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Published on: June 14, 2019
Neuroticism moderates the daily relation between stressors and memory failures.
Shevaun D Neupert1, Daniel K Mroczek, Avron Spiro
1Department of Psychology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7650, USA. shevaun_neupert@ncsu.edu
High neuroticism in older adults amplifies memory failures on stressful days, particularly those involving interpersonal conflicts. This suggests neuroticism impacts cognitive reactivity to daily stressors.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
Background:
- Previous research links daily stressors to memory failures in naturalistic settings.
- Individual differences may moderate the relationship between stressors and cognitive function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if neuroticism influences cognitive reactivity to daily stressors in older adults.
- To examine the association between daily stressors, neuroticism, and memory failures.
Main Methods:
- A daily diary study was conducted with 333 older adults (mean age = 73.27 years).
- Participants reported on daily stressors and memory failures.
- Multilevel models were used to analyze the data.
Main Results:
- Individuals high in neuroticism reported more memory failures on days with stressors compared to those lower in neuroticism.
- Interpersonal stressors showed a particularly strong association with memory failures in high-neuroticism individuals.
- Neuroticism moderated the relationship between daily stressors and memory failures.
Conclusions:
- Neuroticism plays a significant role in cognitive reactivity to daily stressors among older adults.
- Findings highlight the impact of personality traits on age-related cognitive decline.
- Interpersonal stressors may pose a greater memory risk for older adults high in neuroticism.
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