Ageing and thought suppression performance: Its relationship with working memory capacity, habitual thought suppression and mindfulness

James A K Erskine; George Georgiou

doi:10.1016/j.concog.2017.06.019

Ageing and thought suppression performance: Its relationship with working memory capacity, habitual thought suppression and mindfulness

James A K Erskine, George Georgiou

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

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Abstract

A study investigated how the ability to suppress thoughts in the laboratory was affected by type of thought suppressed (positive, negative, neutral), participants’ age and working memory ca- pacity (WMC). Linked variables (Use of thought suppression, social desirability, and mindfulness) were measured to assess whether they modified susceptibility to thought intrusion.
Younger, middle aged and older adults suppressed three different valenced thoughts in a counterbalanced order for 5-min per thought. Participants then completed a WMC task and questionnaire measures of the linked variables.
Valence had no effect on intrusions. WMC was positively related to intrusions; higher WMC corresponded to greater intrusions. Age was negatively related to intrusions; with increasing age intrusions decreased. Hierarchical regression showed only age and backward digit span (WMC) significantly predicted intrusions. The relationship between WMC and intrusions was not mod- erated by age. WMC and age both independently predict level of intrusion, and no synergistic effect was found.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	211-221
Number of pages	11
Journal	Consciousness and cognition
Volume	53
Early online date	5 Jul 2017
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.concog.2017.06.019
Publication status	Published - 1 Aug 2017

Keywords

Ageing
Intrusive thoughts
working memory
thought suppression

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10.1016/j.concog.2017.06.019

Erskine_Georgiou_Consciousness_CognitionAccepted author manuscript, 773 KBLicence: CC BY-NC-ND

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title = "Ageing and thought suppression performance: Its relationship with working memory capacity, habitual thought suppression and mindfulness",

abstract = "A study investigated how the ability to suppress thoughts in the laboratory was affected by type of thought suppressed (positive, negative, neutral), participants{\textquoteright} age and working memory ca- pacity (WMC). Linked variables (Use of thought suppression, social desirability, and mindfulness) were measured to assess whether they modified susceptibility to thought intrusion.Younger, middle aged and older adults suppressed three different valenced thoughts in a counterbalanced order for 5-min per thought. Participants then completed a WMC task and questionnaire measures of the linked variables.Valence had no effect on intrusions. WMC was positively related to intrusions; higher WMC corresponded to greater intrusions. Age was negatively related to intrusions; with increasing age intrusions decreased. Hierarchical regression showed only age and backward digit span (WMC) significantly predicted intrusions. The relationship between WMC and intrusions was not mod- erated by age. WMC and age both independently predict level of intrusion, and no synergistic effect was found.",

keywords = "Ageing, Intrusive thoughts, working memory, thought suppression",

author = "Erskine, {James A K} and George Georgiou",

note = "This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of the following article: James A. K. Erskine, George J. Georgiou, Manavi Joshi, Andrew Deans, and Charlene Colegate, {\textquoteleft}Ageing and thought suppression performance: Its relationship with working memory capacity, habitual thought suppression and mindfulness{\textquoteright}, Consciousness and Cognition, Vol. 53: 211-221, August 2017. Under embargo. Embargo end date: 5 July 2018. The final, published version is available online at doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.concog.2017.06.019.",

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N1 - This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of the following article: James A. K. Erskine, George J. Georgiou, Manavi Joshi, Andrew Deans, and Charlene Colegate, ‘Ageing and thought suppression performance: Its relationship with working memory capacity, habitual thought suppression and mindfulness’, Consciousness and Cognition, Vol. 53: 211-221, August 2017. Under embargo. Embargo end date: 5 July 2018. The final, published version is available online at doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.concog.2017.06.019.

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N2 - A study investigated how the ability to suppress thoughts in the laboratory was affected by type of thought suppressed (positive, negative, neutral), participants’ age and working memory ca- pacity (WMC). Linked variables (Use of thought suppression, social desirability, and mindfulness) were measured to assess whether they modified susceptibility to thought intrusion.Younger, middle aged and older adults suppressed three different valenced thoughts in a counterbalanced order for 5-min per thought. Participants then completed a WMC task and questionnaire measures of the linked variables.Valence had no effect on intrusions. WMC was positively related to intrusions; higher WMC corresponded to greater intrusions. Age was negatively related to intrusions; with increasing age intrusions decreased. Hierarchical regression showed only age and backward digit span (WMC) significantly predicted intrusions. The relationship between WMC and intrusions was not mod- erated by age. WMC and age both independently predict level of intrusion, and no synergistic effect was found.

AB - A study investigated how the ability to suppress thoughts in the laboratory was affected by type of thought suppressed (positive, negative, neutral), participants’ age and working memory ca- pacity (WMC). Linked variables (Use of thought suppression, social desirability, and mindfulness) were measured to assess whether they modified susceptibility to thought intrusion.Younger, middle aged and older adults suppressed three different valenced thoughts in a counterbalanced order for 5-min per thought. Participants then completed a WMC task and questionnaire measures of the linked variables.Valence had no effect on intrusions. WMC was positively related to intrusions; higher WMC corresponded to greater intrusions. Age was negatively related to intrusions; with increasing age intrusions decreased. Hierarchical regression showed only age and backward digit span (WMC) significantly predicted intrusions. The relationship between WMC and intrusions was not mod- erated by age. WMC and age both independently predict level of intrusion, and no synergistic effect was found.

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JF - Consciousness and cognition

ER -

Ageing and thought suppression performance: Its relationship with working memory capacity, habitual thought suppression and mindfulness

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