Discrepancies in Objective and Subjective Cognition in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Does Personality Matter?

Abstract

Associations between subjective cognition and current objective functioning are inconclusive. Given known associations between personality and cognition, this study tested whether personality moderates associations between subjective memory and objective cognition in middle-aged and older adults. Participants ( N = 62, Mage = 63.8, SD = 7.7, 33 men) completed assessments of personality (Big Five Inventory-10), subjective memory (Cognitive Failures Questionnaire [CFQ-memory]), and objective cognition (processing speed, attention, inhibition [Stroop], working memory [Sternberg], set-shifting [Wisconsin Card Sorting Task]). Multiple regressions and simple slopes analyses examined whether personality moderates associations between subjective memory and objective cognition, controlling for age, number of medical conditions, and household income. Extraversion moderated associations between processing speed and CFQ-memory. Agreeableness moderated associations between set-shifting and CFQ-memory. Among individuals with higher extraversion and lower agreeableness, objectively worse cognition was associated with the fewest memory complaints. Findings suggest personality may impact the discrepancies between subjective memory and objective cognition in mid-to-late life.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2023
Source ID
10.1177/23337214221146663

Entities

People

  • Amy Costa
  • Ashley F. Curtis
  • Christina S. McCrae
  • Lauren M. Nowakowski
  • Nelson Cowan

Organizations

  • Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
  • National Institute of Nursing Research
  • National Institute on Aging
  • United States Department of Defense
  • University of Missouri
  • University of South Florida

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Psychology

Readers

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