Midlife In The United States Study Research Articles

Daily exposure to stressors, daily perceived severity of stress, and mortality risk among US adults.

Prior studies of perceived stress and mortality have yielded mixed results, but most are based on one-time measurements of perceived stress. We use daily diary data from the Midlife in the United States study to measure exposure to stressors and perceived severity of stress and investigate their associations with mortality. We also explore whether the associations vary by age and assess whether the associations are stronger for extrinsic than intrinsic mortality, which is more likely to be aging-related. The analysis included 4,756 observations for 2,915 respondents aged 21-95 who participated in at least one of three waves (1996-97, 2004-09, 2017-19) of the National Study of Daily Experiences. Participants reported daily stressors and perceived severity on 8 consecutive evenings at each wave. Mortality was followed through December 31, 2021. In fully-adjusted models, daily exposure to stressors was associated with mortality, but only at younger ages (HR = 1.20 per SD at age 50, 95% CI: 1.01‒1.42). The association was slightly stronger for extrinsic (HR = 1.31 per SD at age 50, 95% CI: 1.01‒1.69) than for intrinsic mortality, which was not significant (HR = 1.24 per SD at age 50, 95% CI: 0.98‒1.56). When we used an alternative measure of daily perceived severity of stress, the demographic-adjusted association appeared to be similar in magnitude, but after careful adjustment for potential confounding with health status, the association weakened and was no longer statistically significant (HR = 1.17 per SD at age 50, 95% CI: 0.99-1.37). Perceived severity was not significantly associated with either extrinsic or intrinsic mortality even at age 50. Most Americans die at older ages, where stress exposure does not appear to be significantly associated with mortality. Nonetheless, our results suggest that stress exposure is more strongly associated with midlife mortality, which has an undue influence on overall life expectancy.

Personality traits and polypharmacy: meta-analysis of five samples

Objective The present study examined the prospective relationship between personality traits and the risk of polypharmacy. Methods and Measures Participants (age range: 16–101 years; N > 15,000) were from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), the Midlife in the United States Study (MIDUS), the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study of Aging (WLS), and the Longitudinal Internet Studies for the Social Sciences (LISS). In each sample, personality traits and demographic factors were assessed at baseline. Number of medications was obtained from 2 to 20 years later. Results Random-effect meta-analyses revealed that higher neuroticism was related to a higher risk of polypharmacy (Odd Ratio = 1.30; 95% CI 1.17–1.46) and excessive polypharmacy (Odd Ratio = 1.44; 95% CI 1.18–1.77) whereas higher conscientiousness (Odd Ratio = 0.84; 95% CI 0.74–0.95) and extraversion (Odd Ratio = 0.85; 95% CI 0.73–0.98) were associated with a lower risk of polypharmacy. Openness and agreeableness were unrelated to polypharmacy. Body mass index, number of chronic conditions, and depressive symptoms partially mediated the association between personality and the number of medications. Conclusion The present study provides replicable and robust evidence that neuroticism is a risk factor for simultaneous use of multiple medications, whereas conscientiousness and extraversion may play a protective role.

Multi-discrimination exposure and biological aging: Results from the midlife in the United States study

Multi-discrimination exposure and biological aging: Results from the midlife in the United States study

Sleep Quality as a Critical Pathway Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Multimorbidity and the Impact of Lifestyle.

This study aims to establish the effects of ACEs on multimorbidity through sleep quality and investigate whether lifestyle factors (e.g., eating habits and exercise) may influence this relationship among middle-aged and older adults. Participants were drawn from a cross-sectional sample of community dwelling older adults (N = 276, 55+) and three waves of data from the Midlife in the United States study (MIDUS, N = 843). We examined the direct and indirect effects of ACEs, sleep quality, and health conditions, as well as the conditional effects of physical activity and eating habits. Across both samples, sleep quality mediated the relationship between ACEs and chronic health conditions. Moderating effects of unhealthy eating and physical activity differed between samples. Sleep quality is an important pathway connecting ACEs and adult multimorbidity, and health behaviors may provide targets for intervention particularly in older adults.

Association between chronic pain and attrition: a prospective analysis of a national sample of midlife adults in the USA, 2004–2014

BackgroundHealth conditions of participants can significantly affect longitudinal drop-out in population-based epidemiological surveys, yet few studies have examined the association between chronic pain (CP) and follow-up attrition.MethodsThe Midlife in the...

