scholarly journals Age Group Differences in Response to Repeated Exposure to Laboratory Stress Tasks

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 772-772
Author(s):  
James Miller ◽  
Gloria Luong
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Negative Affect ◽  
Task Difficulty ◽  
Repeated Exposure ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Affective Experiences ◽  
Affect Reactivity ◽  
And Task

Abstract Research examining age differences in affect reactivity (i.e. how much affective experiences change in response to stressors) has produced mixed results, suggesting that there are areas of relative strength and weakness in regulatory processes across age-groups. The present study’s goals were to examine potential age-group differences in affect reactivity and subjective task-appraisals across repeated exposures to a psychosocial laboratory stressor. In the Health and Daily Experiences (HEADE) study, younger (18-35 years old; n=107) and older adults (60-90 years old; n=90) were exposed to the Trier Social Stress Test on three occasions in a laboratory setting over a five-day period. Current affective experiences and task-appraisals were assessed at each session using validated self-report scales, with current affective experiences measured at baseline and task periods to determine affect reactivity. Repeated measures ANOVA analyses were conducted to examine age-group differences in affect reactivity and task-appraisals across sessions. In support of our hypotheses, younger adults showed greater reductions in their negative affect reactivity over time compared to older adults [F(2, 390)= 8.18, p<.001]. Additionally, younger adults’ appraisals of task-difficulty decreased [F(2, 384)= 14.79, p<.001] and appraisals of task-performance increased [F(2,384)= 13.39, p<.001] across sessions, while older adults’ task-appraisals remained stable. Age-group differences in negative affect reactivity and task-difficulty appraisals were not evident for the first session and only emerged after repeated exposure to the stressors. These results highlight the importance of identifying age-related vulnerabilities in adapting to repeated stressors, with implications for designing effective interventions aimed at improving health and well-being for older adults.

Associative learning-related activity within and between the hippocampus, basal ganglia, and prefrontal cortex: Effects of age and learning stage

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenna Merenstein ◽  
Jessica R. Petok ◽  
Ilana J. Bennett
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Basal Ganglia ◽  
Associative Learning ◽  
Early Learning ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Related Activity ◽  
Younger Adults

Healthy aging is accompanied by declines in our ability to learn associations between events without awareness, termed implicit associative learning (IAL). Previous functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have attributed these learning deficits in older adults to differential engagement of the hippocampus, basal ganglia, and prefrontal cortex relative to younger adults. But it remains unclear whether there are also age group differences in how these brain regions coordinate learning of associations over time. Here, we acquired fMRI data while 28 younger (20.8 ± 2.3 years) and 22 older (73.6 ± 6.8 years) healthy adults completed the Triplets Learning Task, in which the location of two cues predicted the location of a target with high (HF) or low (LF) frequency. Results revealed significant age group differences in learning as smaller difference in reaction time to HF versus LF triplets in older relative to younger adults, and in the recruitment of hippocampal and prefrontal regions during early learning. Moreover, learning-related activity was significantly related among hippocampal, basal ganglia, and prefrontal regions for both age groups, although younger adults exhibited stronger hippocampal-basal ganglia interactions during early learning whereas older adults showed stronger prefrontal-hippocampal interactions during late learning. Thus, age-related declines in the ability to learn implicit associations may result from both differential engagement of and coordination between these brain regions, which are traditionally thought to comprise separate learning systems.

scholarly journals Age Group Differences in Household Accident Risk Perceptions and Intentions to Reduce Hazards

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. 2237 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Morgan ◽  
John Reidy ◽  
Tahira Probst
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Safety Information ◽  
Personal Control ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Risk Attitudes ◽  
Accident Risk ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Response Efficacy

Very little is known about the extent to which seemingly vulnerable younger and older adults appraise household risks and relatedly whether safety information focused on raising risk awareness influences intentions to reduce hazards in the home. The present study assessed age differences in accident experience, risk attitudes, household accident risk perceptions, comparative optimism, personal control, efficacy judgements, and intentions to remove household hazards. It also examined the predictors of these intentions. Thirty-eight younger adults (aged 18 to 25) and forty older adults (aged 65 to 87) completed study booklets containing all measures. There were significant age group differences for all accident experience and risk-related variables. Younger adults experienced more accidents, had riskier attitudes, and had significantly lower cognitive risk perceptions (i.e., they were less likely to be injured due to a household accident). They also had lower affective risk perceptions (i.e., they were less worried) about their accident risk and perceived more personal control over the risk compared with older adults. Young adults were comparatively optimistic about their risk while older adults were pessimistic. Older adults had higher response efficacy and intentions to reduce hazards in the home. Only worry, response efficacy, and risk attitudes predicted intention, however, these relationships were not moderated by age or efficacy appraisal. Although tentative theoretical and practical implications are presented, further research is required in order to better understand the objective and subjective risk associated with household accidents, and to determine the factors that may improve safety, particularly for those most vulnerable.

scholarly journals Daily Affective Experiences across the Lifespan during the COVID-19 Outbreak

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 941-941
Author(s):  
Da Jiang ◽  
Shuang Liu
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Negative Affect ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Mainland China ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Daily Diary Study ◽  
Trait Affect ◽  
Affective Experiences

Abstract Objectives Older adults are considered one of the most vulnerable groups to COVID-19. However, previous studies on emotion and aging have found that older adults report better well-being than younger adults in global survey and daily report. To better understand older adults’ well-being during the COVID-19 outbreak, we examined age differences in daily affective experiences in this study. Method A total of participants from mainland China aged 18 to 85 were recruited to participate in the 14-day daily diary study, after a pretest. Their trait affect and demographic information were measured in the pretest. Their daily affect and stress levels were measured in the daily assessments. Results We found that older adults reported a higher level of low arousal positive affect (e.g., calm) and lower levels of high arousal negative affect (HAN; e.g., anxiety), low arousal negative affect (LAN; e.g., dullness), and perceived stress related to COVID-19 in daily life, compared to younger adults. Discussion These results provide initial evidence of daily affective well-being across different age groups in adulthood during the COVID-19 outbreak. Such information is important for developing interventions to promote better well-being during the COVID-19 outbreak.

scholarly journals Age-Related Differences in Resting-State EEG and Allocentric Spatial Working Memory Performance

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adeline Jabès ◽  
Giuliana Klencklen ◽  
Paolo Ruggeri ◽  
Jean-Philippe Antonietti ◽  
Pamela Banta Lavenex ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Resting State ◽  
Spatial Working Memory ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Eeg Activity ◽  
Recording Conditions

During normal aging resting-state brain activity changes and working memory performance declines as compared to young adulthood. Interestingly, previous studies reported that different electroencephalographic (EEG) measures of resting-state brain activity may correlate with working memory performance at different ages. Here, we recorded resting-state EEG activity and tested allocentric spatial working memory in healthy young (20–30 years) and older (65–75 years) adults. We adapted standard EEG methods to record brain activity in mobile participants in a non-shielded environment, in both eyes closed and eyes open conditions. Our study revealed some age-group differences in resting-state brain activity that were consistent with previous results obtained in different recording conditions. We confirmed that age-group differences in resting-state EEG activity depend on the recording conditions and the specific parameters considered. Nevertheless, lower theta-band and alpha-band frequencies and absolute powers, and higher beta-band and gamma-band relative powers were overall observed in healthy older adults, as compared to healthy young adults. In addition, using principal component and regression analyses, we found that the first extracted EEG component, which represented mainly theta, alpha and beta powers, correlated with spatial working memory performance in older adults, but not in young adults. These findings are consistent with the theory that the neurobiological bases of working memory performance may differ between young and older adults. However, individual measures of resting-state EEG activity could not be used as reliable biomarkers to predict individual allocentric spatial working memory performance in young or older adults.

scholarly journals KNOWLEDGE OF AGING, NEGATIVE AGE BIAS, AND POSITIVE AGE BIAS: AGE GROUP DIFFERENCES

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S80-S81
Author(s):  
Grace Caskie ◽  
Anastasia E Canell ◽  
Hannah M Bashian
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Total Sample ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Age Bias ◽  
Negative Beliefs ◽  
Middle Aged Adults

Abstract Attitudes towards aging include both positive and negative beliefs about older adults (Iverson et al., 2017; Palmore, 1999). Palmore’s (1998) Facts on Aging Quiz, a widely used assessment of knowledge about aging, also identifies common societal misconceptions about aging. Findings regarding age group differences in attitudes toward aging are mixed (Bodner et al., 2012; Cherry & Palmore, 2008; Rupp et al., 2005). The current study compared knowledge of aging, negative age bias, and positive age bias between young adults (18-35 years, n=268) and middle-aged adults (40-55 years; n=277). Middle-aged adults reported significantly greater average knowledge of aging than young adults (p=.019), although both groups had relatively low knowledge (MA: M=13.0, YA: M=12.2). Middle-aged adults also showed significantly less negative age bias (p<.001) and significantly more positive age bias than young adults (p=.026). Although the total sample was significantly more likely to be incorrect than correct on 23 of the 25 facts (p<.001), young adults were significantly more likely than middle-aged adults (p<.001) to respond incorrectly for only 2 of 25 facts. Both facts reflected greater negative age bias among young adults than middle-aged adults. These facts concerned older adults’ ability to work as effectively as young adults (fact 9) and frequency of depression in older adults (fact 13). Results demonstrate that age bias is not limited to young adults and may continue through midlife, though negative age bias in particular may be lower for individuals approaching older adulthood, which could have implications for their psychological and physical well-being.

Perceptions of Intergenerational Communication across Cultures: An Italian Case

2002 ◽  
Vol 95 (2) ◽  
pp. 583-591 ◽  
Author(s):  
Howard Giles ◽  
Dawna Ballard ◽  
Robert M. McCann
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Negative Affect ◽  
Southern Italy ◽  
Intergenerational Communication ◽  
Cultural Groups ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Italian Case ◽  
Italian American ◽  
Anglo American

406 Anglo-American, Italian-American, and Italian (Northern and Southern Italy) students were asked to evaluate past conversations with same-age peers, i.e., 17 to 30 years, and older adults, i.e., 65 years and older While according older adults more deference, all cultural groups perceived older adults as more rigid and nonaccommodating than younger adults. Exchanges with older adults were reported as having more negative affect than were those with other young adults, and were also more likely to be avoided.

Learned Helplessness in Physical Education: A Developmental Study of Causal Attributions and Task Persistence

1994 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 108-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas J. Martinek ◽  
Joseph B. Griffith
Keyword(s):  
Learned Helplessness ◽  
Task Difficulty ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Developmental Study ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Task Persistence ◽  
Behavioral Measures ◽  
Effect Of Age ◽  
Two Age Groups ◽  
And Task

The purpose of this study was to describe the effect of age on specific psychological and behavioral measures of learned-helpless and mastery-oriented students. The study consisted of two age groups, younger and older, of learned-helplessness and mastery-oriented students. Within each age group, learned-helpless and mastery-oriented students were compared in terms of attributional profiles and levels of task persistence during instruction. Students were asked to view videotapes of their performances, to describe how they thought they did on each task, and to give reasons for their performance. Responses were classified into four attributional categories: (a) ability, (b) effort, (c) task difficulty, and (d) environment or luck. Persistence was also determined by looking at the number of times students would attempt a task. Attributional profiles and task persistence associated with the leamed-helpless condition was more prevalent with the older group than with the younger group.

scholarly journals LINKS BETWEEN POSITIVE AFFECT AND DISENGAGEMENT FROM NEGATIVE STIMULI IN YOUNGER AND OLDER ADULTS

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S307-S307
Author(s):  
Kathryn L Ossenfort ◽  
Derek M Isaacowitz
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Negative Affect ◽  
Positive Affect ◽  
Positive And Negative Affect ◽  
Similar Response ◽  
Attentional Disengagement ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Attentional Processes ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Negative Stimuli

Abstract Older adults attend to more positive than negative content compared to younger adults; this “age-related positivity” effect is often thought of as a way older adults may be regulating their moods. However, attentional disengagement abilities decline with age, which may make positive looking more challenging for older adults in some cases. To evaluate links between early attentional processes and affect, 48 younger adult and 49 older adult participants reported levels of positive and negative affect on the Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS) and completed a spatial cueing task evaluating attentional orienting and disengagement from emotional stimuli. Participants were tasked with responding to the location of a spatial target after seeing a cue (emotional image) that either appeared on the same (orienting) or opposite (disengagement) side of the screen. Multilevel modeling analyses were conducted using age and self-reported affect from the PANAS as predictors at level-2, and trial characteristics as predictors at level-1. Positive affect (PA) was unrelated to task performance for younger adults. Older adults reporting higher PA responded more slowly overall, and higher PA scores predicted similar response times to positive and negative stimuli on both trial types. Older adults reporting lower PA oriented attention more quickly to positive stimuli, but took longer to disengage from negative. These results suggest that there may be a relationship between the ability to flexibly disengage from negative content and PA for older, but not younger adults, and also highlight the importance of teasing apart specific attentional processes when evaluating positivity effects.

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