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Scientific article
Open access
English

Lower executive functioning predicts steeper subsequent decline in well-being only in young-old but not old-old age

Published inInternational Journal of Behavioral Development, vol. 45, no. 2, p. 97-108
Publication date2021
Abstract

Objectives: From a longitudinal perspective, the direction of the relationship between cognitive functioning and well-being in old age, both conceptually and empirically, is still under debate. Therefore, we aimed to disentangle the different longitudinal relationship patterns proposed and whether those differed between young-old and old-old adults. Methods: We used latent change score modeling based on longitudinal data from 1,040 older adults (M = 74.54 years at Time 1 [T1], median = 73 years) to analyze reciprocal lead–lag relationships over 6 years in executive functioning (trail making test [TMT] completion time) and well-being (life satisfaction), taking into account chronological age, sex, education, leisure activities, and chronic diseases. Results: In young-old adults (<73 years), longer TMT completion time at T1 (i.e., lower executive functioning status) significantly predicted steeper subsequent decline in well-being. This was not the case for old-old adults (≥73 years), for whom this relationship was significantly different from that of the young-old (moderation effect). In either group, well-being status at T1 did not predict changes in TMT completion time. Discussion: Lower executive functioning may predict a subsequent decline in well-being in young-old adults only. Wider implications in a context of promotion of healthy aging are discussed.

Keywords
  • Aging
  • Well-being
  • Executive functioning
  • Health
  • Longitudinal change
Citation (ISO format)
IHLE, Andreas et al. Lower executive functioning predicts steeper subsequent decline in well-being only in young-old but not old-old age. In: International Journal of Behavioral Development, 2021, vol. 45, n° 2, p. 97–108. doi: 10.1177/0165025420937076
Main files (2)
Article (Published version)
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Article (Accepted version)
Identifiers
ISSN of the journal0165-0254
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