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Relationships Among Executive Dysfunction, Constructive Worrying, and Worry Responses in Older Adults
Katie L Granier1, Daniel L Segal1, Frederick L Coolidge1
114676 University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, CO, USA.
International Journal of Aging & Human Development
|January 3, 2020
Summary
Older adults experiencing unconstructive worry and avoidance behaviors show greater executive dysfunction. Addressing worry management is key for cognitive health in seniors.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Clinical Psychology
- Cognitive Neuroscience
Background:
- Worry is a common symptom of anxiety, significantly impacting mental well-being.
- Executive functions are crucial cognitive processes that may decline with age.
- The relationship between specific worry characteristics and executive dysfunction in older adults requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between specific aspects of worry and perceived executive dysfunction in older adults.
- To identify which worry components predict executive dysfunction in this demographic.
Main Methods:
- 100 older adults (mean age 68.82 years) completed validated questionnaires assessing worry behaviors, unconstructive worry, and executive dysfunction.
- Multiple regression analyses were employed to examine the predictive relationships between worry variables and executive dysfunction.
Main Results:
- Worry constructiveness and response behaviors significantly predicted executive dysfunction.
- Specifically, increased avoidance behaviors and unconstructive worry were uniquely associated with higher levels of executive dysfunction.
Conclusions:
- Worry management strategies and the constructiveness of worry are significantly linked to cognitive functioning in older adults.
- Assessing both worry and executive dysfunction is crucial for understanding anxiety and cognitive decline in aging populations.
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