Loading...
Reduced facial reactivity as a contributor to preserved emotion regulation in older adults
Pedder, David J. Terrett, Gill Bailey, Phoebe E. Henry, Julie D. Ruffman, Ted Rendell, Peter G.
Pedder, David J.
Terrett, Gill
Bailey, Phoebe E.
Henry, Julie D.
Ruffman, Ted
Rendell, Peter G.
Abstract
Abstract This study investigated whether differences in the type of strategy used, or age-related differences in intensity of facial reactivity, might contribute to preserved emotion regulation ability in older adults. Young (n = 35) and older (n = 33) adults were instructed to regulate their emotion to positive and negative pictures under 3 conditions (watch, expressive suppression, cognitive ‘detached’ reappraisal). Participants were objectively monitored using facial electromyography (EMG) and assessed on memory performance. Both age groups were effectively, and equivalently, able to reduce their facial expressions. In relation to facial reactivity, the percentage increase of older adults’ facial muscle EMG activity in the watch condition was significantly reduced relative to young adults. Recall of pictures following regulation was similar to the watch condition, and there was no difference in memory performance between the 2 regulation strategies for both groups. These findings do not support the proposal that the type of strategy used explains preserved emotion regulation ability in older adults. Coupled with the lack of memory costs following regulation, these data instead are more consistent with the suggestion that older adults may retain emotion regulation capacity partly because they exhibit less facial reactivity to begin with. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)
Keywords
aging, emotional regulation, facial expressions, age differences, electromyography, memory
Date
2016
Type
Journal article
Journal
Psychology and Aging
Book
Volume
31
Issue
1
Page Range
114-125
Article Number
ACU Department
School of Behavioural and Health Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
Relation URI
DOI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
License
File Access
Controlled