Do All Components of Psychological Wellbeing Predict Cognitive Function?

TL;DR

This study explores how different aspects of psychological wellbeing relate to cognitive function and change over time, finding that several components beyond just sense of purpose are linked to better cognitive outcomes.

Contribution

The study demonstrates that multiple components of psychological wellbeing, not just sense of purpose, are associated with cognitive outcomes and may serve as protective factors for dementia.

Findings

All six components of psychological wellbeing were positively associated with cognition cross-sectionally.

Environmental mastery, personal growth, sense of purpose, and self-acceptance predicted increased cognition at a nine-year follow-up.

Effect sizes ranged from small to medium, with personal growth showing the strongest association.

Abstract

Psychological wellbeing, specifically sense of purpose, has been consistently associated with cognitive functioning and dementia. Less is known about associations between other components of psychological wellbeing and cognitive functioning, an indicator of dementia. Given the importance of identifying modifiable risk and protective factors for dementia, the current study assessed whether components of psychological wellbeing are cross-sectionally and prospectively associated with cognitive function and cognitive change. A total of 4,026 participants from the Midlife in the United States study were included in analyses (MAge=56.18, SD = 12.38). The sample was representative of both males (45%) and females (55%), individuals primarily identified as White (93%) followed by Black or African American (4%), and about half of the participants reported that they completed an associate’s degree or higher (45%). Components of wellbeing were assessed with the Ryff Psychological Wellbeing Scales (1989) and cognition was assessed with the Brief Test of Adult Cognition. All six components of wellbeing were significantly and positively associated with cognition cross-sectionally and effect sizes ranged from small to medium across components (βs=0.07-0.19) with personal growth having the largest association. Moreover, higher levels of environmental mastery, personal growth, sense of purpose, and self-acceptance significantly predicted increased levels of cognition at a nine-year follow-up when controlling for cognition at the first assessment timepoint (β = 0.03-0.04]). These findings extend past wellbeing research by demonstrating that in addition to sense of purpose, some components of psychological wellbeing but not others are also associated with cognitive outcomes and should be assessed as possible protective factors for ADRD.