Cognitive Functioning and Emotional Regulation in Older Adults

Abstract

The present correlational study was aimed at examining the relationship between cognitive functioning (CF) and emotional regulation (ER) to determine the gender differences between them. To explore these dimensions, a sample of 200 community-dwelling Older Adults (M=100, F=100) with an age range of 60+ has been selected using purposive sampling from Lahore district, Punjab. Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Emotional Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) were used to assess both variables. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 27. The t-test results revealed that there exists gender differences in CF but not evident in ER. The correlational analysis suggested a positive correlation between CF and cognitive reappraisal(CR) and a negative correlation was found between CF and expressive suppression (ES.  The findings of the current study can be implicated in the field of Clinical Psychology to establish programs that will help improve mental well-being of aged people by exploring their emotional experiences. Effective emotional regulation strategy which is CR, can enhance CF and resilience in older adults, allowing them to better navigate age-related challenges.