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Positive psychological constructs and cognitive function: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Bell, Georgia; Singham, Timothy; Saunders, Rob; Buckman, Joshua EJ; Charlesworth, Georgina; Richards, Marcus; John, Amber; (2022) Positive psychological constructs and cognitive function: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ageing Research Reviews , 82 , Article 101745. 10.1016/j.arr.2022.101745. Green open access

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Abstract

AIM: To synthesise evidence regarding the association between positive psychological constructs (PPCs) and cognitive function in adults aged 50+. METHODS: Literature searches: Medline, PsycINFO, and Scopus (inception to February 2022). Studies were included if they reported on the association between at least one PPC and one objective measure of cognitive function in people aged 50+ without cognitive impairment at baseline. Where at least two studies reported on the same PPC and cognitive outcome, estimates were pooled through meta-analysis. FINDINGS: In total, 37 studies were included. There was evidence of cross-sectional associations for 'meaning in life' (verbal fluency: b=0.09, 95%CI[0.07,0.11], p<.001; memory: b=0.10, 95%CI[0.08,0.12], p<.001), 'purpose in life' (verbal fluency: b=0.07, 95%CI[0.05,0.08], p<.001; memory: r=.13, 95%CI[0.08,0.18], p<.001), and positive affect (cognitive state: r=.25, 95%CI[0.14,0.36], p<.001; memory: r=.05, 95%CI[0.02,0.08], p<.001) with various domains of cognitive function. However, no significant results were found for life satisfaction (p=.13) or longitudinal studies investigating positive affect and memory (p=.48). Other PPCs were included in narrative syntheses only. IMPLICATIONS: Purpose and meaning in life may be sensible primary targets for interventions to promote healthy cognitive aging. More longitudinal and causal inference research is needed to better understand this association and its implications for clinical practice.

Type: Article
Title: Positive psychological constructs and cognitive function: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Location: England
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2022.101745
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arr.2022.101745
Language: English
Additional information: This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
Keywords: Cognitive function, Meta-analysis, Positive psychology, Systematic review
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > Div of Psychology and Lang Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > Institute of Cardiovascular Science
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > Div of Psychology and Lang Sciences > Clinical, Edu and Hlth Psychology
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > Institute of Cardiovascular Science > Population Science and Experimental Medicine
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > Institute of Cardiovascular Science > Population Science and Experimental Medicine > MRC Unit for Lifelong Hlth and Ageing
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10159165
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