1
|
Rasset P, Mange J, Augustinova M. What do we really know about age-related stereotypes and well-being of older adults? A commentary on the state of the art. Front Psychol 2024; 15:1358403. [PMID: 38807961 PMCID: PMC11130559 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1358403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
There is a considerable body of literature on harmful consequences of age-related stereotypes-including consequences on physical and mental health. However, this commentary critically argues that the current state of the art disregards consequences of these stereotypes specifically for the well-being of older adults (i.e., outcome that is not to be confounded with mental health). To this end, the content of age-related stereotypes and the mechanisms through which they operate on physical and mental health are first outlined. The commentary then focuses on the very scarce evidence documenting how and when the well-being of older adults (as assessed directly and not as inferred from other indicators) is influenced by self-directed stereotypes. After setting out possible ways well-being may be involved in the relationship between self-directed stereotypes and physical and mental health of older adults, the present commentary argues that a better understanding of well-being would benefit strategies targeting the reduction of age-related stereotypes. Overall, this commentary on the state of the art highlights that future research is still needed to better understand both the direct and indirect relationships between age-related stereotypes and well-being that is not reducible to positive experiences of life (or hedonic well-being) but also comprises an eudaimonic component.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pauline Rasset
- Univ Rennes, Université Rennes 2, LP3C (Laboratoire de Psychologie: Cognition, Comportement, Communication)-UR1285, Rennes, France
| | - Jessica Mange
- Laboratoire de Psychologie de Caen Normandie (LPCN UR7452), Psychology Department, Université de Caen Normandie, Caen, France
| | - Maria Augustinova
- Centre de Recherche sur les Fonctionnements et Dysfonctionnements Psychologiques (CRFDP UR7475), Université de Rouen Normandie, Rouen, France
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Tsang APL, Chan SCY, Lu HJ, Wong CC. Effects of age-based stereotype threat on time-based prospective memory. Front Psychol 2024; 15:1379160. [PMID: 38638513 PMCID: PMC11024363 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1379160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The present study aimed to investigate the effect of a blatant activation of age-based stereotype threats (ABST) on time-based prospective memory (TBPM) in older adults. A sample of 74 adults from Hong Kong was randomly assigned to one of the two experimental conditions: the stereotyped condition (n = 36) or the neutral condition (n = 38). Participants were asked to read fictitious news reports related to dementia (stereotyped condition) or the importance of English oral skills (neutral condition). After, all participants performed a TBPM task using the Chinese lexical decision task as an ongoing task block. The results indicate a main effect of ABST on TBPM accuracy. Specifically, older adults under a blatant activation of ABST demonstrated lower TBPM accuracy (p < 0.05, ηp2 = 0.08). Further analyses based on age groups demonstrated that TBPM accuracy was only impaired in older participants (aged 70-80 years) (p < 0.05, ηp2 = 0.19). The study, for the first time, provides evidence that ABST can disrupt TBPM performance in older adults, especially when cues are blatantly activated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alex Pak Lik Tsang
- Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Stephen Cheong Yu Chan
- Felizberta Lo Padilla Tong School of Social Sciences, Saint Francis University, Tseung Kwan O New Town, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Hui Jing Lu
- Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Chi Chung Wong
- Felizberta Lo Padilla Tong School of Social Sciences, Saint Francis University, Tseung Kwan O New Town, Hong Kong SAR, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Mazerolle M, Rotolo L, Maquestiaux F. Overcoming age differences in memory retrieval by reducing stereotype threat. Mem Cognit 2024; 52:622-631. [PMID: 37973771 DOI: 10.3758/s13421-023-01488-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Very little is known about whether and how socioemotional factors influence age differences in associative memory. Here, we tested the hypothesis that reducing the threat induced by age-based stereotypes can reduce age differences in learning performance and strategy. Using an associative learning task, we replicated the classic finding of age differences under a high-threat condition: older adults had longer reaction times than younger adults and were much more reluctant to use memory retrieval. However, age differences were greatly diminished under a low-threat condition. These findings demonstrate that memory retrieval is an ability not entirely lost as individuals age because merely reducing stereotype threat helped restoring it. We conclude that socioemotional factors, such as stereotype threat, should be considered when evaluating younger and older adults' memory performance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marie Mazerolle
- Université de Franche-Comté, LINC, MSHE, F-25000, Besançon, France.
| | - Lucas Rotolo
- Université de Franche-Comté, LINC, MSHE, F-25000, Besançon, France
| | - François Maquestiaux
- Université de Franche-Comté, LINC, MSHE, F-25000, Besançon, France
- Univ Rouen Normandie, Normandie Univ, CRFDP UR 7475, F-76000, Rouen, France
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Bétrisey C, Carrier A, Cardinal JF, Lagacé M, Cohen AA, Beaulieu M, Baillargeon D, Levasseur M. Which interventions with youths counter ageism toward older adults? Results from a realist review. GERONTOLOGY & GERIATRICS EDUCATION 2024; 45:323-344. [PMID: 37186802 DOI: 10.1080/02701960.2023.2210521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Age-related social biases - ageism - are developed at an early age. Interventions to counter ageism have been identified but little is known about their mechanisms, particularly in children. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of which interventions in youths are most effective, under which circumstances, how, and with what outcomes. Using 46 keywords in 6 databases, a realist review identified 24 studies published between 2000 and 2022 targeting youths under 18. A content analysis of these studies led to the construction of a Context-Mechanisms-Outcomes explanatory model. Contextual facilitators triggering mechanisms for changing stereotypes, prejudices and discrimination were: 1) enhancing knowledge about aging and older adults by providing nuanced information, 2) improving the quality of intergenerational contacts, 3) increasing opportunities to apply previously acquired knowledge in intergenerational interactions, and 4) promoting reflective thinking about experiences with older adults. However, stereotypes and prejudices appeared to be resistant and changes difficult to generalize. Insufficiently advanced cognitive development in children or viewing healthy and socially engaged older adults as unrepresentative of their age group were obstacles that reduced intervention effectiveness. Future studies should explore how advancing age influences interventions as well as the characteristics of older adults involved.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carine Bétrisey
- School of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Research Centre on Aging, Eastern Townships Integrated University Centre for Health & Social Services - Sherbrooke Hospital University Centre, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Annie Carrier
- School of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Research Centre on Aging, Eastern Townships Integrated University Centre for Health & Social Services - Sherbrooke Hospital University Centre, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Jean-François Cardinal
- School of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Martine Lagacé
- Department of Communication, Faculty of Arts, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Alan A Cohen
- Environmental Health Sciences Department, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Marie Beaulieu
- School of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Research Centre on Aging, Eastern Townships Integrated University Centre for Health & Social Services - Sherbrooke Hospital University Centre, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Dany Baillargeon
- Department of Language, Literature and Communications, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Research Centre on Aging, Eastern Townships Integrated University Centre for Health & Social Services - Sherbrooke Hospital University Centre, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Mélanie Levasseur
- School of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Research Centre on Aging, Eastern Townships Integrated University Centre for Health & Social Services - Sherbrooke Hospital University Centre, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Parker GJ, Haslam C, Stuart J, Shum DHK, Ownsworth T. Examining the Utility of a Multiple Group Membership Intervention for Alleviating the Effects of Age-Based Stereotype Threat on Older adults' Memory Performance. Exp Aging Res 2024:1-22. [PMID: 38278144 DOI: 10.1080/0361073x.2024.2306457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
This study examined the effectiveness of a multiple group membership intervention for reducing the negative effects of age-based stereotype threat (ABST) on older adults' objective memory performance and subjective memory concerns. Healthy older adults (N = 68) were randomly allocated to an ABST + threat-removal (ABST+TR) or ABST + active-control (ABST+AC) condition. After activating ABST, the ABST+TR condition completed a group-listing task and the ABST+AC condition completed a meal-listing task. Participants then completed the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) and Everyday Memory Questionnaire - Revised. One significant difference was found in memory performance between conditions; specifically, after controlling for age, gender, and number of items listed, those in the ABST+TR condition performed significantly better on the RAVLT memory interference trial. Further, listing a greater number of group memberships was associated with better memory performance in the ABST+TR condition. No significant difference was found in subjective memory concerns between the ABST+TR condition and the ABST+AC condition. Overall, the current findings indicated that raising the salience of multiple group memberships offered limited protection for older adults' cognitive test performance in the context of ABST.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giverny J Parker
- School of Applied Psychology and Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Catherine Haslam
- School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Jaimee Stuart
- School of Applied Psychology and Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia
- The United Nations University Institute in Macau, Macau (SAR), China
| | - David H K Shum
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Research Institute of Smart Ageing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Tamara Ownsworth
- School of Applied Psychology and Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Desrichard O, Heiser N, Renaud O, Zuber S, Oris M, Kliegel M. Contextual variation in cognitive performance of older adults: Demonstration of an age-of-examiner effect. Clin Neuropsychol 2023; 37:1428-1440. [PMID: 36533615 DOI: 10.1080/13854046.2022.2150689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Objective: Consistent with research on stereotype threat, when examiners' characteristics make a stereotype of the participant group salient, it can hamper participants' performance. We hypothesized that younger examiners represent a subtle element activating age stereotypes, leading older people to perform worse as examiners' age decreases. Method: We analyzed data from the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE; NParticipants = 32768) and Vivre-Leben-Vivere studies (VLV, Nparticipants = 960), wherein older people were tested at home by examiners of different ages on eight cognitive tasks. Results: Our results indicate that participants' performance on five tasks was positively linked to examiners' age, showing that the older the examiner, the better the participants' performance. Conclusions: These findings could have implications for the current assessment of memory performance among older adults.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Desrichard
- Department of Psychology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Swiss National Center of Competences in Research LIVES-Overcoming Vulnerability: Life Course Perspectives, Lausanne and Geneva, Switzerland
- Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Gerontology and Vulnerability, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Neele Heiser
- Department of Psychology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Olivier Renaud
- Department of Psychology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Swiss National Center of Competences in Research LIVES-Overcoming Vulnerability: Life Course Perspectives, Lausanne and Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Sascha Zuber
- Department of Psychology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Swiss National Center of Competences in Research LIVES-Overcoming Vulnerability: Life Course Perspectives, Lausanne and Geneva, Switzerland
- Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Gerontology and Vulnerability, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Michel Oris
- Swiss National Center of Competences in Research LIVES-Overcoming Vulnerability: Life Course Perspectives, Lausanne and Geneva, Switzerland
- Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Gerontology and Vulnerability, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Kliegel
- Department of Psychology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Swiss National Center of Competences in Research LIVES-Overcoming Vulnerability: Life Course Perspectives, Lausanne and Geneva, Switzerland
- Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Gerontology and Vulnerability, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Caughie C, Kronenberger O, Cobb J, Margaris H, McFarland C, Hall S. Age-based stereotype threat and neuropsychological performance in older adults. NEUROPSYCHOLOGY, DEVELOPMENT, AND COGNITION. SECTION B, AGING, NEUROPSYCHOLOGY AND COGNITION 2023; 30:620-637. [PMID: 35535023 DOI: 10.1080/13825585.2022.2068498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
The current study investigated the effects of age-based stereotype threat on neuropsychological assessment outcomes in an older adult population. Community volunteers (n = 49) age 65 and older were screened for cognitive impairment, depression, and anticholinergic medication use. Screened individuals were randomly stratified into either an ABST or a Control group. All participants were administered a broad range of neuropsychological measures of cognition as well as a self-rating measure assessing subjective concern about cognitive ability. A main effect of ABST on subjective concern about cognitive ability was supported. Specifically, individuals in the ABST group were significantly more likely to attribute their memory errors to the onset of dementia (F(1,41) = 5.334, p = .026). However, results showed no significant difference between groups on objective neuropsychological performance measures. The current study discusses the importance of considering ABST effects in the context of neuropsychological assessment in older adult populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cali Caughie
- Department of Psychology, University of Montana, Missoula, MT USA
| | | | - Joshua Cobb
- Department of Psychology, University of Montana, Missoula, MT USA
| | - Helen Margaris
- Department of Psychology, University of Montana, Missoula, MT USA
| | - Craig McFarland
- Department of Psychology, University of Montana, Missoula, MT USA
| | - Stuart Hall
- Department of Psychology, University of Montana, Missoula, MT USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Piroelle M, Abadie M, Régner I. Toward a New Approach to Investigate the Role of Working Memory in Stereotype Threat Effects. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12121647. [PMID: 36552105 PMCID: PMC9775410 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12121647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Stereotype threat arises when the activation of negative stereotypes about a group impairs performance of stigmatized individuals on stereotype relevant tasks. There is ample evidence that stereotype threat leads to performance detriments by consuming executive resources. Several studies indeed showed that working memory (WM) mediates stereotype threat effects among young adults. More recently, researchers have sought to understand whether the same mechanisms underlie age-based stereotype threat, but findings are mixed regarding the role of WM and some authors rather favor a motivational explanation based on regulatory fit. The present review critically appraises the empirical support for distinct forms of stereotype threat effects mediated by distinct mechanisms. We propose a novel approach based on one of the most recent WM models, the time-based resource sharing model, to evaluate the impact of stereotype threat on attentional resources in WM among both young and older adults.
Collapse
|
9
|
Deshayes M, Palermo A, Korchi K, Philippe AG. Influence of negative stereotype on physical activity level among older adults during a training session. Front Sports Act Living 2022; 4:998724. [PMID: 36506719 PMCID: PMC9732565 DOI: 10.3389/fspor.2022.998724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The present research examined the effect of a negative stereotype induction on older adults' physical activity level, measured objectively and subjectively. Twenty older adults (18 women and two men; Mage = 67.4, SDage = 4.4) were assigned to a control condition, a neutral condition and a negative stereotype condition during three separate visits (i.e., within-subject design). In each physical activity session, participants performed the same training. Objective physical activity level was the time spent at moderate to vigorous intensity measured by accelerometry and subjective physical activity level was measured with the RPE-session method. Inactivity time was also objectively assessed. Results revealed no effect of the different conditions on objective physical activity level, but subjective physical activity level and inactivity time were lower in the neutral condition and in the negative stereotype condition compared to the control condition. It was suggested that when a negative stereotype is induced, participants perceived the task as less intense compared to the control condition, which result in less inactivity time, suggesting that the negative stereotype had a positive influence on physical activity. Another interesting result was that effects were similar in the negative stereotype condition and in the neutral condition, revealing that the neutral condition might not be a control condition. While these results are not in line with the stereotype threat literature, they echo previous recent studies also showing a positive effect of a negative stereotype induction, calling into question the stereotype threat theory.
Collapse
|
10
|
Doncel-García B, Lizaso I, Fraile-Bermúdez AB, Mosquera-Lajas Á, Santamaría-Trincado B, Sanz B, Irazusta J. Reducing Negative Aging Stereotypes via Educational Intervention in Older People: A Randomized Controlled Study. Res Aging 2022; 45:475-485. [PMID: 36113442 DOI: 10.1177/01640275221126100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Anti-ageism interventions traditionally target younger individuals. We analyzed the effect of an educational intervention that combined an infusion of aging content with videos to reduce negative stereotypes toward aging in a randomized controlled study of 56 community-dwelling older adults. The experimental group received a single one-hour information session and video viewing on ageism; the control group viewed 1 hour of videos unrelated to ageism. Repeated-measures ANOVA indicated that the experimental group reported a significantly reduced Negative Stereotypes Toward Aging Questionnaire (CENVE) total score along with an independent measure of the character–personality factor in this questionnaire 1 week and 1 month after the intervention compared to baseline. The control group showed no changes. This work reports for the first time that a one-hour information session about aging combined with video viewing on ageism can efficiently reduce negative stereotypes of aging in older people in the short and medium term.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Borja Doncel-García
- OSI Bilbao-Basurto, Osakidetza Basque Health Service, Bilbao, Spain
- Department of Nursing I, University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Spain
- Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Spain
| | - Izarne Lizaso
- Department of Basic Psychological Processes and their Development, University of the Basque Country, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
| | | | - Álvaro Mosquera-Lajas
- Aspaldiko’s Psychosocial Service and Municipal Community Centers, Portugalete, Spain
| | | | - Begoña Sanz
- Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Spain
- Department of Physiology, University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Spain
| | - Jon Irazusta
- Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Spain
- Department of Physiology, University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Parker GJ, Haslam C, Stuart J, Shum DHK, Ownsworth T. Health practitioner beliefs regarding the impact of age-based stereotype threat on performance in the cognitive assessment of older adults. Aging Ment Health 2022:1-14. [PMID: 36038552 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2022.2116399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Health practitioners' understanding of the impact of age-based stereotype threat (ABST) on the cognitive test performance of older adults is not well understood. This study aimed to investigate health practitioners' ability to recognize the influence of ABST in the cognitive assessment of older adults and their perceptions of its impact in practice. METHODS One-hundred and twenty-nine health practitioners (86% female; M age = 39.75, SD = 11.50) with experience in conducting cognitive assessments with older adults (mainly psychologists and occupational therapists) completed an online survey assessing demographic and practice characteristics, aging beliefs, a hypothetical cognitive assessment scenario, and perceived impact of ABST on practice. RESULTS Overall, health practitioners rated ABST factors in the assessment scenario as less detrimental to cognitive performance than internal and external factors. In a hierarchical regression model, lower recognition of ABST and negative aging beliefs significantly accounted for lower perceived impact of ABST on older adults' cognitive test performance in practice (R2 = .37, p < .001). CONCLUSION Health practitioners may not recognize the influence of ABST on assessment findings, especially if they hold negative aging beliefs. The findings highlight the need to improve health practitioners' knowledge of ABST to increase the validity of cognitive testing in older adults.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giverny J Parker
- School of Applied Psychology, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Catherine Haslam
- School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Jaimee Stuart
- School of Applied Psychology, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia
| | - David H K Shum
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Tamara Ownsworth
- School of Applied Psychology, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Chen YT, McDonough IM, Faig KE, Norman GJ, Gallo DA. Impact of stereotype threat on brain activity during memory tasks in older adults. Neuroimage 2022; 260:119413. [PMID: 35853542 PMCID: PMC9436003 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.119413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
We report the first neuroimaging experiment to investigate the impact of explicitly activating aging stereotypes (i.e., stereotype threat) on brain activity during cognitive tasks. Cognitively normal older adults read about aging stereotypes or a control passage prior to taking episodic memory, working memory, and a non-demanding control task during fMRI. At the group level, stereotype activation did not impact cognitive performance or measures sensitive to stress and anxiety (physiological or self-report), but like prior work, highly educated and retired adults exhibited greater stereotype effects on episodic memory. At the neural level, stereotype activation did not impact brain activity in executive control or emotional regulation regions previously linked to stereotype threat effects in younger adults, suggesting that stereotype threat operates differently in older adults. Instead, on each task, the stereotype group showed more brain activity than the control group in parietal midline regions (e.g., precuneus, posterior cingulate). Although activity in these regions can arise from many processes, they have previously been associated with self-referential thinking and error-prevention focus, and in our study, brain activity in these regions was associated with slower responses and lower false alarm errors on the episodic memory task. Collectively, these findings are more consistent with the regulatory fit hypothesis than an executive control interference hypothesis of stereotype threat effects in older adults, whereby older adults adopt an error-prevention mindset in response to explicit stereotype threat.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yung-Tsen Chen
- Department of Psychology, University of Chicago, 5848 S. University Ave., Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Ian M McDonough
- Department of Psychology, The University of Alabama, 505 Hackberry Lane, BOX 870348, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA
| | - Kelly E Faig
- Psychology Department, Hamilton College, 198 College Hill Road, Clinton, NY 13323, USA
| | - Greg J Norman
- Department of Psychology, University of Chicago, 5848 S. University Ave., Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - David A Gallo
- Department of Psychology, University of Chicago, 5848 S. University Ave., Chicago, IL, 60637, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Fawsitt F, Dockray S, Setti A. Regulatory focus and perceptions of ageing: exploring the connections. Aging Ment Health 2022; 26:1451-1459. [PMID: 34282679 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2021.1952550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Objectives:Perceptions of ageing can become a self-fulfilling prophecy for older adults, with those who hold more negative views of ageing experiencing more negative consequences of the ageing process, including poorer health and cognitive declines. Exposure to negative stereotypes about their group can also affect older adults performance in cognitive tests, as they are more likely to adopt a prevention focus to avoid mistakes, therefore, performing poorly in tasks requiring them to adopt a gains-oriented focus. Based on regulatory focus theory, we hypothesised that negative perceptions of ageing and stereotype threat may be connected, specifically we hypothesised that those with more negative perceptions of ageing would also have a stronger trait prevention focus.Method: Two hundred adults aged 60+ took part in an online questionnaire examining their perceptions of ageing and their trait regulatory focus.Results and Conclusion: Results indicated that negative perceptions of ageing were predictive of a stronger trait prevention focus in a hierarchical multiple regression model. This provides evidence that older adults with more negative perceptions of ageing may adopt a stronger prevention focus, potentially influencing psychological attitudes to everyday tasks and behaviours. Perceptions of ageing and regulatory focus can have implications for the efficacy of health messaging for older adults.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Feargus Fawsitt
- School of Applied Psychology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Samantha Dockray
- School of Applied Psychology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Annalisa Setti
- School of Applied Psychology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Webster-Cordero F, Giménez-Llort L. The Challenge of Subjective Cognitive Complaints and Executive Functions in Middle-Aged Adults as a Preclinical Stage of Dementia: A Systematic Review. Geriatrics (Basel) 2022; 7:geriatrics7020030. [PMID: 35314602 PMCID: PMC8938842 DOI: 10.3390/geriatrics7020030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Subjective cognitive complaints correspond to a heterogeneous construct that frequently occurs in the early stages of older adult life. Despite being a common source of worry for middle-aged people, it can be underestimated when clinical and neuropsychological assessments discard any underlying pathological processes. Negative age stereotyping but also self-stereotyping can contribute to doing so. Although its diagnosis is a challenge, its implication as a possible predictor of mild cognitive impairment or dementia increases the interest in its early diagnosis and intervention. The present systematic review analyzes the empirical data on the relationship between these complaints and early executive dysfunction with possible predictive value for preclinical stages of dementia. The sixteen papers obtained from the PubMed and Embase databases were exploratory, cross-sectional and prospective in scope. The studies corroborated the relationship between subjective cognitive complaints and some executive processes, which is noteworthy since many people with subjective executive complaints progress to dementia. The relational studies confirmed that impaired executive performance is associated with CSF biomarkers and reduced cortical volume in specific brain regions. However, the heterogeneity of reports in these studies demands stronger efforts in future research with specific tools applied in clinical and neuropsychological assessments and analyzed under a gender perspective.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Felipe Webster-Cordero
- Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, E-08193 Barcelona, Spain
- Hospital Santa Inés, Cuenca 010107, Ecuador
- Correspondence: (F.W.-C.); (L.G.-L.); Tel.: +593-98-488-4724 (F.W.-C.); +34-93-5812378 (L.G.-L.)
| | - Lydia Giménez-Llort
- Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, E-08193 Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, E-08193 Barcelona, Spain
- Correspondence: (F.W.-C.); (L.G.-L.); Tel.: +593-98-488-4724 (F.W.-C.); +34-93-5812378 (L.G.-L.)
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Doncel-García B, Mosquera-Lajas Á, Fernández-Gutiérrez N, Fernández-Atutxa A, Lizaso I, Irazusta J. Relationship between negative stereotypes toward aging and multidimensional variables in older people living in two different social environments. Arch Gerontol Geriatr 2021; 98:104567. [PMID: 34781189 DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2021.104567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ageism is studied extensively in community-dwelling older adults, but remains poorly understood in institutionalized older adults. Here, we compared the physical, psychological, and social variables associated with self-reported age-based biases in community-dwelling older adults and in those living in nursing homes (NHs). MATERIAL AND METHODS Participants (n = 272) in this descriptive cross-sectional study lived in NHs (n = 126) or in their homes (n = 146), were 60 years or older, and had no cognitive or serious functional impairments. Those in NHs had been institutionalized for at least six months. The dependent variable was negative stereotypes toward aging (CENVE). We developed generalized linear models (GLMs) by place of residence and sex following the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment´s (CGA) methodology. RESULTS There is a statistically significant relationship between negative stereotypes of aging and different multidimensional variables. These variables differ between institutionalized and non-institutionalized adults and between men and women. While some variables are non-modifiable (age and sex) others are potentially modifiable (educational level, participation in activities, length of NH stay, hand strength, autonomy, and depression). CONCLUSIONS This study compared, for the first time, levels of ageism in older people living in two different social environments. Because most of the significant variables are modifiable in both environments, our results provide a framework to combat this type of discrimination. Promising strategies include anti-ageism policies and laws, educational interventions, and increased intergenerational contact.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Borja Doncel-García
- OSI Bilbao-Basurto, Osakidetza Basque Health Service, Montevideo Etorb. 18, Bilbao E-48013, Spain.
| | - Álvaro Mosquera-Lajas
- Aspaldiko´s Psychosocial Service and Municipal Community Centers, Barrio Kanpanzar auzoa 7, Portugalete E-48920, Spain
| | - Naiara Fernández-Gutiérrez
- Geriatric Department, Igurco Servicios Socio-Sanitarios, Grupo IMQ, Máximo Aguirre 18 Bis, Floor 6, Bilbao E-48011, Spain.
| | - Ainhoa Fernández-Atutxa
- Department of Nursing I, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Barrio Sarriena, Leioa E-48940, Spain.
| | - Izarne Lizaso
- Department of Basic Psychological Processes and their Development, Faculty of Psychology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Tolosa Hiribidea 70, San Sebastián E-20018, Spain.
| | - Jon Irazusta
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Barrio Sarriena, Leioa E-48940, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Swift HJ, Barber SJ, Lamont RA, Weiss D, Chasteen AL. Editorial: Age-Based Stereotype Threat Effects on Performance Outcomes. Front Psychol 2021; 12:773615. [PMID: 34795622 PMCID: PMC8592906 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.773615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Hannah J. Swift
- School of Psychology, University of Kent, Canterbury, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah J. Barber
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Ruth A. Lamont
- College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - David Weiss
- Department of Psychology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | | |
Collapse
|
17
|
Cavuoto MG, Franzese S, Kinsella GJ. Pre-Test Experience and Memory Performance in Older Adults: The Impact of Test Anxiety and Self-Efficacy. Arch Clin Neuropsychol 2021; 36:791-800. [PMID: 33169796 DOI: 10.1093/arclin/acaa093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of this paper is to investigate the role of test anxiety and memory self-efficacy on memory performances in older adults. METHOD One hundred cognitively normal, community-dwelling older adults aged 65+ participated used in this experimental study. Participants completed baseline evaluations (including pre-test anxiety) prior to being assigned to one of two experimental conditions in which they experienced either success or failure on a verbal test. They subsequently completed post-test anxiety ratings, a measure of memory self-efficacy (Memory Self-Efficacy Questionnaire), and standardized tasks of working memory and verbal episodic memory. RESULTS Following experimental manipulation, participants in the pre-test failure condition demonstrated higher anxiety and lower memory performances. Hierarchical regression revealed that change in anxiety from pre-test to post-test predicted memory performances and mediation analyses demonstrated that these effects were explained by lower memory self-efficacy. CONCLUSIONS For older adults, experiencing test failure prior to memory testing may result in increased test anxiety and lower memory self-efficacy leading to poorer memory performance. This has implications for diagnostic cognitive assessment for older people.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marina G Cavuoto
- School of Psychology & Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Stella Franzese
- School of Psychology & Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Glynda J Kinsella
- School of Psychology & Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Knight RL, Chalabaev A, McNarry MA, Mackintosh KA, Hudson J. Do age stereotype-based interventions affect health-related outcomes in older adults? A systematic review and future directions. Br J Health Psychol 2021; 27:338-373. [PMID: 34254707 DOI: 10.1111/bjhp.12548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Developing interventions that target population-specific motivational barriers to promote health behaviours is crucial, especially for older adults who are confronted with negative age stereotypes. This systematic review evaluates randomized and non-randomized field studies that tested the effects of age stereotype-based interventions on health outcomes in adults aged 50 years and over. METHODS MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection and PsychINFO were searched to identify articles published up until May 2019. Data were extracted from all articles independently and assessed for risk-of-bias using Cochrane Collaboration tools. RESULTS Ten articles met the inclusion criteria. Health-related outcome measures were identified across three domains: physical, psychological/psychosocial well-being, and quality of life/subjective health, with age stereotypes reported as an additional outcome. Intervention structure varied substantially between studies regarding content, duration, frequency, and length of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS Most studies showed that age stereotype-based interventions significantly improved physical function or physical activity as well as self-perceptions of ageing. However, more rigorous studies are needed. Indeed, given the detrimental health effects of age stereotypes, the potential for impact of interventions designed to challenge them is important. Future research should explore the implications of intervening on different stereotype mechanisms, whether intervention effects are comparable across health domains, and whether age stereotype-based interventions are more effective than non-age-specific interventions. PROSPERO Registration CRD42018094006.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rachel L Knight
- A-STEM, Swansea University, UK.,SENS, Université Grenoble Alpes, France
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
19
|
Strickland-Hughes CM, West RL. The Impact of Naturalistic Age Stereotype Activation. Front Psychol 2021; 12:685448. [PMID: 34305742 PMCID: PMC8302256 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.685448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Almost self-fulfilling, commonly held negative stereotypes about old age and memory can impair older adults' episodic memory performance, due to age-based stereotype threat or self-stereotyping effects. Research studies demonstrating detrimental impacts of age stereotypes on memory performance are generally conducted in research laboratories or medical settings, which often underestimate memory abilities of older adults. To better understand the "real world" impact of negative age and memory stereotypes on episodic memory, the present research tested story recall performance of late middle-aged and older adults (N = 51) following a naturalistic age stereotype manipulation, wherein every day, newspaper-style materials (comics and puzzles) were either embedded with negative age and memory stereotype stimuli (stereotype group) or neutral stimuli (control group). Furthermore, all participants were tested in favorable, familiar environments. Potential moderators of the stereotype effects, e.g., metamemory beliefs, were assessed at baseline. Current memory evaluation and subjective age, as well as perceived stereotype threat and task-related anxiety, were assessed following the stereotype manipulation as potential mechanisms of the expected stereotype effects. Results suggested a contrast effect, as the stereotype group demonstrated superior story recall performance compared to the control group. Marginally significant moderation effects by age and perceived stereotype threat indicated that stereotype rejection was present for late middle-aged adults but not older adults, indicative of stereotype lift, and for individuals who reported low and average, but not high, levels of perceived stereotype threat. Additionally, a trend suggested more positive memory evaluation for those in the stereotype group who reported awareness of the stereotype stimuli than those who did not notice the stimuli. These results are consistent with other research demonstrating benefits to memory performance in adulthood based on motivational and contextual factors, such as using relevant memory materials and testing in favorable conditions. Moreover, the results of this study contribute to our understanding of individuals' responses to different types of stereotype stimuli, and the differential impact of stereotype manipulations that are subtle versus blatant. Individuals were motivated to counteract negative stereotype effects when conditions were supportive, stereotype presentations were naturalistic, and personal beliefs were positive.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Robin L. West
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Sippli K, Schmalzried P, Rieger MA, Voelter-Mahlknecht S. Challenges arising for older workers from participating in a workplace intervention addressing work ability: a qualitative study from Germany. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2021; 94:919-933. [PMID: 33491100 PMCID: PMC8238737 DOI: 10.1007/s00420-020-01639-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2019] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Studies examining what renders workplace interventions to sustain and promote work ability of older workers successful have largely neglected older workers´ perspective. This paper outlines the results of a study with regard to older workers´ experiences and expectations of a workplace intervention. Based on these findings, some reflections on how to improve the design and the implementation of workplace interventions for older workers are provided. METHODS Semi-structured interviews were conducted with older workers (N = 8) participating in a workplace intervention undertaken at one production site of a large manufacturing company in Baden-Wurttemberg/Germany. The interview guide included questions on participants´ experiences with and expectations of the intervention. The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analyzed using qualitative content analysis according to Mayring (2014). RESULTS Older workers´ reported some challenges they face due to their participation in the workplace intervention. These resulted from the work environment (physical challenges), the work process design (new long work cycle), the work organization (tight time allowances, little job rotation, change of teams, age stereotypes) and the management of the workplace intervention (bad information, feeling of occupational insecurity and lack of being valued). CONCLUSIONS The study shows that challenges arising for older workers from their participation in the workplace intervention may have counteracted the promotion of work ability. As findings suggest, some of these challenges might have been avoided either by considering workers´ perspective during design and implementation of an intervention or by referring to evidence on aging and work ability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Khira Sippli
- Institute of Occupational and Social Medicine and Health Services Research, University Hospital Tuebingen, Wilhelmstraße 27, 72074, Tübingen, Germany
- Institute for Applied Economic Research at the University Tuebingen, Schaffhausenstr. 73, 72072, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Pia Schmalzried
- Institute of Occupational and Social Medicine and Health Services Research, University Hospital Tuebingen, Wilhelmstraße 27, 72074, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Monika A Rieger
- Institute of Occupational and Social Medicine and Health Services Research, University Hospital Tuebingen, Wilhelmstraße 27, 72074, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Susanne Voelter-Mahlknecht
- Institute of Occupational and Social Medicine and Health Services Research, University Hospital Tuebingen, Wilhelmstraße 27, 72074, Tübingen, Germany.
- Institute of Occupational Medicine, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Peterson KF, Adams-Price C. Fear of Dependency and Life-Space Mobility as Predictors of Attitudes Toward Assistive Devices in Older Adults. Int J Aging Hum Dev 2021; 94:273-289. [PMID: 34191644 DOI: 10.1177/00914150211027599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Assistive devices can help older adults remain independent; however, they may hesitate to use them due to fears of appearing dependent by embodying aging stereotypes. Reluctance to use assistive devices may lead to decreased life space mobility. The selective optimization with compensation (SOC) model posits that older adults employ strengths to accommodate for age-related functioning declines. The current study examines the predictive power of health perceptions, dependency fears, aging stereotypes, and life space on older adults' views of assistive devices. Results suggest that older adults with greater life space and dependency fears are more likely to view assistive devices positively.
Collapse
|
22
|
The ironic effect of older adults' increased task motivation: Implications for neurocognitive aging. Psychon Bull Rev 2021; 28:1743-1754. [PMID: 34173190 DOI: 10.3758/s13423-021-01963-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Recent work suggests that most older adults who volunteer to take part in cognitive experiments are more motivated to do well than are undergraduate students. This empirical evidence is echoed by the impressions of cognitive aging researchers. We surveyed a large group (N = 88) of researchers asking about their perceptions of younger and older adults' motivation to take part in lab-based research. Not only were older adults seen as more motivated than younger adults, but researchers thought that the two groups participate for different reasons: younger adults to obtain course credit or monetary compensation, older adults to get a sense of their cognitive health, to further science, and out of curiosity. However, older adults' greater motivation to do well on cognitive tasks may leave them vulnerable to stereotype threat, the phenomenon by which individuals underperform when they are put in a position to either confirm or deny a negative stereotype about their group. In this opinion piece, we argue that most cognitive experiments, not just those designed to measure stereotype threat, likely induce some form of performance-related anxiety in older adults. This anxiety likely leads to greater task-related interference, or thoughts about how one is doing on the task, resulting in poorer performance. We discuss some of the potential implications for our understanding of neurocognitive aging.
Collapse
|
23
|
Mazerolle M, Smith AM, Torrance M, Thomas AK. Understanding Older Adults' Memory Distortion in the Light of Stereotype Threat. Front Psychol 2021; 12:628696. [PMID: 33776850 PMCID: PMC7987663 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.628696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Numerous studies have documented the detrimental impact of age-based stereotype threat (ABST) on older adults' cognitive performance and especially on veridical memory. However, far fewer studies have investigated the impact of ABST on older adults' memory distortion. Here, we review the subset of research examining memory distortion and provide evidence for the role of stereotype threat as a powerful socio-emotional factor that impacts age-related susceptibility to memory distortion. In this review we define memory distortion as errors in memory that are associated with gist-based errors or source misattributions. Whereas, some of the reviewed experiments support the conclusion that ABST should be considered in the context of age-related differences in memory distortion, others reported little or no impact of stereotype threat. These discrepancies suggest that the role of ABST, and socio-emotional processes generally, in age-related changes in memory distortion are less clear. In this review, we argue that ABST does play an important role in age-related changes in memory distortion. We present evidence suggesting that discrepancies in the reviewed literature may be reconciled when evaluated in the context of the leading theories about stereotype threat: the Executive Resource Depletion hypothesis and the Regulatory Focus theory. We also discuss how differences in methodology and participant characteristics can account for a priori contradictory results in the literature. Finally, we propose some recommendations for researchers and practitioners when assessing memory in older adults.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marie Mazerolle
- Laboratoire de Recherches Intégratives en Neurosciences et Psychologie Cognitive & MSHE Ledoux, CNRS, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Besançon, France
| | - Amy M Smith
- Department of Psychology, Quinnipiac University, Hamden, CT, United States
| | - McKinzey Torrance
- Department of Psychology, Tufts University, Medford, MA, United States
| | - Ayanna K Thomas
- Department of Psychology, Tufts University, Medford, MA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Gilet AL, Evrard C, Galharret JM, Colombel F. The Moderating Role of Education on the Relationship Between Perceived Stereotype Threat and False Memory in Aging. Front Psychol 2021; 11:606249. [PMID: 33519612 PMCID: PMC7845452 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.606249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Studies regularly show that an age-based stereotype threat impairs older adults' performance on memory tasks. Results regarding stereotype threat effects on false memories are less clear. Some studies suggest that education may moderate the relationship between an age-related stereotype threat and episodic memory performance in older adults. The present study aimed at examining the moderating role of education on the relationship between perceived stereotype threat (PST) and false memories in older adults. With this aim, 82 adults between 60 and 70 years of age performed a Deese-Roediger-McDermott (DRM) task followed by a free recall test and completed questionnaires assessing both their perception of an age-based stereotype threat and their education level. Regression analyses showed no effect of PST on the production of critical lures. However, as was expected, our results showed that in higher educated older adults, as the perception of stereotype increases, the production of critical lures increases. These results confirm the moderating role of education and highlight its key role in the relationship between the age-based stereotype threat and older adults' susceptibility to false memories.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Laure Gilet
