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Exposure to the troubles in Northern Ireland, memory functioning, and social activity engagement: results from NICOLA

Author

Listed:
  • Joanna E McHugh Power

    (Maynooth University
    Queen’s University Belfast)

  • Joanne Feeney

    (Trinity College)

  • Elizabeth Fowler

    (Queen’s University Belfast)

  • Alan J. McMichael

    (Queen’s University Belfast)

  • Philip Hyland

    (Maynooth University)

  • Brian A. Lawlor

    (Trinity College)

  • Sharon Cruise

    (Queen’s University Belfast)

  • Claire Potter

    (Queen’s University Belfast)

  • Ian Young

    (Queen’s University Belfast)

  • Bernadette McGuinness

    (Queen’s University Belfast)

  • Frank Kee

    (Queen’s University Belfast)

Abstract

We investigated the potential impact of a cohort traumatic exposure, the Troubles in Northern Ireland, on memory functioning in later life, and the potential moderating effect of social activity engagement. Using data from 6571 participants aged 60 + in the Northern Ireland Cohort for the Longitudinal Study of Ageing (NICOLA) cohort, we used a structural equation modelling framework to explore associations between traumatic exposure during the Troubles and memory functioning. As expected, social activity engagement was positively associated with memory functioning, β = .102. Traumatic exposure was also positively associated with memory functioning, β = .053. This association was stronger at low levels of social activity engagement; among those with higher levels, there was little association, interaction β = − 0.054. The positive association between traumatic exposure during the Troubles and memory functioning was not moderated by the age at which the exposures occurred (based on analysis of a subsample with available data), interaction β = − 0.015. We conclude that superior memory functioning was associated with higher levels of traumatic exposure during the Troubles, particularly among those with lower levels of social activity engagement, and regardless of the age at which the exposures occurred. Future longitudinal analyses are required to build on these results, which potentially have implications for life-course epidemiology, in relation to critical periods for traumatising experiences.

Suggested Citation

  • Joanna E McHugh Power & Joanne Feeney & Elizabeth Fowler & Alan J. McMichael & Philip Hyland & Brian A. Lawlor & Sharon Cruise & Claire Potter & Ian Young & Bernadette McGuinness & Frank Kee, 2022. "Exposure to the troubles in Northern Ireland, memory functioning, and social activity engagement: results from NICOLA," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 19(4), pages 1099-1109, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:eujoag:v:19:y:2022:i:4:d:10.1007_s10433-022-00683-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s10433-022-00683-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Stefan Agrigoroaei & Margie E. Lachman, 2011. "Cognitive Functioning in Midlife and Old Age: Combined Effects of Psychosocial and Behavioral Factors," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 66(suppl_1), pages 130-140.
    2. María-Victoria Zunzunegui & Beatriz E. Alvarado & Teodoro Del Ser & Angel Otero, 2003. "Social Networks, Social Integration, and Social Engagement Determine Cognitive Decline in Community-Dwelling Spanish Older Adults," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 58(2), pages 93-100.
    3. Rosseel, Yves, 2012. "lavaan: An R Package for Structural Equation Modeling," Journal of Statistical Software, Foundation for Open Access Statistics, vol. 48(i02).
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