Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of the Ozarks, Clarksville, Arkansas, USA.
J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2022 Oct 6;77(10):1841-1851. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbac079.
While personal growth has been found to be associated with multiple aspects of health in adulthood, its associations with cognitive functioning have not been fully understood. The present study aimed to assess both directions of such longitudinal associations.
Using data from the second wave (Time 1 [T1]) and third wave (Time 2 [T2]) of the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study (N = 4,206; mean age = 56.0 [standard deviation (SD) = 12.3]), a longitudinal measurement model containing latent variables of episodic memory and executive function was first constructed. Built on the measurement model, a cross-lagged panel model was analyzed to assess relationships between personal growth and the two areas of cognitive functioning, in which T1 personal growth predicted residualized changes in episodic memory and executive function, and T1 episodic memory and executive function predicted change in personal growth, controlling for covariates.
T1 personal growth significantly predicted smaller decreases in episodic memory, whereas it did not predict change in executive function. T1 episodic memory, but not T1 executive function, significantly predicted smaller decreases in personal growth.
The present findings were unique, particularly implying potential longitudinal reciprocity between personal growth and episodic memory. These findings and implications can inform future research aimed at exploring approaches to promoting personal growth and cognitive functioning among aging adults.
虽然个人成长与成年后健康的多个方面有关，但它与认知功能的关系尚未完全了解。本研究旨在评估这种纵向关联的两个方向。
使用来自美国中年（MIDUS）研究第二波（时间 1 [T1]）和第三波（时间 2 [T2]）的数据（N=4206；平均年龄=56.0[标准差（SD）=12.3]），首先构建了一个包含情景记忆和执行功能潜变量的纵向测量模型。基于测量模型，分析了交叉滞后面板模型，以评估个人成长与认知功能两个领域之间的关系，其中 T1 个人成长预测了情景记忆和执行功能的残余变化，而 T1 情景记忆和执行功能预测了个人成长的变化，控制了协变量。
T1 个人成长显著预测情景记忆下降幅度较小，而不预测执行功能的变化。T1 情景记忆，但不是 T1 执行功能，显著预测个人成长下降幅度较小。
本研究结果是独特的，特别是暗示个人成长和情景记忆之间可能存在纵向互惠关系。这些发现和意义可以为未来旨在探索促进老年人个人成长和认知功能的方法的研究提供信息。
