Fluid cognitive ability is associated with greater exposure and smaller reactions to daily stressors.

• DOI: 10.1037/a0018246
• Publication Date: 2010-06-14T17:50:11Z
• Authors: Robert S. Stawski; David M. Almeida; Margie E. Lachman; Patricia A. Tun; Christopher B. Ro...
• Keywords: Stressor

The authors of this study investigated whether fluid cognitive ability predicts exposure and emotional reactivity to daily stressors. A national sample adults from the Midlife in United States National Study Daily Experiences (N = 1,202) who had a mean age 57 years (SD 12; 56% women, 44% men) completed positive negative mood reports as well stressor diary on 8 consecutive evenings via telephone. Participants also telephone-based battery tests measuring ability. Higher levels were associated with greater work- home-related overload Possessing higher was smaller stressor-related increases mood, primarily for interpersonal tensions network stressors, decreases tensions. Furthermore, unrelated subjective severity ratings stressors reported. Discussion focuses role stress processes.