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

Erskine, JAK; Georgiou, GJ; Joshi, M; Deans, A; Colgate, C (2017) Ageing and thought suppression performance: Its relationship with working memory capacity, habitual thought suppression and mindfulness. Consciousness and Cognition, 53. pp. 211-221. ISSN 1090-2376 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.concog.2017.06.019
SGUL Authors: Erskine, James Anthony Keith

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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 capacity (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 moderated by age. WMC and age both independently predict level of intrusion, and no synergistic effect was found.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: © 2017. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Keywords: Experimental Psychology, 1701 Psychology, 1702 Cognitive Science, 2203 Philosophy
SGUL Research Institute / Research Centre: Academic Structure > Institute of Medical & Biomedical Education (IMBE)
Academic Structure > Institute of Medical & Biomedical Education (IMBE) > Centre for Clinical Education (INMECE )
Journal or Publication Title: Consciousness and Cognition
ISSN: 1090-2376
Dates:
DateEvent
28 June 2017Accepted
5 July 2017Published Online
August 2017Published
Publisher License: Creative Commons: Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0
URI: https://openaccess.sgul.ac.uk/id/eprint/109005
Publisher's version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.concog.2017.06.019

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