COGNITIVE FUNCTIONING AND EMOTIONAL REGULATION IN OLDER ADULTS

The present correlational study proposes to examine the relationship between cognitive functioning and emotional regulation; to determine the gender differences in cognitive functioning as well as in emotional regulation. To explore these dimensions sample of 200 community-dwelling Older Adults (Men=100, Women=100) with an age range of 60+ were selected using purposive sampling from Lahore district, Punjab. Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Emotional Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) were used to assess cognitive functioning and emotional regulation respectively. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 27. The t-test results revealed the gender difference in Cognitive Functioning. Gender Differences related use of Emotion Regulation were not found. The correlational analysis suggested a positive correlation between cognitive functioning and cognitive reappraisal (r=.067), and a negative correlation was found between cognitive functioning and expressive suppression (r=-.074). The findings of the current study can be implicated in the field of Clinical Psychology to establish programs that will help improve mental well-being of aged people by exploring their emotional experiences. Effective emotional regulation may enhance cognitive function and resilience in older adults, allowing them to better navigate age-related challenges.