Investigating relationships between aging, empathy, and executive function in healthy adults
Presenter Type
UNO Graduate Student (Doctoral)
Major/Field of Study
Gerontology
Advisor Information
Dr. Janelle Beadle
Location
MBSC Ballroom Poster # 902 - G (Doctoral)
Presentation Type
Poster
Start Date
24-3-2023 9:00 AM
End Date
24-3-2023 10:15 AM
Abstract
Abstract
Background. Due to aging-related brain changes, older adults show poorer performance on tasks measuring executive function (e.g., planning, set shifting). Certain aspects of empathy also undergo aging-related changes, and there is evidence that changes in executive function may be one mechanism for this change. The present study investigated relationships between age, executive function and one component of emotional empathy – emotion contagion (i.e., the capacity to resonate with others’ emotions). We hypothesized that aging would be associated with poorer executive function and lower emotion contagion. Methods. Participants included 54 healthy younger and older adults. Participants completed a measure of executive function (the Stroop Test) and a self-report questionnaire assessing emotion contagion (the Emotion Contagion Scale). Poorer executive function was assessed by slower reaction time on this measure, and emotion contagion was measured by the total score on the Emotion Contagion Scale. Results. As predicted, the reaction time of the Stroop Test was positively correlated with age (pConclusion. Aging was associated with slower reaction time on an executive function task and lower levels of emotion contagion. As a next step, we plan to collect additional data to investigate relationships between executive function and other aspects of empathy in a larger sample.
Scheduling
9:15-10:30 a.m., 1-2:15 p.m., 2:30 -3:45 p.m.
Investigating relationships between aging, empathy, and executive function in healthy adults
MBSC Ballroom Poster # 902 - G (Doctoral)
Abstract
Background. Due to aging-related brain changes, older adults show poorer performance on tasks measuring executive function (e.g., planning, set shifting). Certain aspects of empathy also undergo aging-related changes, and there is evidence that changes in executive function may be one mechanism for this change. The present study investigated relationships between age, executive function and one component of emotional empathy – emotion contagion (i.e., the capacity to resonate with others’ emotions). We hypothesized that aging would be associated with poorer executive function and lower emotion contagion. Methods. Participants included 54 healthy younger and older adults. Participants completed a measure of executive function (the Stroop Test) and a self-report questionnaire assessing emotion contagion (the Emotion Contagion Scale). Poorer executive function was assessed by slower reaction time on this measure, and emotion contagion was measured by the total score on the Emotion Contagion Scale. Results. As predicted, the reaction time of the Stroop Test was positively correlated with age (pConclusion. Aging was associated with slower reaction time on an executive function task and lower levels of emotion contagion. As a next step, we plan to collect additional data to investigate relationships between executive function and other aspects of empathy in a larger sample.