title: [Experimental analysis of processing stressful information: differential and age-related psychological aspects].
abstract: In two experimental studies with older subjects, the differential accessibility of palliative interpretations of negative situations was investigated using a scenario paradigm. Short episodes (formulated in a self-referent manner) were presented on a CRT-screen. Each story contained a palliative and distressing interpretation of a negative life situation. In a recognition test, the reaction time and the error variable were used as an index of accessibility of those aspects. In a pilot study (N = 62; age of subjects 49-79 years), it was found that the dispositional tendency to reinterpret negative life situations flexibly correlates positively with the accessibility of palliative information. Using a priming approach in the main study, it was shown that this result is based on a differential moderated association of the negative life-event and the type of information (i.e., palliative or distressing) (N = 120; age of subjects: 56-80 years). Especially with respect to scenarios which are centered on age-related declines, results were more pronounced with increasing age. The results are discussed in terms of a theory which contrasts active-instrumental efforts of coping with accommodative mechanisms of adjustment and reinterpretation.
authors.affiliation: Universität Münster.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wentura
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rothermund
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brandtstädter
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010552:Personality Assessment; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011340:Problem Solving
vernacular_title: Experimentelle Analysen zur Verarbeitung belastender Informationen: differential- und alternspsychologische Aspekte.