Self-regulatory strategies in daily life: Selection, optimization, and compensation and everyday memory problems

We examined whether SOC usage varied by age and level of constraints, and if the relationship between cognitive resources and memory problems was mitigated by SOC usage. A daily diary paradigm was used to explore day-to-day fluctuations in these relationships. Participants (n=145, ages 22 to 94) completed a baseline interview and a daily diary for seven consecutive days. Multilevel models examined between- and within-person relationships between daily SOC use, daily stressors, cognitive resources, and everyday memory problems. Middle-aged adults had the highest SOC usage, although older adults also showed high SOC use if they had high cognitive resources. More SOC strategies were used on high-stress compared to low-stress days. Moreover, the relationship between daily stress and memory problems was buffered by daily SOC use, such that on high-stress days, those who used more SOC strategies reported fewer memory problems than participants who used fewer SOC strategies. The paradox of resources and SOC use can be qualified by the type of resource-limitation. Deficits in global (cognitive) resources were not tied to SOC usage or benefits. Conversely, under daily constraints tied to stress, the use of SOC increased and led to fewer memory problems.

Source: International Journal of Behavioral Development - February 10, 2016 Category: Child Development Authors: Robinson, S. A., Rickenbach, E. H., Lachman, M. E. Tags: Special Section: Motivational Self Regulation Across the Life-Span Source Type: research