotional selectivity theory, we examined whether the discrepancy between people's actual and ideal positive affect would be smaller during activities that were more conducive to flow (a state of intense absorption and concentration), pleasant, and familiar. In Study 1, U.S. participants aged 17-79 (N = 393) reported their ideal affect and how they felt during activities with varying degrees of challenges and skills. For both low-arousal positive affect (LAP) and high-arousal positive affect (HAP), participants reported smaller actual-ideal affect discrepancies during flow-conducive activities (when skills matched challenges). Study 2 was a 14-day experience sampling study, in which Hong Kong participants aged 18-83 (Nindividual = 109) reported their momentary actual and ideal affect, and how pleasant and familiar their activities were (Nexperience = 3,815). Greater activity familiarity was associated with smaller discrepancies in actual-ideal LAP, while greater activity pleasantness was associated with smaller discrepancies in actual-ideal HAP. These findings provide insights on the activities that help people achieve their ideal affect more easily.
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Affiliation(s)
- Da Jiang
- Department of Special Education and Counselling, The Education University of Hong Kong, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Dwight C K Tse
- Department of Psychological Sciences and Health, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
- Quality of Life Research Center, Claremont, CA, USA
| | - Xianmin Gong
- Stanley Ho Big Data Decision Analytics Research Centre, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- Department of Psychology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Vivian H L Tsang
- Department of Psychology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- School of Arts and Social Sciences, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Ho Man Tin, Kowloon, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Helene H Fung
- Department of Psychology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Ajit S Mann
- Department of Psychology, Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, CA, United States
| | - Jeanne Nakamura
- Quality of Life Research Center, Department of Psychology, Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, CA, United States
| | - Jeanne L Tsai
- Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
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Springstein T, English T. Distinguishing Emotion Regulation Success in Daily Life From Maladaptive Regulation and Dysregulation. PERSONALITY AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY REVIEW 2024; 28:209-224. [PMID: 37728098 DOI: 10.1177/10888683231199140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
ACADEMIC ABSTRACT This paper aims to motivate research on emotion regulation success in naturalistic settings. We define emotion regulation success as achieving one's emotion regulation goal and differentiate it from related concepts (i.e., maladaptive regulation and dysregulation). As goals vary across individuals and situations, it is insufficient to conceptualize emotion regulation success as maximizing positive affect and minimizing negative affect. Instead, emotion regulation success can be measured through novel approaches targeting the achievement of emotion regulation goals. In addition to utilizing novel data analytic tools (e.g., response surface analyses), future research can make use of informant reports and observing ambulatory behavior or physiology. Considering emotion regulation goals when measuring daily emotion regulation success has the potential to answer key questions about personality, development, and mental health. PUBLIC ABSTRACT People differ in how they want to feel in daily situations (e.g., excited) and why they want to feel that way (e.g., to make others feel better), depending on factors such as culture or age. Although people manage their emotions to reach these goals, most research assessing emotion regulation success has not taken individual goals into account. When assessing if people successfully regulate their emotions, most research in daily life has been focused on whether people feel more positive or less negative. To help study emotion regulation success in a more thoughtful and inclusive way, we propose a new approach to conceptualizing emotion regulation success that incorporates individual differences in what motivates people to regulate and discuss future research directions and applications.
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Baranda AB, Ríos Y, Llorente R, Naranjo AB, da Quinta N. Neuroscience tools to study the effect of the presentation form on food-evoked emotion for senior population. Food Res Int 2024; 183:114158. [PMID: 38760149 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2024.114158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
The elderly population holds significance among consumers because many of them experience alterations in taste and smell or suffer from physical disorders. These factors can lead to reduced food intake, malnutrition, and, consequently, serious health problems. Therefore, there is a need to develop tailored products for seniors, offering both nutrition and appealing foods with easily consumable textures. Among the various characteristics of food, appearance stands out as one of the most critical aspects influencing food preferences and choices. Surprisingly, there is limited knowledge about how food shape affects the holistic emotional responses of seniors. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of food shape on the emotional responses of seniors. This exploration involved the use of explicit methods, such as self-reported questionnaires, and implicit methods, including the measurement of skin conductance responses and facial expressions, as well as their combination. To achieve this goal, we enlisted the participation of 50 individuals (54 % women) from the senior population aged between 55 and 75 years. These participants evaluated two food products with identical sensory characteristics in terms of taste, texture, and flavor. However, these products differed in terms of their shape. We measured their degree of liking and emotional responses using a 7-point hedonic scale, EsSense25, in conjunction with galvanic skin response, and facial expressions, which served as representatives of behavioural and physiological responses. The multivariate analysis allowed to examine sample configurations by gender and establish associations between variables. The combination of implicit and explicit methods led to better discrimination of samples of the same category than the use of each of the methods independently. Although both samples elicited equivalent liking perceptions, they evoked distinct emotional responses, measured at cognitive, physiological, and behavioural levels. In general, men and women experienced different emotions while observing, smelling, handling, or consuming both samples, both consciously and unconsciously. This newfound knowledge could be valuable when designing food products for this demographic. The ultimate goal is to engage consumers and enhance their enjoyment of the food experience by offering more visually appealing food options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana B Baranda
- AZTI, Food Research, Basque Research and Technological Alliance (BRTA). Parque Tecnológico de Bizkaia. Astondo Bidea, Edificio 609, 48160 Derio, Bizkaia, Spain.
| | - Yolanda Ríos
- AZTI, Food Research, Basque Research and Technological Alliance (BRTA). Parque Tecnológico de Bizkaia. Astondo Bidea, Edificio 609, 48160 Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Raquel Llorente
- AZTI, Food Research, Basque Research and Technological Alliance (BRTA). Parque Tecnológico de Bizkaia. Astondo Bidea, Edificio 609, 48160 Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Ana Belén Naranjo
- AZTI, Food Research, Basque Research and Technological Alliance (BRTA). Parque Tecnológico de Bizkaia. Astondo Bidea, Edificio 609, 48160 Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Noelia da Quinta
- AZTI, Food Research, Basque Research and Technological Alliance (BRTA). Parque Tecnológico de Bizkaia. Astondo Bidea, Edificio 609, 48160 Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
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Birditt KS, Newton NJ, Turkelson A, Polenick CA, Zhou Z, Fingerman KL. Daily Rumination Among Older Men and Women: The Role of Perceived Family and Nonfamily Social Partner Life Stress. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2024; 79:gbae027. [PMID: 38430639 PMCID: PMC11003536 DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbae027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Women tend to ruminate more than men, and are generally more hypervigilant to the emotions of others in order to maintain positive social ties. Thus, compared to men, women may ruminate more when their social partners have greater life stresses. However, the literature on stressful events typically focuses on individuals' experiences and perceptions of stressors experienced by specific social ties such as spousal partners and adult children. The purpose of this study was to examine links between perceptions of a broad array of family and nonfamily social partner stresses and daily rumination among older men and women. METHODS Adults aged 65 and older (N = 293, 55% women) completed baseline assessments of family and nonfamily life stressors and 5-6 consecutive nightly assessments regarding rumination, interpersonal tensions, worries, and support provision. RESULTS Multilevel structural equation models revealed that perceptions of greater family and nonfamily life stressors were associated with greater rumination. The links between family stress and rumination varied by gender: family stress was related to greater rumination among women and not men. Moreover, among women, family and nonfamily stress-rumination links were accounted for by greater daily worries about others, and among men, the nonfamily stress-rumination link was due to greater interpersonal tensions as well as daily worries. DISCUSSION These findings may be due in part to gender role socialization and women's greater kin-keeping and investment in family ties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kira S Birditt
- Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Nicky J Newton
- Psychology Department, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Angela Turkelson
- Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | | | - Zexi Zhou
- Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Karen L Fingerman
- Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
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Mikkelsen MB, O'Toole MS, Elkjaer E, Mehlsen M. The effect of age on emotion regulation patterns in daily life: Findings from an experience sampling study. Scand J Psychol 2024; 65:231-239. [PMID: 37750248 DOI: 10.1111/sjop.12970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
The present experience sampling study investigated the effect of age on emotion regulation patterns (i.e., emotion regulation strategy effectiveness, variability, and differentiation) in daily life. The study further explored the implications of potential age differences in emotion regulation patterns for well-being. A sample of 406 adults (age range: 18-81, 62.8% female) were prompted five times a day for seven days to rate momentary emotions, emotion regulation strategy use, and emotion regulation strategy effectiveness. Based on these ratings, indicators of emotion regulation variability and differentiation were calculated. Well-being outcomes included daily positive and negative emotions, and symptoms of depression and anxiety assessed at baseline. The findings revealed reduced emotion regulation variability with age and a negative association between emotion regulation variability and well-being. There were no associations between age and emotion regulation effectiveness or differentiation. Emotion regulation effectiveness was associated with more positive and less negative daily emotions, and these associations were stronger for younger adults compared to older adults. Drawing on prominent lifespan theories, the findings may indicate that as people age, they select and apply a few strategies that they know will be effective given the context and their resources which leads to reduced emotion regulation variability but ultimately more well-being. Concerning emotion regulation effectiveness, the findings suggest that effectiveness is less important for emotional well-being in daily life in older adulthood possibly because well-being is determined by other factors (e.g., less frequent and more predictable stressors) with age.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mia Skytte O'Toole
- Department of Psychology and Behavioural Sciences, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Emma Elkjaer
- Department of Psychology and Behavioural Sciences, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Mimi Mehlsen
- Department of Psychology and Behavioural Sciences, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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Isaacowitz DM, English T. Beyond strategies: The when and why of emotion regulation in aging. Curr Opin Psychol 2024; 56:101763. [PMID: 38113668 PMCID: PMC10939930 DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2023.101763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Most research to date on potential age differences in emotion regulation has focused on whether older adults differ from younger adults in how they manage their emotions. We argue for a broader consideration of the possible effects of aging on emotion regulation by moving beyond tests of age differences in strategy use to also consider when and why emotion regulation takes place. That is, we encourage deeper consideration of contextual factors that spark regulation as well as the goals and motives underlying individuals' attempts to regulate their emotions. There may be age-related variation in all, some, or none of these components of emotion regulation. Descriptive work across all dimensions of emotion regulation is necessary to test and refine theories of emotional aging.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tammy English
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Washington University in St Louis, United States
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Riediger M, Rauers A. Daily affect across adulthood and into old age: Recent advances from ambulatory research. Curr Opin Psychol 2024; 56:101767. [PMID: 38103283 DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2023.101767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Ambulatory research - such as daily-diary or experience sampling studies - captures experiences as they naturally occur in people's daily lives. It shows that older adults' daily affective experiences, on average, are more positive and more stable, compared to younger age groups. Recent advances in ambulatory research contribute a more refined understanding beyond the valence dimension, demonstrating that the arousal of affective experiences matters as well, and that discrete emotions, such as sadness, may be differently prevalent and adaptive in different phases of adulthood. Another recent contribution is evidence that cross-sectional adult age differences in daily affect may not map onto within-person change over time. While longitudinal improvement in daily affect is observed across young and into early middle adulthood, stability and decline in affective well-being are typical throughout late middle and older adulthood, respectively. Likewise, empirical support for the claim that emotion regulation is a prime reason for age differences in daily affect remains mixed. Older as compared to younger adults are indeed more motivated to feel better, and more confident that their affect-regulation is successful. However, there is no consistent support that older adults' daily affect-regulation strategies, effectiveness, or flexibility differ from younger age groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaela Riediger
- Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Department of Developmental Psychology, Germany.
| | - Antje Rauers
- Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Department of Developmental Psychology, Germany
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Cristini C, Colautti L, Vedova AD, Antonietti A. Creativity and humor in the elderly: Shared mechanisms and common functions to promote well-being. Neurosci Lett 2024; 828:137762. [PMID: 38574850 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2024.137762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
In the paper the possible links between creative thinking and humor are sketched and their role in promoting well-being in the elderly is taken into account. The specific features of creative thinking in older people and its developmental trend in aging are outlined. The changes in humor which occur during aging are considered as well. The connections between creative thinking and humor are analysed, by highlighting the cognitive mechanisms which are shared and the alleged common neural underpinnings. The functions which creativity and humor can play to promote well-being in late adulthood are discussed. These functions refer to the way older people can interpret their own experience, interact and communicate with others, and face daily problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Cristini
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Laura Colautti
- Department of Psychology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo Gemelli 1, 20123 Milan, Italy
| | - Annamaria Della Vedova
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Alessandro Antonietti
- Department of Psychology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo Gemelli 1, 20123 Milan, Italy.
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Olatunji BO, Knowles KA, Adamis AM, Cole DA. Linking a latent variable trait-state-occasion model of emotion regulation to cognitive control. Cogn Emot 2024:1-15. [PMID: 38525828 DOI: 10.1080/02699931.2024.2332594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
Emotion dysregulation (ED) is a vulnerability factor for affective disorders that may originate from deficits in cognitive control (CC). Although measures of ED are often designed to assess trait-like tendencies, the extent to which such measures capture a time-varying (TV) or state-like construct versus a time-invariant (TI) or trait-like personality characteristic is unclear. The link between the TV and TI components of ED and CC is also unclear. In a 6-wave, 5-month longitudinal study, community participants (n = 1281) completed the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS-16), a commonly used measure of ED and measures of CC. A latent variable (trait-state-occasion) model showed that the proportion of TI factor variance (.80) was greater than the TV factor variance (.19). Although TV factor stability was significant, the coefficients were small in magnitude. Furthermore, regression weights for the ED TI factor (average β = -.62) were significant and larger than those for the TV factor (average β = -.10) in predicting latent CC at each of the six-time points. These findings suggest that ED, as assessed by the DERS-16, is largely TI and this TI component is more strongly linked to CC than the TV component.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bunmi O Olatunji
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Kelly A Knowles
- Anxiety Disorders Center, Institute of Living/Hartford Hospital, Connecticut, CT, USA
| | | | - David A Cole
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
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Lu Y, Wang R, Norman J, Yu P. Loneliness status transitions and risk of cardiovascular disease among middle-aged and older adults. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis 2024; 34:718-725. [PMID: 38161117 DOI: 10.1016/j.numecd.2023.10.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Loneliness is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), and the levels at which individuals experience it can transition over time. However, the impact of increased loneliness or decreased loneliness on later CVD risk remains unexplored. We aimed to identify the age-specific association between loneliness status transitions and subsequent CVD incidences in middle-aged and older adults. METHODS AND RESULTS Data was extracted from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) on 8463 adults to evaluate how loneliness status transitions across two data collection points were associated with the subsequent CVD incidence at a five-year follow-up. Loneliness status transitions were divided into four categories: stable low loneliness, decreased loneliness, increased loneliness, and stable high loneliness. Data were analyzed using a Cox-proportional hazards model with age subgroups, accounting for covariates at baseline. During follow-up, the incidence rate of CVD per 1000 person-years was lower for the stable low loneliness group and decreased loneliness group compared to the increased loneliness and stable high loneliness group. Increased loneliness is associated with the highest risk of overall CVD and heart disease (HR 2.44, P < 0.001; HR 2.34, P < 0.001), while stable high loneliness is associated with the highest risk of stroke among the four loneliness categories (HR 4.29, P < 0.05). The age-specific analyses revealed no statistically significant interaction in terms of loneliness status transitions and age group. CONCLUSION Increased loneliness and stable high loneliness are associated with higher CVD risk. In clinical practice, it is important to monitor patients' loneliness status transitions to reduce CVD incidences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yufei Lu
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China; Department of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Allied Health Professions, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - Runqiu Wang
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - Joseph Norman
- Department of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Allied Health Professions, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - Pengming Yu
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China.
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Hsieh S, Chang YH, Yao ZF, Yang MH, Yang CT. The effect of age and resilience on the dose-response function between the number of adversity factors and subjective well-being. Front Psychol 2024; 15:1332124. [PMID: 38406308 PMCID: PMC10884289 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1332124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Encountering challenges and stress heightens the vulnerability to mental disorders and diminishes well-being. This study explores the impact of psychological resilience in the context of adverse events, considering age-related variations in its influence on well-being. Methods A total of 442 participants (male vs. female =48% vs. 52%) with a mean age of 41.79 ± 16.99 years were collected and completed the following questionnaires Brief Betrayal Trauma Survey (BBTS), Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), Peace of Mind (PoM), The World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF), and Social Support Questionnaire (SSQ). They all underwent structural and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Results Participants were categorized based on adversity levels: 34.39% faced one, 26.24% none, and 19.91, 9.50, and 8.14% encountered two, three, and four adversities, respectively. This categorization helps assess the impact on participants' experiences. As adversity factors increased, PoM decreased. Controlling for age improved PoM model fit (ΔR2 = 0.123, p < 0.001). Adversity factors and age explained 14.6% of PoM variance (df = 2, F = 37.638, p < 0.001). PoM decreased with more adversity and increased with higher age. Conclusion The study found most participants faced at least one adversity. Adversity negatively affected PoM scores, while resilience acted as a protective factor. Resilience plays a crucial role in buffering the impact of adversities on well-being. Among those with high adversity, higher resilience correlated with stronger DMN-right frontal pole connectivity. Brain volume showed no significant differences, but the quality of life and social support varied between subgroups, with no differences in personal demographic and biophysical features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shulan Hsieh
- Department of Psychology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- Institute of Allied Health Sciences, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng-Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Yun-Hsuan Chang
- Department of Psychology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- Institute of Gerontology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- Institute of Genomics and Bioinformatics, College of Life Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Zai-Fu Yao
- College of Education, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Research Center for Education and Mind Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Basic Psychology Group, Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Department of Kinesiology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Meng-Heng Yang
- Department of Psychology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Ta Yang
- Department of Psychology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- Institute of Allied Health Sciences, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Mind, Brain, and Consciousness, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
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14
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Novotný JS, Srt L, Stokin GB. Emotion regulation shows an age- and sex-specific moderating effect on the relationship between chronic stress and cognitive performance. Sci Rep 2024; 14:3028. [PMID: 38321166 PMCID: PMC10847168 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-52756-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite the extensive knowledge about the effects of chronic stress on cognition, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We conducted a cross-sectional moderation analysis on a population-based sample of 596 adults to examine the age- and sex-specific role of emotion regulation (ER) in the relationship between chronic stress and cognitive performance using validated self-report questionnaires. While women showed no direct or moderated relationship between stress and cognition, men displayed a distinct age-related pattern where stress was negatively associated with poorer cognitive performance at older ages, and the onset of this relationship was detected earlier in men with ER problems. These results showed that suppression of emotions and lack of executive control of ER amplify the negative consequences of chronic stress and suggest that there are sex-specific differences in the decline of ability to cope with long-term exposure to stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan S Novotný
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacký University Olomouc, Hněvotínská 1333/5, 779 00, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Luka Srt
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Gorazd B Stokin
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacký University Olomouc, Hněvotínská 1333/5, 779 00, Olomouc, Czech Republic.
- Department of Neurology, Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Gloucester, UK.
- Translational Neuroscience and Aging Program, Center for Translational Medicine, International Clinical Research Centre, St. Anne's University Hospital, Brno, Czech Republic.
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15
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Kunzmann U, Wrosch C. Not all negative emotions are equal - Sadness and anger develop differently and their adaptivity is age-graded. Curr Opin Psychol 2024; 55:101766. [PMID: 38086196 DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2023.101766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
We argue that a comprehensive understanding of emotional development across adulthood must go beyond broad dimensions of affect and consider discrete emotions. Current evidence focuses on sadness and anger, two negative emotions that exert contrasting age trajectories because anger has high adaptive value in young adulthood, when people have abundant resources and need to carve out a niche in society, whereas sadness has high adaptive value in old age, a time of declining resources that requires adaptation to increasingly unattainable goals. We conclude that our position about the age-graded experience and adaptive value of emotions should hold for a variety of negative and positive emotions.
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16
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Mayr U, Rohovit T, Freund AM. Increases in prosociality across adulthood: The pure-altruism hypothesis. Curr Opin Psychol 2024; 55:101782. [PMID: 38160572 DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2023.101782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
A growing body of research suggests that prosocial behavior increases across adulthood. Yet, whether these age differences reflect "pure altruistic" or selfish motives, or the developmental mechanisms that underlie them, are largely unknown. Within a value-based decision framework, pure altruistic tendencies can be measured and distinguished from impure altruistic motives through neural-level information. Indeed, age differences in donations appear to be driven by a genuine concern for the well-being of others. Candidate mechanisms behind such pure altruistic changes need to show documented age differences and evidence of causal links to prosocial behavior. As examples, we discuss how three factors that meet these criteria--social norms, mood, and cognitive functioning--might explain age differences in pure altruistic tendencies.
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17
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Horn S. Adult age differences in value-based decision making. Curr Opin Psychol 2024; 55:101765. [PMID: 38103277 DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2023.101765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
A better understanding of age-related differences in judgment and decision making is important from both theoretical and applied perspectives. In this review, we focus on value-based decisions across adulthood and specifically on how loss aversion (a relatively stronger weight of losses than gains on decisions) and the relative motivational impact of gains and losses may change with aging. In doing so, we will also cover recent findings about the effects of gain or loss incentives on performance in cognitive tasks that involve attention, learning, and remembering. We point out open questions and critical moderating variables for future theorizing and research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Horn
- Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Switzerland.
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18
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Niu X, Utayde MF, Sanders KEG, Denis D, Kensinger EA, Payne JD. Age-related positivity effect in emotional memory consolidation from middle age to late adulthood. Front Behav Neurosci 2024; 18:1342589. [PMID: 38328467 PMCID: PMC10847278 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1342589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Background While younger adults are more likely to attend to, process, and remember negative relative to positive information, healthy older adults show the opposite pattern. The current study evaluates when, exactly, this positivity shift begins, and how it influences memory performance for positive, negative, and neutral information. Methods A total of 274 healthy early middle-aged (35-47), late middle-aged (48-59), and older adults (>59) viewed scenes consisting of a negative, positive, or a neutral object placed on a plausible neutral background, and rated each scene for its valence and arousal. After 12 h spanning a night of sleep (n = 137) or a day of wakefulness (n = 137), participants completed an unexpected memory test during which they were shown objects and backgrounds separately and indicated whether the scene component was the "same," "similar," or "new" to what they viewed during the study session. Results and conclusions We found that both late middle-aged and older adults rated positive and neutral scenes more positively compared to early middle-aged adults. However, only older adults showed better memory for positive objects relative to negative objects, and a greater positive memory trade-off magnitude (i.e., remembering positive objects at the cost of their associated neutral backgrounds) than negative memory trade-off magnitude (i.e., remembering negative objects at the cost of their associated neutral backgrounds). Our findings suggest that while the positivity bias may not emerge in memory until older adulthood, a shift toward positivity in terms of processing may begin in middle age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinran Niu
- Sleep, Stress, and Memory Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, United States
| | - Mia F. Utayde
- Sleep, Stress, and Memory Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, United States
| | - Kristin E. G. Sanders
- Sleep, Stress, and Memory Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, United States
| | - Dan Denis
- Department of Psychology, University of York, York, United Kingdom
| | - Elizabeth A. Kensinger
- Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, United States
| | - Jessica D. Payne
- Sleep, Stress, and Memory Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, United States
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19
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Carbone E, Lenti G, Sella E, Moè A, Borella E. Emotion regulation, hope, and optimism during the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: The role of age and personality. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0296205. [PMID: 38166132 PMCID: PMC10760832 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/04/2024] Open
Abstract
AIMS This study examined age-related differences between young and older adults' emotion regulation, hope, and optimism 1 year after the COVID-19 outbreak. Whether personality explained such outcomes was also examined. METHOD A sample of 228 young adults and 161 older adults was interviewed in April-May 2021 to complete questionnaires assessing cognitive reappraisal (CR) and expressive suppression (ES) emotion regulation strategies use, optimism, hope (agency and pathways components), and personality traits. RESULTS Older adults reported greater CR and ES use, optimism, and hope-agency levels than young adults, whereas no age differences emerged for hope-pathway scores. Personality traits (more consistently emotional stability) contributed to explaining CR and ES use, and greater hopeful and optimistic dispositions. CONCLUSIONS These findings confirm older adults' advantage in facing the emotional and psychological fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic in its third wave. They also underscore the importance of considering personality to depict individual profiles prone to experiencing long-term negative emotional/psychological consequences of emergencies as COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Carbone
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Graziana Lenti
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Enrico Sella
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Angelica Moè
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Erika Borella
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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20
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Orlando I, Filippini N. Aging modulates frontal lobes involvement in emotion regulation processing. J Neurosci Res 2024; 102:e25282. [PMID: 38284857 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.25282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
Emotion regulation (ER) is the process by which individuals can modulate the intensity of their emotional experience and it plays a crucial role in daily life. So far, behavioral analyses seem to suggest that ER ability remains stable throughout the lifespan. However, imaging studies evaluating the neural correlates of ER performance during the aging process have shown mixed results. In this study, we used the "Cambridge Centre for Ageing and Neuroscience cohort sample" to investigate: (1) ER behavioral performance and (2) the differential association between brain measures (based on both structural and functional connectivity data) and ER performance, in a group of younger/middle-aged participants (N = 159; age range: 18y < x < 58y) relative to a group of older healthy subjects (N = 136; age range: 58y < =x < 89y). Whereas we found no group-related differences either in ER behavioral data or the association between ER performance and structural data, we did observe that ER performance was differentially correlated in our two study groups to functional connectivity measures in the fronto-insular-temporal network, which has been shown to be involved in emotional processing. Group-related differences were specifically localized in a cluster of voxels within the anterior cingulate areas which revealed a reverse pattern between our study groups: in younger/middle-aged participants better ER performance was associated with increase connectivity, whereas among older participants better ER performance was related to reduced connectivity. Based on our results, we suggest that a de-differentiation mechanism, known to affect the frontal lobes brain activity and connectivity in older subjects, might explain our findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabella Orlando
- Dept. of Psychology, Salesian Pontifical University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Nicola Filippini
- Laboratory of Neuroimaging and Neurodegeneration, IRCCS San Camillo Hospital, Venice, Italy
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21
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Santistevan AC, Moadab G, Fiske O, Nord CM, Isaacowitz DM, Bliss-Moreau E. Cardiac psychophysiological tuning to socioaffective content is disrupted in aged rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). Psychophysiology 2024; 61:e14410. [PMID: 37850617 PMCID: PMC10842326 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.14410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
Aging ushers in numerous disruptions to autonomic nervous system (ANS) function. Although the effects of aging on ANS function at rest are well characterized, there is surprising variation in reports of age-related differences in ANS reactivity to psychosocial stressors, with some reports of decreases and other reports of increases in reactivity with age. The sources of variation in age-related differences are largely unknown. Nonhuman primate models of socioaffective aging may help to uncover sources of this variation as nonhuman primates share key features of human ANS structure and function and researchers have precise control over the environments in which they age. In this report, we assess how response patterns to dynamic socioaffective stimuli in the parasympathetic and sympathetic branches of rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) ANS differ in aged compared to middle-aged monkeys. We find that respiratory sinus arrhythmia, a cardiac indicator of activity in the parasympathetic branch of the ANS, exhibits age-related disruptions in responding while monkeys view videos of conspecifics. This suggests that there are evolutionarily conserved mechanisms responsible for the patterns of affective aging observed in humans and that aged rhesus monkeys are a robust translational model for human affective aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony C Santistevan
