Self-Perceptions of Aging and Loneliness Interact when Predicting Cognition in Older Adults

There is growing interest in the link between self-perceptions of aging (SPA) and cognition in older adults. This study evaluates the relationship between SPA dimensions and objective cognition and its interaction with loneliness. A sample of 184 community-dwelling Spanish older adults aged 65 and above was recruited. The short form of the Aging Perceptions Questionnaire (APQ-S) was used along with a neuropsychological battery and sociodemographic and health measures. The findings reveal links between negative consequences and processing speed; chronic time and inhibition; cyclical time and selective and alternating attention; and emotional representations and inhibition, selective attention, and working memory. SPA dimensions were found to moderate the relationship of loneliness on processing speed and selective attention. This study offers evidence of the differential link between SPA dimensions and cognition as well as their interaction with loneliness, which is valuable for designing intervention programs that promote cognitive health and active aging.