Self-regulatory strategies in daily life

Abstract

The effective use of self-regulatory strategies, such as selection, optimization, and compensation (SOC) requires resources. However, it is theorized that SOC use is most advantageous for those experiencing losses and diminishing resources. The present study explored this seeming paradox within the context of limitations or constraints due to aging, low cognitive resources, and daily stress in relation to everyday memory problems. We examined whether SOC usage varied by age and level of constraints, and if the relationship between resources and memory problems was mitigated by SOC usage. A daily diary paradigm was used to explore day-to-day fluctuations in these relationships. Participants (n=145, ages 22 to 94) completed a baseline interview and a daily diary for seven consecutive days. Multilevel models examined between- and within-person relationships between daily SOC use, daily stressors, cognitive resources, and everyday memory problems. Middle-aged adults had the highest SOC usage, although older adults also showed high SOC use if they had high cognitive resources. More SOC strategies were used on high stress compared to low stress days. Moreover, the relationship between daily stress and memory problems was buffered by daily SOC use, such that on high-stress days, those who used more SOC strategies reported fewer memory problems than participants who used fewer SOC strategies. The paradox of resources and SOC use can be qualified by the type of resource-limitation. Deficits in global resources were not tied to SOC usage or benefits. Conversely, under daily constraints tied to stress, the use of SOC increased and led to fewer memory problems.

When couples’ hearts beat together: Synchrony in heart rate variability during conflict predicts heightened inflammation throughout the day

“…Thus, this pattern also converges with our working hypothesis that couples may have synchronized around interpersonal tension before their arrival, though future studies must evaluate this hypothesis directly and we caution against overinterpreting this particular result. Also, both the ability to regulate emotions and marital interaction quality fluctuate day-to-day (August et al, 2013; Robinson et al, 2016). Further, the quality of these fleeting moments matters for health: people who had worse daily marital quality had thicker carotid artery walls than people with happier daily marital interactions, whereas general self-reported marital satisfaction did not relate to this marker of subclinical cardiovascular disease (Joseph et al, 2014).…”

A Mixed-Method Study on Strategies in Everyday Personal Goals among Community-Dwelling Older Adults

“…SOC strategies are related to positive functional outcomes in daily life and tenacious goal pursuit in older adults with various degrees of physical and cognitive limitations. Indeed, the combined use of the three SOC strategies robustly correlates with indicators of successful aging and appears to buffer the effects of stressors on both cognition and well-being [7, 10-12]. In older adults with osteoarthritis, individuals who used compensation reported less pain and higher levels of well-being, and those who reported high levels of selection and optimization were less impaired in the instrumental activities of daily living [13].…”

Behaviors and Strategies Supporting Everyday Memory in Older Adults

“…Interview and diary studies of everyday memory have provided rich information on the types of strategies and procedures people use in everyday life [29, 30] as well as on beliefs and attributions people make about everyday memory effectiveness [31]. Older adults often believe they can achieve control over everyday memory by using techniques like external memory aids [32].…”