Increased frequency of light physical activity during midlife and old age buffers against cognitive declines.

Although it is well established that moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) buffers against declines in cognitive health, less is known about the benefits of light physical activity (LPA). Research on the role of LPA is crucial to advancing behavioral interventions to improve late life health outcomes, including cognitive functioning, because this form of physical activity remains more feasible and amenable to change in old age. Our study examined the extent to which increases in LPA frequency protected against longitudinal declines in cognitive functioning and whether such a relationship becomes pronounced in old age when opportunities for MVPA are typically reduced. We analyzed 9-year data from the national Midlife in the United States Study (n = 2,229; Mage = 56 years, range = 33-83; 56% female) using autoregressive models that assessed whether change in LPA frequency predicted corresponding changes in episodic memory and executive functioning in middle and later adulthood. Increases in LPA frequency predicted less decline in episodic memory (β = 0.06, p = .004) and executive functioning (β = 0.14, p < .001) over the 9-year follow-up period, even when controlling for moderate and vigorous physical activity. Effect sizes for moderate and vigorous physical activity were less than half that observed for LPA. Moderation models showed that, for episodic memory, the benefits of increases in LPA frequency were more pronounced at older ages. Findings suggest that increases in LPA over extended periods of time may help slow age-related cognitive declines, particularly in later life when opportunities for MVPA are often diminished.

The Association of Childhood Parental Connection With Adult Flourishing and Depressive Symptoms.

To determine whether a common measure of childhood emotional neglect, scored instead as a continuous measure of increasing parental connection, is associated with adult flourishing and depressive symptoms, and to compare the magnitude of these 2 associations. We pooled cross-sectional survey data from the Midlife in the United States study, collected from 2 national cohorts (2004-2006 and 2011-2014) of English-speaking, US adults, aged 25 to 74 years. Using the 5-item emotional neglect subscale of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, a score of increasing childhood parental connection was created by not reverse-scoring responses. The adult outcomes were standardized scores of flourishing, from Ryff's Psychological Well-Being Scale, and depressive symptoms, from the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Data were available for 2079 of 2118 participants (98.2%). The mean (SD) age was 53.1 (12.6) years and 54.6% were female. After adjusting for covariates (age, gender, race and ethnicity, marital status, chronic disease, socioeconomic disadvantage), the adult flourishing score was 0.74 (95% confidence interval 0.63-0.86) SD units higher in those in the highest quartile of childhood parental connection compared with the lowest, whereas the depressive symptoms score was lower by a similar magnitude (-0.65 [95% confidence interval -0.77 to -0.54] SD units). When emotional neglect is reframed as parental connection, it has associations with adult flourishing and depressive symptoms that are of similar magnitude but opposite direction. Clinicians and researchers should consider the more positive and aspirational frame of parental connection and its potential contribution to life course flourishing.

Physical, cognitive, and social activities as mediators between personality and cognition: evidence from four prospective samples

Objectives The present study examined how activity engagement mediates the association between personality and cognition. Methods Participants were middle-aged and older adults (Age range: 24–93 years; N > 16,000) from the Midlife in the United States Study, the Health and Retirement Study, the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, and the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study of Aging. In each sample, personality traits and demographic factors were assessed at baseline, engagement in cognitive, physical, and social activities was assessed in a second wave, and cognition was measured in a third wave, 8 to 20 years later. Results Random-effect meta-analyses indicated that lower neuroticism and higher extraversion, openness, and conscientiousness were prospectively associated with better cognition. Most of these associations were partly mediated by greater engagement in physical and cognitive activities but not social activities. Physical activity accounted for 7% (neuroticism) to 50% (extraversion) and cognitive activity accounted for 14% (neuroticism) to 45% (extraversion) of the association with cognition. Conclusion The present study provides replicable evidence that physical and cognitive activities partly mediate the prospective association between personality traits and cognitive functioning.

Ten-Year Stability of an Insomnia Sleeper Phenotype and Its Association With Chronic Conditions.

