The relationship between momentary affect and working memory performance among older couples

Abstract

Research has long been interested in links between affect and cognition. The goal of the present study was to understand associations between momentary working memory performance and individual and partner affect as well as moderators (neuroticism and relationship satisfaction) of these associations. We used data from an experience sampling study with 151 heterosexual older couples (⩾65 years old). Our results showed no evidence for associations between momentary individual affect and momentary working memory performance. In women, two associations were found between partner negative affect and working memory performance: A within-person association with partner negative affect indicated that women whose partners reported more negative affect than usual showed lower levels of average working memory performance. When moderators were included, women showed lower-than-usual working memory performance if their partner reported more negative affect than other men. Follow-up analyses of quadratic effects showed no significant quadratic associations between affect and working memory performance, neither for women nor for men. Taken together, our study showed little evidence for associations between individual affect and momentary working memory performance. For partner affect, associations were found between partner negative affect and lower working memory performance in women. We discuss possible reasons for these findings, including low prevalence of strong affective states in everyday life of older adults.

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