PERSEVERATIVE THINKING AND EXECUTIVE FUNCTION IN ADULTS AGED 45-70 WITH AND WITHOUT MOOD DISORDERS

Q: How were emotion regulation and executive function measured in this study?

Emotion regulation was assessed with the Perseverative Thinking Questionnaire (PTQ), and executive function was represented by a composite score derived from four cognitive tasks.

Q: What were the main findings about the link between executive function and perseverative thinking?

Executive function showed a main effect on PTQ, and follow-up analyses found a negative association between executive function and PTQ in middle-aged healthy controls only.

Q: How did mood disorder status and age influence perseverative thinking?

Within the mood-disorder group, age-related differences emerged: younger individuals with mood disorders showed higher perseverative thinking than older individuals. Across age groups, executive function was not significantly correlated with perseverative thinking in the mood-disorder group.

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by Blue Pony

Emotion regulation improves with age, while executive functioning tends to decline; mood disorders further impair both processes. The study tested whether mood disorder diagnosis and age shape the ER–EF relationship in 238 adults aged 45–70, including individuals with mood disorders (n=131) and healthy controls (n=107). ER was measured with the Perseverative Thinking Questionnaire and EF from four cognitive tasks. Results showed EF related to perseverative thinking and age effects within the mood-disorder group, suggesting distinct mechanisms and informing combined cognitive-emotional interventions.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Participants and measures

Statistical results

Interpretation and implications

970 Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 Abstract citation ID: igaf122.3276 PERSEVERATIVE THINKING AND EXECUTIVE FUNCTION IN ADULTS AGED 45-70 WITH AND WITHOUT MOOD DISORDERS Jane Lee1, Katharine Burns1, Jennifer Nicoloro-Santabarbara1, Faith Gunning2, and Katherine Burdick1, 1. Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 2. Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, United States Emotion regulation (ER) improves with age, while executive functioning (EF) tends to decline. However, the presence of a mood disorder (MD) negatively impacts both processes. We examined whether MD diagnosis and age influence the relationship between ER and EF in 238 adults aged 45 to 70, including individuals with MD (n=131) and healthy controls (HC; n=107). ER was assessed using the Perseverative Thinking Questionnaire (PTQ) and an EF composite score was derived from four cognitive tasks. Participants were grouped into three age groups: 45–53 (n = 72), 54–62 (n = 102), and 63–70 (n = 64) . Hierarchical regression analysis revealed a main effect of EF on PTQ (β= - 0.264, p <0.05), though all interaction terms were non-significant. Follow-up correlational analysis showed that EF was negatively associated with PTQ in middle-aged HCs only (r =-.437, p <0.05). ANOVA results revealed significant age-related differences in the PTQ within the MD group (F(2, 119), 3.769, p<.05). Tukey post hoc comparisons indicated that younger individuals with MD exhibited higher levels of perseverative thinking (PT) compared to older individuals (p < 0.05) . These findings suggest that in middle-aged HCs, EF is protective from PT, a form of maladaptive ER. However, in MD, EF was not significantly correlated with PT across age groups, and younger individuals with MD exhibited higher PT than older individuals. This suggests that factors beyond EF contribute to PT in individuals with MD. Therefore, interventions targeting individuals with MD should address both cognitive and emotional factors contributing to PT.

FAQs

How were emotion regulation and executive function measured in this study?

Emotion regulation was assessed with the Perseverative Thinking Questionnaire (PTQ), and executive function was represented by a composite score derived from four cognitive tasks.

What were the main findings about the link between executive function and perseverative thinking?

Executive function showed a main effect on PTQ, and follow-up analyses found a negative association between executive function and PTQ in middle-aged healthy controls only.

How did mood disorder status and age influence perseverative thinking?

Within the mood-disorder group, age-related differences emerged: younger individuals with mood disorders showed higher perseverative thinking than older individuals. Across age groups, executive function was not significantly correlated with perseverative thinking in the mood-disorder group.

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by Blue Pony