To identify distinct sleep health phenotypes in adults, examine transitions in sleep health phenotypes over time, and subsequently relate these to the risk of chronic conditions. A national sample of adults from the Midlife in the United States study ( N = 3683) provided longitudinal data with two time points (T1: 2004-2006, T2: 2013-2017). Participants self-reported on sleep health (regularity, satisfaction, alertness, efficiency, duration) and the number and type of chronic conditions. Covariates included age, sex, race, education, education, partnered status, number of children, work status, smoking, alcohol, and physical activity. Latent transition analysis identified four sleep health phenotypes across both time points: good sleepers, insomnia sleepers, weekend catch-up sleepers, and nappers. Between T1 and T2, the majority (77%) maintained their phenotype, with the nappers and insomnia sleepers being the most stable. In fully adjusted models with good sleepers at both time points as the reference, being an insomnia sleeper at either time point was related to having an increased number of total chronic conditions by 28%-81% at T2, adjusting for T1 conditions. Insomnia sleepers at both time points were at 72%-188% higher risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, depression, and frailty. Being a napper at any time point related to increased risks for diabetes, cancer, and frailty. Being a weekend catch-up sleeper was not associated with chronic conditions. Those with lower education and unemployed were more likely to be insomnia sleepers; older adults and retirees were more likely to be nappers. Findings indicate a heightened risk of chronic conditions involved in suboptimal sleep health phenotypes, mainly insomnia sleepers.

PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS REACTIVITY TO DAILY STRESSORS AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE: A COMPARISON OF BLACK AND WHITE ADULTS

Abstract Black adults have higher risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to their White counterparts. Biopsychosocial frameworks suggest that this racial difference may not only be due to higher stressor exposure (e.g., discrimination) but also to stressor reactivity (i.e., heightened automatic reactions to stressors). This study examined if racial disparities in CVD is explained by elevated physical symptoms in response to daily stressors (“physical symptom reactivity to stressors”). Data came from 1,727 adults (non-Hispanic Black=38%, non-Hispanic White=62%) who participated in the Midlife in the United States Study at Time-1 (T1: 2004-2009). A subset (n=1,482) was reassessed at Time-2 (T2: 2013-2019). Race, daily physical symptoms, and daily stressors were measured at T1. Physical symptom reactivity to stressors (i.e., individual slope of physical symptoms as a function of daily stressor severity) was calculated using 8-day diary data. Physician-diagnosed CVD was captured at T1 and T2. Indirect pathways (A path: race-&amp;gt;stressor physical reactivity, B path: race-&amp;gt;CVD) were tested, adjusting for health and sociodemographic covariates. At T1, Black adults exhibited a higher risk of CVD compared to White individuals through higher physical symptom reactivity to stressors (A path: B=0.004, SE=0.0006, p&amp;lt;.001; B path: B=-3.56, SE=1.32, p=.007; indirect effect=0.12, SE=0.03, 95% CI=[0.06, 0.18]). These indirect pathways were also supported when predicting the risk of CVD at T2 after controlling for T1 CVD (B path: B=-3.23, SE=1.56, p=.038; indirect effect=0.07, SE=0.04, 95% CI=[0.02, 0.16]). Findings newly suggest that racial differences in physical manifestations of stress may contribute to disproportionate development of CVD, the deadliest disease in America.

INFLAMMATORY CYTOKINES MEDIATE EXECUTIVE FUNCTION AND STRESS AMONG AGING ADULTS

Abstract Strong and consistent evidence demonstrates that a risk factor for poorer executive function is elevated levels of perceived stress. More recently, researchers have posited that inflammatory processes may contribute to the association between stress and cognitive declines. Similarly, research suggests that greater sustained inflammation can result from higher levels of stress. Furthermore, older adults are at a higher risk of experiencing cognitive decline when under greater stress. We hypothesized that inflammation, as measured by a composite of pro-inflammatory cytokines CRP, IL-6, and TNF-a, would mediate the relationship between perceived stress and executive function. Data were derived from the cognitive and biomarker projects in the second and third waves of the Midlife in the United States Study (MIDUS). The present study included 1,067 participants (Mage = 63.7; Range 39 - 94). The results showed a significant total effect between executive function and perceived stress (β = .05, p &amp;lt;.001). Furthermore, path analyses revealed significant pathways between stress on inflammation (β = 0.29 p &amp;lt;.001) and inflammation on executive function (β = .06, p &amp;lt;.001). Finally, when inflammation was entered into the relationship between perceived stress and executive function its direct effect was significant (β = 0.06, p &amp;lt;.001). These findings suggest that pro-inflammatory cytokines help to explain why perceived stress is related to lower capability in executive functions. Future research should focus on understanding and assessing the interactions between inflammation, stress, and cognitive functioning over time.

ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN DAILY STRESSOR CONTROL AND COGNITIVE FUNCTION

Abstract Perceived control is an important psychosocial correlate of cognitive health and aging. Most prior research examining this association has focused on global aspects of control, ignoring influences of more dynamic aspects of specific areas of control, such as control over daily stressors. Using data from the third wave of the Midlife in the United States study and the National Study of Daily Experiences (N=992, Mage=67.67, SD=10.34, 57.20% Female), we examined how control over different types of stressors (arguments, avoided arguments, work stress, home stress, network stress) was associated with cognitive performance. Over eight consecutive days, people reported their perceived control over stressors they had experienced. Participants also completed a telephone-based battery of tests measuring executive function (EF) and episodic memory (EM). Hierarchical regression analyses adjusted for number of daily stressors, age, sex, race, and education. The facilitative role of daily stressor control for cognitive health depended on age and the type of stressor experienced. For EF, greater control over arguments was associated with better EF (Est. = 0.07, SE = 0.03, p &amp;lt; .05). For EM, there was a stressor control by age interaction (Est. = 0.01, SE = 0.01, p &amp;lt; .05) such that greater control over home stress was associated with better EM among comparatively older adults (Est. = 0.07, SE = 0.03, p &amp;lt; .05). Results suggest that perceiving control over daily stressful experiences, especially arguments and home stress, may serve as a psychosocial resource for cognitive health in older adulthood.

STRESSOR VARIETY, SEVERITY, AND IRREGULARITY AND THEIR ASSOCIATIONS WITH DAILY MEMORY LAPSES

Abstract Long-term negative impacts of chronic stress on memory has been well established; however day-to-day associations between stressors and memory have not been fully examined, with lack of understanding on specific manifestations of stressors that may degrade daily memory. This study conceptualized three patterns of daily stressors: variety, severity, and irregularity. Data came from 1,132 adults who participated in an 8-day diary study as part of the Midlife in the United States study. Participants reported 7 types of stressors (e.g., work-related, home-related, discrimination) they encountered, which was summed daily (variety). On days when a stressor was encountered, they reported how stressful it was (severity). Individual standard deviation of stressor severity across the week (irregularity) was also calculated. Memory lapses were reported with 9 items each day. Results from multi-level modeling revealed that, at the within-person level, participants reported more memory lapses on days when they had greater variety (B= 0.126, SE=0.014, p&amp;lt;.001) or higher severity (B=0.071, SE=0.014, p&amp;lt;.001) of stressors. At the between-person level, participants with greater variety (B=0.717, SE=0.052, p&amp;lt;.001), higher severity (B= 0.168, SE= 0.031, p&amp;lt;.001), or greater irregularity (B= 0.141, SE= 0.047, p=.003) of stressors reported more memory lapses on average. These results were found after controlling for sociodemographic and health covariates. These findings highlight that even short-term stress, particularly severe or inconsistent stress may have a negative impact on day-to-day memory. Potential differences between older (age 65+) and younger (below age 65) adults in the relationship between these daily stressors and memory lapses are currently being explored.

IDENTIFYING RESILIENT PERSONALITY THROUGH LATENT PROFILE ANALYSIS IN SEXUAL MINORITY MIDDLE-AGED AND OLDER ADULTS

Abstract Research has found evidence of resilience in sexual minority (i.e., lesbian, gay, bisexual) adults, despite experiencing higher rates of poorer health and facing additional stressors such as discrimination and victimization. Yet, very limited research has been conducted on resilience in this marginalized group. Utilizing data from the Midlife in the United States study, this study conducted latent profile analysis (LPA) using the Big Five personality traits (i.e., openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, neuroticism) to identify distinct personality profiles in a sample of sexual minority and propensity-score matched heterosexual middle-aged and older adults (n=477, mean age= 57.3, SD= 10.9 years, age range= 40-83 years). Additionally, the associations between the personality profiles and health-risk/promoting behaviors were assessed. Four profiles were identified: Average (35.2%), Resilient (47%), Overcontrolled (7.3%), and Undercontrolled (10.5%). The results found that Resilient sexual minority participants were significantly more likely to engage in problematic drinking but were also more likely to have a routine physical exam than Resilient heterosexual participants. Both sexual minority and heterosexual participants with a Resilient personality profile were more likely to engage in moderate physical activity than their counterparts with other personality profiles. These results suggest that sexual minority adults have the potential for resilience which is often overlooked in research. This is one of the first studies to use LPA to identify personality profiles in a sample with a focus on sexual minority participants. Most previous research using LPA to identify personality profiles did not include data on sexual orientation.

