Arousal Reappraisal in Younger and Older Adults

Prior research suggests individuals can reappraise autonomic arousal under stress to improve performance. However, it is unclear whether arousal reappraisal effects are apparent at all ages. Seventy-three younger and 47 older adults received guided instruction to be in a state of challenge or threat while completing a mental arithmetic task. In addition to reporting on coping appraisals during the task, participants’ physiological reactivity was assessed; changes in cardiac output (CO) and tonic skin conductance are reported. Participants in the challenge condition (compared to those in the threat condition) perceived greater coping resources, fewer perceived demands, and greater task performance; this pattern was similar for both age groups. Younger adults showed greater CO and tonic skin conductance changes than older adults, yet condition effects on physiological reactivity were only observed within the older sample. These findings suggest that despite physiological differences in aging, older adults may still benefit behaviorally from reappraising arousal to be a sign of a challenge.