Cognitive, psychological and personality associations of habit formation and change in ageing
Tracks
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Adaptation
Future Directions
Mental Health
Psychology
Wellness / Well Being
| Monday, November 11, 2024 |
| 10:00 AM - 10:20 AM |
Speaker
Ms Anangsha Pathak
Phd Researcher
Thompson Institute, University Of The Sunshine Coast
Cognitive, psychological and personality associations of habit formation and change in ageing
Abstract
All behaviour can be influenced by automatic, context-dependent habits. The ability to efficiently form and change habits is important for maintaining healthy functioning in ageing. Cognitive function, personality, and attitudes toward ageing are known to influence behavioural processes, however, how the factors influence these processes are unknown.
The current study aimed to investigate relationships between cognitive and psychological factors and habit formation and change among older adults using a validated behavioural task (the Symmetrical Outcome Revaluation Task; SORT). To date, 70 healthy adults (Mage=71.8, SD=6.63, 61.4% female) have participated (target n=120). Participants completed the SORT, and assessments of personality (IPIPNEO), speed of processing (Brain Pace), attention (Trails A & B), mood (DASS-21) and attitude towards own ageing (ATOA).
For the purpose of preliminary analyses, we also include data of participants (n=20) who have completed the above tests as part of a smaller study. Multiple regression analyses revealed that, after controlling for age and gender, positive attitudes to ageing (b=.286,t(80)= 2.57,p=.01), and lower variability in speed of processing (b=-.227, t(88)=-2.15, p=.03) were significantly associated with habit learning accuracy (percentage correct in last four trials of learning phase). Further, lower agreeableness was negatively associated (b=-.244, t(87)=-2.31, p=.02) with behaviour change (percentage correct on incongruent test phase trials).
These findings imply that a combination of cognitive and psychological factors influence habit learning and behaviour change. After completing data collection, we plan to create and test a neuropsychological model comprising these individual factors that can help older adults cultivate healthy habits for successful aging.
The current study aimed to investigate relationships between cognitive and psychological factors and habit formation and change among older adults using a validated behavioural task (the Symmetrical Outcome Revaluation Task; SORT). To date, 70 healthy adults (Mage=71.8, SD=6.63, 61.4% female) have participated (target n=120). Participants completed the SORT, and assessments of personality (IPIPNEO), speed of processing (Brain Pace), attention (Trails A & B), mood (DASS-21) and attitude towards own ageing (ATOA).
For the purpose of preliminary analyses, we also include data of participants (n=20) who have completed the above tests as part of a smaller study. Multiple regression analyses revealed that, after controlling for age and gender, positive attitudes to ageing (b=.286,t(80)= 2.57,p=.01), and lower variability in speed of processing (b=-.227, t(88)=-2.15, p=.03) were significantly associated with habit learning accuracy (percentage correct in last four trials of learning phase). Further, lower agreeableness was negatively associated (b=-.244, t(87)=-2.31, p=.02) with behaviour change (percentage correct on incongruent test phase trials).
These findings imply that a combination of cognitive and psychological factors influence habit learning and behaviour change. After completing data collection, we plan to create and test a neuropsychological model comprising these individual factors that can help older adults cultivate healthy habits for successful aging.
Biography
Ms Anangsha Pathak is a PhD candidate with the Healthy Brain Ageing research team at the Thompson Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia. Under the supervision of Dr Sophie Andrews, her doctoral work investigates how people’s ability to form and change habits vary as they age, the individual psychological and cognitive factors that drive these phenomena, along with the underlying brain neurophysiology that are associated with them. The work aims at shedding light on mechanisms that drive behaviour during ageing, and ultimately help understand how to best support people to change their habits for healthy brain ageing. Alongside her PhD, Anangsha is also involved in projects propelling dementia prevention and awareness in the community as well as identifying behaviour change techniques that may help in reducing dementia risk.
Prior to her PhD, Anangsha completed a Master of Science degree in Neurocognitive Psychology at the University of Oldenburg, Germany. Her master’s thesis investigated the role of personality traits in dyadic associations of stress and postnatal depressiveness among couples, using structural equational modelling frameworks. During her master’s, she has also worked on projects examining noise annoyance and listening effort, as well as studies involving longitudinal ambulatory assessment of time-of-day variations on auditory fluctuations and musical perception between individuals using general linear mixed models. Along with this, she has served as research assistant on a doctoral study examining cognitive conflict and creativity using EEG with multiscale entropy (MSE).
