What Factors are Associated with Age Differences In Intentional Decision Avoidance?
Nolte,Julia Lockenhoff,Corinna E.
Nolte,Julia
Lockenhoff,Corinna E.
Abstract
To examine why older adults avoid choices more, two pre-registered, U.S.-based studies (N1 = 164, Mage_1 = 50.71, N2 = 485, Mage_2 = 51.08) evaluated the roles of cognitive load and affect. In Study 2, half were randomized to a writing condition theorized to decrease avoidance. Across studies, older age was positively associated with avoiding choices and improved affect after doing so. Avoidance was linked to perceiving higher cognitive loads but neither load nor other covariates accounted for older adults' avoidance tendencies. The writing condition resulted in lower cognitive loads and more positive decision-related affect but did not decrease avoidance.
Description
Date
2025-10-20
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Research Projects
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Journal Issue
Keywords
Older-adults, Anticipated regret, Younger, Choice, Information, Strategies, Personality, Preference, Emotions, Numeracy
Citation
Nolte, J & Lockenhoff, C E 2025, 'What Factors are Associated with Age Differences In Intentional Decision Avoidance?', Experimental Aging Research, vol. 51, no. 5, pp. 672-699. https://doi.org/10.1080/0361073X.2025.2473849