DOES INCREASING LIGHT PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN MIDLIFE AND OLD AGE BUFFER AGAINST COGNITIVE DECLINES?

Abstract Although it is well established that moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) buffers against cognitive declines, less is known about the benefits of lower intensity physical activities that are more feasible, inclusive, and amenable to change in old age. Our study examined the extent to which increases in light physical activity protected against longitudinal declines in cognitive functioning and whether such a relationship become pronounced in old age when opportunities for MVPA are often reduced. We analyzed 9-year data from the national Midlife in the United States Study (n=2,229; age=56±11.13 years) using regression models that assessed whether change in light physical activity predicted corresponding changes in episodic memory and executive functioning for adults across the lifespan. All models controlled for age, sex, socioeconomic status, functional status, and moderate and vigorous physical activity. Beyond more vigorous forms of physical activity, increasing light physical activity predicted less decline in episodic memory (β=.06, p=.010) and executive functioning (β=.15, p&amp;lt;.001) over the 9-year follow-up period. Effect sizes for moderate and vigorous physical activity on episodic memory (βs=.01-.02) and executive functioning (βs=.03) were less than half that observed for light physical activity. Moderation models showed that, for episodic memory, the benefits of increasing light physical activity were pronounced at older ages. Findings provide initial evidence that increasing light physical activity may help slow age-related declines in episodic memory and executive functioning and that its protective influence may become paramount in later life when individuals commonly encounter constraints that can limit their capacity to engage in MVPA.

MEDITERRANEAN DIET ADHERENCE PROSPECTIVELY PREDICTS NINE-YEAR CHANGES IN EPISODIC MEMORY

Abstract Mediterranean diet (MD) adherence has been shown to foster cognitive function during aging. Methods for measuring adherence to the MD typically provide or withhold points for foods consumed. Few investigations have examined how adherence to a Western adaptation of the MD may influence cognitive function over time in the United States. A modified MD that includes dairy products, whole grains, and plant-based proteins with limited consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages may be more attainable for many Americans than the traditional MD. This secondary analysis examined whether adherence to a modified MD was predictive of episodic memory and executive function over a 9-year study period. The second wave of the Midlife in the United States Study assessed general diet qualities with a food frequency questionnaire, and cognitive function was measured at both waves 2 and 3 (N = 816; age: 46 +/- 12 years; 56% female). Regression analyses were conducted to determine whether MD adherence predicted 9-year regressed change in cognitive function while controlling for age, sex, race, socioeconomic status (SES), and biomarkers of glucose homeostasis (hemoglobin a1c, insulin, and blood glucose). MD predicted changes in episodic memory (β = 0.075, p = 0.013) but not executive functioning (β = -0.028, p = 0.210). Exploratory moderator analyses suggested that MD associations with episodic memory were observed for only younger and middle-aged adults, females, White individuals, and persons with lower SES. Increased MD adherence may serve as a modifiable factor that supports cognitive function and preserved episodic memory during aging.

CHILDHOOD SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS GRADIENTS IN FUNCTIONAL LIMITATIONS: THE ROLE OF MACRO-ECONOMIC CONTEXT

Abstract A large number of studies have documented an association between childhood socioeconomic status (SES) and adult health or illness. However, relatively little is known about how this SES-health gradient varies across macro-economic contexts. The current study examined state-level mean income as a moderator of the association between the education level of a person’s parents and functional limitations in the United States (N = 10,685, Mean age = 47.7, SD = 13.6, 51% female, 86% White; 6% Black; 8% other or missing). Data were from an economic time series database (1917-2018) and the Midlife in the United States Study (MIDUS). Time series data were merged with MIDUS data (1995 core sample and 2012 refresher) by state of residence and year to determine exposure to state economic characteristics during three periods of the life span: prime working years (ages 30-55), early adulthood (20-25) and childhood (0-15). Results indicated that the SES-functional limitations gradient was attenuated for those who lived in a state with a higher mean income from ages 30-55, 20-25, and 0-15 (p’s &amp;lt; .05). The moderating role of state-level economic exposures between ages 30 and 55 (but not at earlier life stages) differed by gender such that the attenuation of the SES-functional limitations gradient in more affluent states was more strongly evident among females than males. Findings suggest that the role of childhood SES in later life health varies across state-level economic contexts with notable differences by gender and age group. Future directions and policy implications are discussed.

