title: Differential effects of everyday stress on the episodic memory test performances of young, mid-life, and older adults.
abstract: This research explored the differential association of everyday stress with the episodic memory test performances of young, mid-life, and older adults. Participants included 98 community-dwelling adults ranging in age from 19-89 years. Everyday stress was assessed via the Perceived Stress Scale and the Elder Life Stress Inventory. A brief battery of episodic memory tasks was administered which included tests of Logical Memory, Verbal Paired Associates, Digit Symbol Substitution, and Digit Symbol Incidental Learning. Results suggest that everyday hassles and irritations as well as the accumulation of challenging life events may exacerbate age-related decline on episodic memory tests that require greater executive resources and more integrated and elaborative processing. The functional relationship between affective status and risk for dementia is discussed, and consideration of individual differences in everyday stress is suggested so as to allow more sensitive interpretation of episodic memory tests commonly used to discern mild cognitive impairment.
authors.affiliation: College of Human Development and Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, Wisconsin 54311-7001, USA. vondrasd@uwgb.edu
authors.forename: D D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: VonDras
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Powless
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Olson
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wheeler
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Snudden
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders; D003704:Dementia / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological