Perceived event resolution-rather than time-allows older adults to reduce the negativity of their memories.

ABSTRACT: In addition to showing greater memory positivity soon after negative events, older adults can be more likely than younger adults to show decreases in memory negativity as events grow more distant. We recently showed that this latter effect was not present when adults were asked to rate memories of the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic (March-May 2020): after a short (June/July 2020) and long delay (October/November 2020), older age was associated with greater reflections on positive aspects, but with no difference in negative aspects. We suggested that older adults did not show decreased negativity because the pandemic was still prevalent in their daily lives. The present study examines whether perceived event resolution-rather than time on its own-may be necessary to show age-

SUBMITTER: Ford JH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10085836 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature