title: Age differences in responses to progressive social exclusion: the role of cognition and socioemotional functioning.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In prior research, older adults were found to be less responsive to social slights than younger adults, but the mechanisms behind such effects have remained unclear. The present study examined age differences in susceptibility to the deleterious effects of social exclusion and investigated the explanatory role of cognitive and socioemotional variables.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty younger adults (aged 22-39) and 40 older adults (aged 58-89) played a modified version of "Cyberball," a virtual ball-tossing game, in which they were initially included by 2 other players and progressively excluded in subsequent rounds. After each round, participants reported their emotions and needs satisfaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Older adults were less likely than younger adults to respond to mild levels of social exclusion, but both age groups responded similarly to more pronounced exclusion. Within the older group, participants with lower cognitive functioning were less responsive to mild exclusion, but this effect did not reach significance in the younger group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Future research on age differences in responses to social exclusion should further explore the role of cognition and examine possible implications for interpersonal functioning.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Development, MVR Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. CEL72@cornell.edu
authors.forename: Corinna E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Löckenhoff
authors.forename: Margaret A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: Jason F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Vivian
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zayas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012934:Social Isolation / Q000523:psychology*; D012938:Social Perception; D018910:Video Games / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult