The effects of anxiety on attentional processes in older adults

This study explored one cognitive component of anxiety-selective attention to threat-among older adults. The effects of anxiety on attentional processes have not previously been studied in older adults under laboratory conditions. A novel age-appropriate mood induction technique was piloted for use with older participants. Sixty-eight older adults were randomly assigned to neutral or anxious mood induction conditions, and completed emotional Stroop and dot-probe tasks. Significant selective attention effects were found in older adults induced into an anxious mood. Results suggest that anxious older adults are at least as hyper-vigilant to mood congruent threatening information as has been shown with younger adults in other studies. These findings provide support for the application of these theories to older adults.