Executive Functions Predict the Trajectories of Rumination in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Latent Growth Curve Analysis

Previous studies suggest that executive functions (EF)-a set of domain-general cognitive control processes that contribute to the regulation of emotion-are generally associated with ruminative tendencies. However, there is a dearth of research that examines how EF influences changes in rumination over time, especially in middle-aged and older adults who typically experience a decline in EF. To fill this gap in the literature, we analyzed a large-scale combined dataset from the MIDUS Refresher, Daily Diary, and Cognitive Projects. We examined the impact of EF on the trajectory of rumination across 8 days using latent growth curve analysis. We also examined age as a moderator using a latent interaction term in our structural equation model. Higher executive functioning predicted lower levels of baseline rumination and faster rates of decline in rumination over time, which reflect the successful regulation of maladaptive rumination. The age x EF interaction term was not significant, indicating that the impact of EF on the trajectory of rumination was not modulated by age. Our study offers new insights into the cognitive underpinnings of rumination and underscores the beneficial role of EF for effective regulation of ruminative tendencies in middle and late adulthood.