Cognitive adaptation and the mental and physical well-being of older adults

Research indicates that positivity biases in attention and recall of personally relevant information are associated with the well-being of older adults. Factors such as heightened perceptions of control and unbridled optimism predict both physical and mental health. According to the theory of cognitive adaptation, these positive belief systems directly affect immune function and thus health status. It is yet unclear, however, the extent to which adaptive cognitions affect behaviour. For instance, do these people forge and maintain superior relationships and achieve good health as a function of the buffering effects of social support? It has also been suggested that reporting biases (e.g., impression management) may account for the association between adaptive cognitions and reported health status. A further alternate explanation is that people may physiologically experience negative thoughts and emotions that remain outside of conscious awareness. (This hypothesis has been espoused to explain gender differences in depressive symptomatology.) This proposed program of research will address each of these alternate explanations. While each may have merit, it is assumed that significant associations between adaptive cognitions and health outcomes will persist.