Subjective executive functioning and skill learning during the COVID-19 pandemic associated with perceived loneliness, depressive symptoms, and well-being

The present study investigated whether higher subjective executive
functioning and learning new skills related to better mental health across
adulthood during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants (n = 133) were
recruited from Southern California, USA across two different timepoints. A
subset of participants over the age of 58 years old, who previously
participated in a skill learning intervention (n = 52) that increased
objective executive functioning, also were included in the present study.
Worse subjective executive functioning (EF) during the COVID-19 pandemic
predicted worse mental health across adulthood. In addition, learning new
skills may have helped adults adapt better to changes during the pandemic
to increase mental health. These findings highlight the importance of
cognitive abilities and learning new skills on mental health. 
Our findings provide a more nuanced view of the benefits and costs of
adaptation via skill learning on adult mental health during the COVID-19
pandemic. Learning new skills could be associated with better mental
health outcomes and we see this during the second timepoint of the
COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, worse subjective cognitive abilities could
lead to worse mental health outcomes. Our results suggest that better
cognitive abilities and learning new skills are important for mental
health.