Fluid and crystallized cognitive abilities differentially predict successful regulation of positive versus negative...

Emotion regulation (ER) is thought to rely on cognitive resources, with prior work identifying positive associations between both fluid and crystallized cognitive ability and successful ER. While emotional well-being tends to improve with age throughout adulthood, it is less clear whether ER improves, particularly in contexts involving unavoidable negative stimuli. In the present study, age-diverse community participants (N = 286, age 25-85) completed the National Institutes of Health Toolbox Cognitive Battery to assess their fluid and crystallized cognitive ability. They completed an ER task involving prohedonic regulation with instructions to regulate using any strategy while viewing film clips eliciting target emotions varying by valence and arousal: disgust, sadness, amusement, and contentment. ER success was assessed both through self-reports of experience of the target emotion and automated coding of facial expression of the target emotion. We examined associations among age, cognitive performance, and ER success. Individuals who scored higher on crystallized cognition showed greater ER success regardless of emotion type, and this effect was robust across both success indices (emotional experience and expression). Age was associated with reduced ability to decrease negative emotional experience, while fluid cognition was associated with heightened ability to decrease negative emotional experience. Both age and fluid cognition were unassociated with the ability to increase positive emotional experience. Findings suggest that older individuals and those with limited fluid cognitive resources may experience ER difficulties specifically when encountering negative situations. Findings also provide additional evidence supporting the potential role of crystallized cognitive ability or life experience in successfully regulating emotions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).