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Gilda Moadab
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Olivia Fiske
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Christina M Nord
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Derek M Isaacowitz
- Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Eliza Bliss-Moreau
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
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22
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Espirito-Santo H, Paraíso L, Andrade D, Daniel F, Grasina A, Lemos L, Simões-Cunha L, Bjureberg J. Emotion dysregulation in older people: validity and reliability of an 8-item version of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale. Aging Ment Health 2024; 28:360-368. [PMID: 37771115 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2023.2260329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The abbreviated 16-item version of the Difficulties with Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS-16) is widely used to assess individuals' perceived challenges in regulating their emotions, a central aspect of psychological symptoms commonly experienced in old age. However, its psychometric properties have yet to be tested in this population. Furthermore, a shorter version of the DERS-16 could further minimize the assessment burden on older individuals. Thus, we aimed to test the DERS-16's psychometric performance and determine if any items were redundant to develop a psychometrically sound shorter version. METHODS We enrolled 302 Portuguese older adults (Mage = 75.22; SD = 8.99 years) in a cross-sectional study. RESULTS Exploratory factor analyses indicated a one-factor structure and a four-factor solution with eight items (69.3%-81.9% of the variance observed). The four-factor-8-item solution presented an interpretable structure and demonstrated good reliability values (> 0.70) and construct validity with the Twenty-Item Toronto Alexithymia Scale, Eight-Item Geriatric Depression Scale, and Geriatric Anxiety Inventory (r = 0.66, 0.40, 0.52; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION The robust psychometric properties of DERS-8 make it a valuable tool for clinical and longitudinal studies, facilitating targeted interventions in older adults and allowing for precise emotion dysregulation screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Espirito-Santo
- Miguel Torga Higher Education Institute (ISMT), Coimbra, Portugal
- Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive and Behavioral Intervention (CINEICC), Coimbra University, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Luís Paraíso
- Miguel Torga Higher Education Institute (ISMT), Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Diogo Andrade
- Miguel Torga Higher Education Institute (ISMT), Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Fernanda Daniel
- Miguel Torga Higher Education Institute (ISMT), Coimbra, Portugal
- Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive and Behavioral Intervention (CINEICC), Coimbra University, Coimbra, Portugal
| | | | - Laura Lemos
- Miguel Torga Higher Education Institute (ISMT), Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Luís Simões-Cunha
- Miguel Torga Higher Education Institute (ISMT), Coimbra, Portugal
- Research and Development Center of the Military University Institute, Miguel Torga Higher Education Institute (ISMT), Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Johan Bjureberg
- Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
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23
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DiGirolamo MA, Neupert SD, Isaacowitz DM. Emotion Regulation Convoys: Individual and Age Differences in the Hierarchical Configuration of Emotion Regulation Behaviors in Everyday Life. AFFECTIVE SCIENCE 2023; 4:630-643. [PMID: 38156259 PMCID: PMC10751281 DOI: 10.1007/s42761-023-00228-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
A key limitation of studying emotion regulation behavior is that there is currently no way to describe individual differences in use across a range of tactics, which could lead to investigations of intraindividual changes over time or interindividual differences as a function of personality, age, culture, or psychopathology diagnosis. We, therefore, introduce emotion regulation convoys. This research tool provides a snapshot of the hierarchy of emotion regulation tactics an individual favors across everyday life situations and how effective they are at regulating moods. We present data from a 3-month measurement burst study of emotion regulation behavior in everyday life in a sample (N = 236) of younger (18-39), middle-aged (40-59), and older adults (60-87), focusing on how individuals' convoys may vary in how much they include tactics that involve upregulating-positivity, downregulating-negativity, upregulating-negativity, as well as acceptance, and how these may be differentially effective. Among the most frequently used tactics (top tactics), older adults used a lower proportion of negativity-downregulating tactics than younger adults (p < .001), and younger adults' mood was more negatively affected by these tactics than middle-aged and older adults. Overall, using positivity-upregulating as a top tactic also predicted better mood post-regulation. Older adults' emotion regulation convoys may be made up of more effective tactics; in general, they reported more positive mood post-regulation than the other age groups. Convoys help us see emotion regulation as a hierarchical configuration of potentially effective behaviors, allowing us to test for between-group differences and within-person changes more precisely. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42761-023-00228-8.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Shevaun D. Neupert
- Department of Psychology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC USA
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24
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Haase CM. Emotion Regulation in Couples Across Adulthood. ANNUAL REVIEW OF DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY 2023; 5:399-421. [PMID: 38939362 PMCID: PMC11210602 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-devpsych-120621-043836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
Intimate relationships are hotbeds of emotion. This article presents key findings and current directions in research on couples' emotion regulation across adulthood as a critical context in which older adults not only maintain functioning but may also outshine younger adults. First, I introduce key concepts, defining qualities (i.e., dynamic, coregulatory, bidirectional, bivalent), and measures (i.e., self-report versus performance-based) of couples' emotion regulation. Second, I highlight a socioemotional turn in our understanding of adult development with the advent of socioemotional selectivity theory. Third, I offer a life-span developmental perspective on emotion regulation in couples (i.e., across infancy, adolescence and young adulthood, midlife, and late life). Finally, I present the idea that emotion regulation may shift from "me to us" across adulthood and discuss how emotion regulation in couples may become more important, better, and increasingly consequential (e.g., for relationship outcomes, well-being, and health) with age. Ideas for future research are then discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia M Haase
- School of Education and Social Policy and (by courtesy) Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
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25
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Rothwell ES, Carp SB, Bliss-Moreau E. The importance of social behavior in nonhuman primate studies of aging: A mini-review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 154:105422. [PMID: 37806369 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Social behavior plays an important role in supporting both psychological and physical health across the lifespan. People's social lives change as they age, and the nature of these changes differ based on whether people are on healthy aging trajectories or are experiencing neurodegenerative diseases that cause dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Nonhuman primate models of aging have provided a base of knowledge comparing aging trajectories in health and disease, but these studies rarely emphasize social behavior changes as a consequence of the aging process. What data exist hold particular value, as negative effects of disease and aging on social behavior are likely to have disproportionate impacts on quality of life. In this mini review, we examine the literature on nonhuman primate models of aging with a focus on social behavior, in the context of both health and disease. We propose that adopting a greater focus on social behavior outcomes in nonhuman primates will improve our understanding of the intersection of health, aging and sociality in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily S Rothwell
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Medicine University of Pittsburgh, 3501 Fifth Avenue, Biomedical Science Tower 3, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
| | - Sarah B Carp
- Neuroscience & Behavior Unit, California National Primate Research Center, University of California Davis, County Road 98 at Hutchinson Drive, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Eliza Bliss-Moreau
- Neuroscience & Behavior Unit, California National Primate Research Center, University of California Davis, County Road 98 at Hutchinson Drive, Davis, CA 95616, USA; Department of Psychology, University of California Davis, County Road 98 at Hutchinson Drive, Davis, CA 95616, USA
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26
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Brueckmann M, Teuber Z, Hollmann J, Wild E. What if parental love is conditional …? Children's self-esteem profiles and their relationship with parental conditional regard and self-kindness. BMC Psychol 2023; 11:322. [PMID: 37814335 PMCID: PMC10563255 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-023-01380-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Numerous studies have demonstrated that low, unstable, or contingent self-esteem negatively affects youth development and is linked to adolescent psychopathology. However, most previous studies have applied variable-oriented approaches, and less is known about the natural combination of self-esteem facets in school-aged adolescents, how parental conditional regard affects self-esteem profiles, and how these profiles relate to self-kindness, self-judgement, and life satisfaction. METHODS By employing a longitudinal person-oriented approach (i.e., latent profile analysis and latent transition analysis) on two-wave longitudinal data from 587 German secondary school students (52.3% female, Mage=13.52 years), this study aims to (1) identify adolescents' self-esteem profiles based on the level, stability, and contingency of self-esteem; (2) examine the impact of parental conditional regard on the self-esteem profiles explained using self-determination theory; and (3) examine these profiles' relationship with self-kindness, self-judgement, and life satisfaction. RESULTS Four self-esteem profiles were derived: optimal-secure (~ 8%), good (~ 18%), average (~ 36%), and low-insecure (~ 38%). The results reveal a concerningly high proportion as well as a high stability of low-insecure self-esteem (~ 98%) and indicate the strong negative influence of parental conditional regard on the development of optimal-secure self-esteem. Furthermore, the results demonstrate strong correlations between optimal-secure self-esteem, highly developed self-kindness, and high life satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS Using a longitudinal person-oriented approach, it was possible to identify a group with highly vulnerable self-esteem, characterised by particularly low self-kindness, strong self-judgment, and lower life satisfaction. The findings of this study support the need for prevention and intervention targeting adolescents with low-insecure self-esteem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malin Brueckmann
- Department of Psychology, Bielefeld University, Universitaetsstraße 25, Bielefeld, 33615, Germany.
| | - Ziwen Teuber
- Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences, University of Luxembourg, 11, Porte des Sciences, Esch-sur-Alzette, L-4365, Luxembourg
| | - Jelena Hollmann
- Department of Psychology, Bielefeld University, Universitaetsstraße 25, Bielefeld, 33615, Germany
| | - Elke Wild
- Department of Psychology, Bielefeld University, Universitaetsstraße 25, Bielefeld, 33615, Germany
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27
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Zhang M, Ho E, Nowinski CJ, Fox RS, Ayturk E, Karpouzian-Rogers T, Novack M, Dodge HH, Weintraub S, Gershon R. The Paradox in Positive and Negative Aspects of Emotional Functioning Among Older Adults with Early Stages of Cognitive Impairment. J Aging Health 2023:8982643231199806. [PMID: 37800686 DOI: 10.1177/08982643231199806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: Emotional functioning in older adults is influenced by normal aging and cognitive impairment, likely heterogeneous across positive versus negative aspects of emotional functioning. Little is known about positive emotional experiences at the early stages of cognitive impairment. Methods: We assessed different aspects of emotional functioning among 448 participants aged 65+ (Normal Control (NC) = 276, Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) = 103, and mild dementia of the Alzheimer type (mild DAT) = 69) and tested moderators. Results: Compared to NC, older adults with MCI and mild DAT have maintained many positive aspects of emotional functioning, despite higher levels of negative affect, sadness, and loneliness. Among the oldest-old, the mild DAT group experienced higher fear and lower self-efficacy. Discussion: Older adults at early stages of cognitive impairment can experience positive aspects of emotional functioning, such as positive affect, purpose, and life satisfaction, all of which are important buildable psychological resources for coping.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manrui Zhang
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Emily Ho
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Cindy J Nowinski
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Rina S Fox
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
- College of Nursing, University of Arizona, Tuscon, AZ, USA
| | - Ezgi Ayturk
- College of Social Sciences and Humanities, KOC Universitesi, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Tatiana Karpouzian-Rogers
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Miriam Novack
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Hiroko H Dodge
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sandra Weintraub
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Richard Gershon
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
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Lee K, Sayre B, James TA, Duarte A. Age-related reductions in arousal-enhanced memory are moderated by trait emotion regulation. Sci Rep 2023; 13:15469. [PMID: 37726345 PMCID: PMC10509193 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-41741-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Emotional arousal is known to enhance episodic memory in young adults. However, compared to valence, little is known about how healthy aging impacts arousal-enhanced memory effects. Furthermore, while emotion regulation is believed to improve with age, it is unclear how individual differences in emotion regulation influence arousal-enhanced memory. In this large-scale online study, we investigated the impact of age and individual differences in emotion regulation on arousal-enhanced memory. During encoding, participants made arousal ratings about negative, neutral, and positive images, and we compared their subsequent memory of high and low-arousal images. We found the impact of emotional arousal on memory was reduced with age, especially for older adults who habitually suppress their emotions. Our findings show that arousal-related memory benefits are reduced with advancing age, and that individual differences in habitual usage of emotion regulation impact these age-related alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyoungeun Lee
- School of Psychology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, USA.