THE RELATIONSHIP OF COGNITIVE CONTROL BELIEFS TO 10 YEAR CHANGES IN COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE

Abstract Past work has shown that older adults who believe they have control over their cognitive performance (i.e., higher cognitive control beliefs) have better cognitive performance than those with lower cognitive control beliefs. However, it is unclear whether cognitive control beliefs are related to individual differences in cognitive change among middle-aged and older adults. The current study examined longitudinal associations between cognitive control beliefs and 10-year cognitive changes using data from waves 2 and 3 of the Midlife in the United States study (MIDUS; N=2,509, Ages 33 to 83 at wave 2). We predicted that higher baseline cognitive control beliefs would be related to greater maintenance of episodic memory and executive functioning over 10 years. Age was tested as a moderator of these relationships and each analysis controlled for baseline performance, age, sex, education, and self-rated physical health. Multiple linear regression models revealed that higher baseline control beliefs were related to less decline in episodic memory (p&amp;lt;.001) and executive functioning (p&amp;lt;.05); however, age did not moderate these relationships. Taken together, these results suggest that across age, cognitive control beliefs are associated with greater maintenance of episodic memory and executive functioning over 10 years in middle-aged and older adults. As such, cognitive control beliefs may represent a promising modifiable mechanism to help minimize cognitive declines starting in midlife.

Does Perceived Generativity Mediate the Association Between Optimism and Cognitive Function Over Time? Findings from Midlife in the United States Study

Cognitive function is a vital component of healthy aging. However, whether a persistently high optimism benefits late-life cognitive function is debatable. The current study examined associations between high optimism status, perceived generativity, and cognitive functions across adulthood. Data were from waves 2 and 3 (2004–14) of the Midlife in the United States study. We used structural equation modeling to examine whether participants’ ( N = 2,205; Mage = 65 ± 11) persistent high optimism predicts better cognitive functions over time, compared to high optimism at only one time-point or not at all while controlling for covariates; we also examined whether individuals’ perceived generativity mediates the above association. The findings revealed that persistent high optimism was significantly associated with better episodic memory and executive function. Further, perceived generativity positively mediated the association between persistent high optimism and episodic memory. Future research should examine mechanisms for potential aspects of high optimism and perceived generativity on late-life cognitive performances.

The Roles of Daily Stressor Control and Social Determinants of Health in Executive Function and Episodic Memory Performance

AbstractBackgroundStudying modifiable psychosocial contributors to Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) is crucial to inform approaches for ADRD prevention, especially among those with less education, lower neighborhood quality, and heightened discrimination. These three social determinants of health confer increased ADRD risk. Perceived control is an important psychosocial resource for cognitive health. Most prior work, however, focuses exclusively on global aspects of control, ignoring influences of more dynamic aspects of control over specific experiences in daily life, such as daily stressor control.MethodWe used data from the Midlife in the United States study and the National Study of Daily Experiences (N = 1,651, Mage = 62.09, SE = 12.11, 56.65% Female) to address this gap and examine the roles of daily stressor control and social determinants of health in cognitive performance. Over 8 consecutive days in the second and third waves of data collection, respondents reported their perceived control over stressors they had experienced. Respondents also completed assessments of education, neighborhood quality, perceived discrimination, and a telephone‐based battery of tests measuring executive function (EF) and episodic memory (EM). We employed multilevel modeling to assess associations of daily stressor control and social determinants of health with cognitive performance.ResultEF was higher among people with more education and those with less perceived discrimination (ps&lt;.001), but was not related to daily stressor control (p&gt;.05). Greater daily stressor control, more education, and better neighborhood quality was related to better EM (ps&lt;.05). A stressor control by discrimination interaction showed that greater stressor control was associated with better EM among those with comparatively less perceived discrimination (p&lt;.01).ConclusionDaily stressor control may serve as a psychosocial resource for cognitive health, but the strength of its relationship with cognitive performance varied by perceived discrimination. Promoting stressor control may be beneficial for cognitive health among those with comparatively less perceived discrimination, but more research is needed to clarify psychosocial resources that could buffer against the impacts of heightened discrimination on cognitive health disparities in the US. Future work should examine longitudinal relationships to clarify the predictive utility of stressor control for cognitive health and the daily mechanisms that may explain these associations.