A web-based examination of experiences with intrusive thoughts across the adult lifespan.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Intrusive thoughts and images are common across the adult lifespan, but vary in their consequences. Understanding age-related experiences with intrusive thoughts is important for identifying risk and protective factors for intrusive thought problems across the adult lifespan. This study characterized age trajectories for six aspects of experiences with intrusive thoughts using Internet data collection.

Method

Participants (N = 1427; ages 18-87) were randomly assigned to suppress (i.e. keep out of mind) or monitor an intrusive thought for one minute, and then later to monitor the thought for a second minute. Participants tracked thought recurrences during each thinking period, then reported their positive and negative affects following each thinking period, as well

SUBMITTER: Magee JC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3944111 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature