Date of Award
2025
Document Type
Open Access Dissertation
Department
College of Nursing
First Advisor
Michael D. Wirth
Abstract
Background: Cognitive functioning is linked to emotional processes, with this relationship shaped by various biological (e.g., age, sex, diseases, and genetics), psychological (e.g., emotional well-being, coping strategies, mental health), and sociological (e.g., income and education) factors. Understanding these interactions is critical for advancing research on cognitive-emotional health across diverse populations. Purpose: To examine the relationship between positive and negative emotions and cognitive functioning among healthy adults. Methods: This was a cross-sectional analysis of data from the Aging Brain Cohort (ABC) study (n=434). The independent variables were subsets from the NIH toolbox emotional battery. The dependent variables were from the NIH cognitive battery. Covariates were demographics, health history, diet, physical activity, and psychological measures. Linear regression was used to examine the relationship between emotions (i.e., negative affect, social satisfaction, psychological well-being, self-efficacy, and perceived stress) and cognitive health. Age, sex, and race were examined as potential effect modifiers. Results: The mean age was 44.2 + 18. The participants were primarily White (88%), with fewer males (26%) than females (75%). Men were more likely to be married than women. Asthma was reported more often among women than men, while the remaining chronic conditions were similarly reported. Among all participants, a one-unit increase in self-efficacy was associated with a decrease in the oral reading test (β= -0.152; p= 0.03). In males, every one-unit increase in perceived stress was associated with decreased pattern process speed (β= -0.771, p= 0.01); no such relationship was observed in females. Conclusion: This study suggests that among a healthy population, there is an association between emotions (i.e., self-efficacy and perceived stress) and cognitive health. However, additional research is required to ascertain the impact of sex and race over a longer period on the relationship between emotions and cognition.
Rights
© 2025, Krystal D. Becks
Recommended Citation
Becks, K. D.(2025). Emotions and Cognition. (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/etd/8572