Ageing and thought suppression performance: Its relationship with working memory capacity, habitual thought suppression and mindfulness
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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.
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In line with the perceptual load theory of attention, a high perceptual load of attention on other material may prevent unwanted distractors from intruding.
“In line with the perceptual load theory of attention (Lavie & Tsal, 1994), a high perceptual load of attention on other material (in our study: the breath) may prevent unwanted distractors from intruding (Erskine et al., 2017).”
From Being able to think when caught in the maelstrom - how adolescents used mindfulness when facing exams. (2024) · cites this paper as Erskine et al., 2017
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- Authors
- Erskine, J. A. K., Georgiou, G. J., Joshi, M., Deans, A., & Colegate, C.
- Affiliations
- St George's, University of London (GB)
- University of Hertfordshire (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Erskine, James A.K.
- Venue
- Consciousness and Cognition
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2017-08
- Volume
- 53
- Pages
- 211-221
- ISSN
- 1053-8100 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2733617873
- Cited by
- 7
- References
- 63
- Citations by year
- 2024: 3 · 2022: 1 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 1
- FWCI
- 0.47
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- uhra.herts.ac.uk
- Locations
- Consciousness and Cognition (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- St George's Online Research Archive (St George's University of London) (acceptedVersion)
- University of Hertfordshire Research Archive (University of Hertfordshire) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Mind wandering and attention
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Functions and Memory
- Keywords
- thought suppression, aging, working memory capacity, mindfulness, older adults, backward digit span, social desirability
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Attention, Female, Humans, Male, Memory, Short-Term, Middle Aged, Thinking, Young Adult, Mindfulness
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