Cognitive Failures and Stress

Abstract

138 healthy volunteers in four age groups completed the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (Self and Other) as well as measures of attention, freedom from distractibility, daily stress, and trait-state anxiety. Self-reported and observed cognitive failures were strongly associated with stress and anxiety. Higher self-reported cognitive failure in one age group appeared tied to this finding. We discuss the usefulness of self-report of cognitive failures for neuropsychological practice.

A systematic review of cognitive failures in daily life: Healthy populations

“…Higher cognitive failures were found to be related to negative affect (Payne & Schnapp, 2014), neuroticism (Wilhelm, Witthöft, & Schipolowski, 2010) and trait anxiety (Mahoney et al, 1998), whilst hypomania was associated with lower scores (Rodriguez et al, 2013). Cognitive failures were proposed to be one of multiple phenomena seen in people with these particular personality traits, and self-awareness was considered to be significant in the interpretation of these findings.…”

“…Schizotypy represents the subclinical end of a spectrum of psychosis-proneness, and failures may represent a subclinical level of the cognitive deficits often seen in schizophrenia. The possible mechanism by which neuroticism (Wilhelm et al, 2010) and trait anxiety (Mahoney et al, 1998) increase the likelihood of cognitive failures in daily life has been discussed earlier, and is less clear. Whilst failures in both schizotypy and dissociation are viewed as reflecting core deficits in cognitive control, neuroticism and anxiety tend to be perceived by researchers as linked to problems of self-awareness.…”

“…chaos, unpleasant tasks), whereas those with poor objective control experienced failures regardless of context (Kane et al, 2007). It may be that the CFQ is most useful in examining stress-triggered variations in performance, rather than stable neurological deficits (Mahoney, Dalby, & King, 1998).…”

“…Accordingly, day-to-day cognitive failures seem to increase reliably in response to poor sleep quality and low mood (Payne & Schnapp, 2014;Wilkerson et al, 2011), as well as high anxiety (Mahoney et al, 1998;Mecacci et al, 2004). Also unsurprisingly, the environment and current activity influence failures as well.…”

“…Chan et al, 2011;Rodriguez et al, 2013;Wilhelm et al, 2010). For example, neuroticism (Wilhelm et al, 2010), stress, and anxiety (Mahoney et al, 1998) (Lange & Süß, 2014). The debate around the role of self-awareness in cognitive failures is ongoing.…”