- School of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, USA.
| | - Brialisse Sayre
- School of Psychology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, USA
- School of Medicine, Mercer University, Macon, USA
| | - Taylor A James
- School of Psychology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, USA
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, USA
| | - Audrey Duarte
- School of Psychology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, USA
- School of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, USA
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Park Y, Gordon AM, Mendes WB. Age Differences in Physiological Reactivity to Daily Emotional Experiences. AFFECTIVE SCIENCE 2023; 4:487-499. [PMID: 37744978 PMCID: PMC10514012 DOI: 10.1007/s42761-023-00207-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
How does physiological reactivity to emotional experiences change with age? Previous studies addressing this question have mostly been conducted in laboratory settings during which emotions are induced via pictures, films, or relived memories, raising external validity questions. In the present research, we draw upon two datasets collected using ecological momentary assessment methods (totaling 134,723 daily reports from 14,436 individuals) to examine age differences in heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) reactivity to naturally occurring emotional experiences. We first examined how older and younger individuals differ in the prevalence of emotions varying in valence and arousal. On average, people reported experiencing positive emotions (high or low arousal) more than 70% of the time they were asked, and older (vs. younger) individuals tended to report positive emotions more frequently. In terms of physiological reactivity, we found that age was associated with reduced HR and BP reactivity. Some evidence was also found that the magnitude of such age differences may depend on the valence or arousal of the experienced emotion. The present findings have implications for understanding how emotions can contribute to physical health across the lifespan. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42761-023-00207-z.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoobin Park
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA USA
| | - Amie M. Gordon
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI USA
| | - Wendy Berry Mendes
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA USA
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Almweisheer S, Bernstein CN, Graff LA, Patten SB, Bolton J, Fisk JD, Hitchon CA, Marriott JJ, Marrie RA. Well-being and flourishing mental health in adults with inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis in Manitoba, Canada: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e073782. [PMID: 37295825 PMCID: PMC10277148 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-073782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Among people with immune-mediated inflammatory disease (IMID), including multiple sclerosis (MS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) most research has focused on mental illness rather than on mental health. We assessed dimensions of mental health among persons with IMID and compared them across IMID. We also evaluated demographic and clinical characteristics associated with flourishing mental health. DESIGN Participants: Adults with an IMID (MS, 239; IBD, 225; RA 134; total 598) who were participating in a cohort study. SETTING Tertiary care centre in Manitoba, Canada. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURE Participants completed the Mental Health Continuum Short-Form (MHC-SF), which measures emotional, psychological and social well-being, and identifies flourishing mental health. This outcome was added midway through the study on the advice of the patient advisory group. Depression, anxiety, pain, fatigue and physical function were also assessed. RESULTS Total MHC-SF and subscale scores were similar across IMID groups. Nearly 60% of participants were considered to have flourishing mental health, with similar proportions across disease types (MS 56.5%; IBD 58.7%; RA 59%, p=0.95). Older age was associated with a 2% increased odds of flourishing mental health per year of age (OR 1.02; 95% CI: 1.01 to 1.04). Clinically meaningful elevations in anxiety (OR 0.25; 95% CI: 0.12 to 0.51) and depressive symptoms (OR 0.074; 95% CI: 0.009 to 0.61) were associated with lower odds. Higher levels of pain, anxiety and depressive symptoms were associated with lower total Mental Health Continuum scores at the 50th quantile. CONCLUSIONS Over half of people with MS, IBD and RA reported flourishing mental health, with levels similar across the disease groups. Interventions targeting symptoms of depression and anxiety, and upper limb impairments, as well as resilience training may help a higher proportion of the IMID population achieve flourishing mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaza Almweisheer
- Internal Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Charles N Bernstein
- Department of Gastroenterology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Lesley A Graff
- Clinical Health Psychology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Scott B Patten
- Community Health Sciences & Psychiatry, University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - James Bolton
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - John D Fisk
- Nova Scotia Health Authority, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Departments of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, and Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Carol A Hitchon
- Internal Medicine, University of Manitoba College of Medicine, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - James J Marriott
- Internal Medicine, University of Manitoba College of Medicine, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Ruth Ann Marrie
- Internal Medicine, University of Manitoba College of Medicine, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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Thams F, Brassen S. The need to change: Is there a critical role of midlife adaptation in mental health later in life? eLife 2023; 12:82390. [PMID: 37141113 PMCID: PMC10159621 DOI: 10.7554/elife.82390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Although late-life depression (LLD) is a serious health problem and more common than dementia in people over 60, it is underdiagnosed and undertreated. The cognitive-emotional etiology of LLD is particularly poorly understood. This is in contrast to the now extensive literature from psychology and cognitive neuroscience on the characteristics of emotionally healthy aging. This research consistently shows a change in emotional processing in older adults that is modulated by prefrontal regulation. Lifespan theories explain this change in terms of neurocognitive adaptation to limited opportunities and resources that typically occur in the second half of life. Epidemiological data on an increase in well-being after a low point around age 50 suggest that the majority of people seem quite capable of making this adaptation, even though empirical evidence for a causal modulation of this so called 'paradox of aging' and for the role of the midlife dip is still lacking. Intriguingly, LLD is associated with deficits in emotional, cognitive, and prefrontal functions similar to those shown to be crucial for healthy adaptation. Suspected causes of these deficits, such as white matter lesions or affective instability, become apparent as early as midlife when internal and external changes as well as daily challenges set in. Based on these findings, we propose that some individuals who develop depression at older ages may not have been able to successfully implement self-regulatory adaptation at midlife. Here, we review the current evidence and theories on successful aging, the neurobiology of LLD, and well-being across the lifespan. Drawing on recent advances in lifespan theories, emotion regulation research, and cognitive neuroscience, we propose a model of successful versus unsuccessful adaptation that emphasizes the increasing need for implicit habitual control and resource-based regulatory choice during midlife.
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Affiliation(s)
- Friederike Thams
- Department of Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Stefanie Brassen
- Department of Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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