In the Moment: The association between momentary emotion and Inhibitory Control in Everyday Life Among Older Adults with Depressive Symptoms

The study examines the relationship between momentary emotion and momentary inhibitory control amongst older adults with depressive symptoms. blinding is involved in this study This investigation is embedded within a larger crossover randomized control trial (RCT), in which the effects of a novel combined cognitive intervention (GOLD-Cog+) on cognitive control and depressive symptoms are evaluated. Here, we report only the aspects related to the target hypotheses above, related to EMA data of emotion and inhibitory control in daily life amongst community-dwelling older adults (65 years and older) with at least mild depressive symptoms. The larger crossover RCT spans over a total of 15 weeks. Baseline assessments and 5-day EMA data are collected during week 1. The groups are then allotted to either intervention or waitlist control for the next six weeks (week2-7). Following the first 6-week period, week 8 is the “wash-out” period, in which assessments and another 5-day EMA battery are repeated. After which, the groups crossover to either intervention or waitlist-control for the next six weeks (week 9-14). In the final week of the study, week 15, assessments and another 5-day EMA battery are readministered. During the assessment periods (i.e. week 1, 8, and 15), participants are requested to complete an ecological momentary assessment (EMA) battery. Specifically, participants receive a text message reminder with a link to the EMA battery 5-times/day for 5 weekdays. The reminders are sent at the same set times, with no jitter, every day, at 08:00, 11:00, 14:00, 17:00, 20:00. No time limit was applied when filling out the EMA battery although limits will be made when analyzing the data (see data analysis section).