Yaşlanma ve Karar Verme Süreçleri: Duygu Düzenlemenin Rolü
Aging and Decision-Making Processes: The Role of Emotion Regulation

Summary/Abstract: This review aims to investigate the effect of emotion regulation on decision-making processes in older age in light of previous literature. Emotion regulation is defined as maintaining the positive mood and/or controlling the negative mood. Emotion regulation influence decision-making processes especially under ambiguity. Individuals might try to make optimal decisions as using their emotions. However, this ability does not always lead to optimal decisions. Alternatively, they might regulate their emotions to increase decision satisfaction or overcome their loss. In fact, these effects are more powerful in emotionally charged decisions compared to consciously monitored and effortful decisions as defined in dual-processing model. Later in life, the effect of emotion regulation on pre- and post-decision processes increases due to the decline in cognitive skills and the improvement of emotion regulation skills. However, older adults with severe chronic and fatal diseases cannot use emotion regulation as effective as their healthy peers. This leads to a decrease in the likelihood of optimal decision-making in these patients who already experience reduced cognitive skills. The present study addresses the systematic effects of emotion regulation on pre- and post-decision processes across aging. One of the main aims of the study is to provide a theoretical background for future research. Furthermore, in the clinical field, the information gained from this review can be used to improve the quality of life in late years of life by developing intervention programs.

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