The Moderating Effects of Perceived Control on the Relationship Between Childhood Trauma and Adult Cognitive Health

Sep 29, 2026

Upload by Terk

Trauma exposure predicts changes in both executive function (EF) and episodic memory (EM), with greater trauma exposure linked to faster cognitive decline in adulthood. The study addresses what factors may buffer the harmful effects of childhood trauma. Perceived control is tested as a psychosocial resource that may moderate the relationship between childhood trauma and adult cognitive health. Multilevel models using Midlife in the United States data (waves 2 and 3) show buffering for EF level and change, and exploratory results indicate emotional neglect worsens EF only under low perceived control, with no moderation for EM.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Study aim

Hypotheses and method

Key results

Conclusions

892 Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 Abstract citation ID: igaf122.3018 THE MODERATING EFFECTS OF PERCEIVED CONTROL ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHILDHOOD TRAUMA AND ADULT COGNITIVE HEALTH Chloe Horowitz1, Eric Cerino2, Laura Noll2, and Nora Dunbar2, 1. Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States, 2. Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States Trauma exposure has been shown to predict change in both executive function (EF) and episodic memory (EM), such that individuals with greater numbers of trauma exposure experienced greater rates of cognitive decline in both cognitive domains than those with fewer exposures. While it is clear that trauma exposure is a risk factor for cognitive decline in adulthood, it is Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 893 unclear what factors may act as a buffer in this relationship and protect against the deleterious effects of childhood trauma. Perceived control is an important psychosocial resource for cognitive health that may serve as a buffer against these deleterious effects. This study seeks to examine the extent to which perceived control moderatesthe relationship between childhood trauma and cognitive health in adulthood.We hypothesized that the detrimental impact of childhood exposure to potentially traumatic events (PTE) on adult cognitive health will be attenuated among those with greater perceived control. We used data from waves 2 and 3 of the Midlife in the United States study. Results from multilevel models revealed that perceived control buffered the detrimental impacts of childhood PTE on cognitive health, but the buffering effect was specific to level and change in EF. Exploratory analyses revealed that higher levels of emotional neglect were associated with worse EF performance only among those with lower perceived control. Perceived control did not moderate effects of childhood PTE on EM outcomes. These findings characterize relationships between childhood PTE and cognitive health later in life by identifying the protective effects of perceived control.

FAQs

Does perceived control also moderate effects on episodic memory (EM)?

No. Perceived control does not moderate the effects of childhood PTE on EM outcomes.

Sep 29, 2026

Upload by Terk