Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 31, 2026

A Cognitive Paradigm to Investigate Interference in Working Memory by Distractions and Interruptions
Published on: July 16, 2015
Intraindividual coupling of daily stressors and cognitive interference in old age
Robert S Stawski1, Jacqueline Mogle, Martin J Sliwinski
1Department of Human Development and Family Studies, and The Gerontology Center, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, USA. rstawski@isr.umich.edu
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.
Related Concept Videos
Cognitive Development During Adulthood
Aging
Cellular Clock Theory
The cellular clock theory posits that the human lifespan is closely tied to the finite capacity of cells to divide, a phenomenon governed by telomeres, which are protective caps at the ends of...
Interference and Decay
Interference occurs when competing memories hinder the retrieval of particular information. It can be classified into two types: proactive and retroactive interference. Proactive...
Types of Stressors
Catastrophes
Catastrophes refer to large-scale, unpredictable events that create overwhelming stress and a sense of threat. Examples include natural disasters like...
Psychoneuroimmunology: Diabetes and Cancer
Psychological Responses to Stress