- Laboratoire de Psychologie des Pays de la Loire (LPPL - EA 4638), Université de Nantes, Nantes, France
| | - Christelle Evrard
- Laboratoire de Psychologie des Pays de la Loire (LPPL - EA 4638), Université de Nantes, Nantes, France
| | - Jean-Michel Galharret
- Laboratoire de Mathématiques Jean Leray (LMJL-UMR 6629), Université de Nantes, Nantes, France
| | - Fabienne Colombel
- Laboratoire de Psychologie des Pays de la Loire (LPPL - EA 4638), Université de Nantes, Nantes, France
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Parker GJ, Ownsworth T, Haslam C, Shum DHK. Overcoming Age-Based Stereotypes to Optimise Cognitive Performance in Older Adults: A Systematic Review of Methodology and Existing Evidence. THE GERONTOLOGIST 2020; 62:e206-e223. [PMID: 33220050 DOI: 10.1093/geront/gnaa191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Age-based stereotype threat (ABST) poses serious risks for the cognitive screening of older adults. This review aimed to identify and critically appraise the methodology and existing evidence of studies investigating the use of threat-removal (TR) strategies to overcome the effects of ABST on the cognitive performance of older adults. The types of strategies, their effectiveness in optimising cognitive performance, and factors influencing their effectiveness were examined. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. PsycINFO, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched from 1st January 1995 to 6th November 2019. Two authors independently assessed article eligibility and appraised methodological quality of eligible articles using an adaptation of the STROBE guidelines. Narrative synthesis was used to summarise results. RESULTS Thirty articles, reporting on 36 studies, were eligible and included. Overall, evidence for the effectiveness of TR was mixed and varied according to the explicitness of strategies and comparison conditions used. Studies examining blatant TR strategies, and those using a combination of blatant and subtle TR strategies, provided limited support for their effectiveness in overcoming ABST. However, studies evaluating subtle TR strategies provided preliminary support for their effectiveness in overcoming ABST. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS Existing studies provide limited evidence regarding the effectiveness of TR strategies in overcoming ABST due to methodological limitations. Recommendations are made for the design of future studies to differentiate the benefits of TR strategies from the detrimental effects of ABST, thus potentially informing their use in clinical practice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giverny J Parker
- School of Applied Psychology and Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Tamara Ownsworth
- School of Applied Psychology and Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Catherine Haslam
- School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - David H K Shum
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Asynchronously Embedding Psychological Test Questions into Human–Robot Conversations for User Profiling. Int J Soc Robot 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s12369-020-00716-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
AbstractPsychological variables of a person (e.g., cognitive abilities, personality traits, emotional states, and preferences) are valuable information that can be utilized by social robots to offer personalized human–robot interaction. These variables are often latent and inferred indirectly from a third-person perspective based on an individual’s behavioral manifestations (e.g., facial emotion expressions), and hence the true values of inferred psychological variables remain unknown to a robot observer. Although earlier studies have employed robot-administered psychological tests to infer psychological variables based on an individual’s first-person responses, these tests were formally presented and could be tedious to some users. To leverage the validity and reliability of well-established psychological tests for user profiling with ease, the present study examined the possibility of asynchronously embedding psychological test questions into casual human–robot conversations. In our experiment using a big-five personality inventory, the verbal responses from users to these asynchronous test questions were then compared with the written responses to the same personality test. The personality measures estimated from the two approaches correlated strongly in a young adult population but only moderately in an older population. These findings demonstrate the validity of the proposed asynchronous method for psychological testing in human–agent interactions and suggest some caveats when this testing method is applied to older adults or other special populations.
Collapse
|
27
|
Chan SCY, Au AML, Lai SMK. The detrimental impacts of negative age stereotypes on the episodic memory of older adults: does social participation moderate the effects? BMC Geriatr 2020; 20:452. [PMID: 33153433 PMCID: PMC7643323 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-020-01833-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2019] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Older adults’ cognitive abilities can be impaired through priming of negative age stereotypes. However, it is unclear whether the effects of negative priming can be extended to episodic memory, which is believed to be the most age-sensitive type among the long-term memory systems, in Asian populations. Social participation has recently emerged as a potential protective factor for maintaining the cognitive function of older adults. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of negative age stereotype priming on episodic memory and the moderating role of social participation in the priming effect. Methods A total of 105 community-dwelling older adults residing in Hong Kong were randomly allocated to two experimental conditions. Participants were primed either with negative age stereotype words (n = 53) or neutral words (n = 52) using an implicit priming task. Episodic memory performance was assessed using the Hong Kong List Learning Task (HKLLT), which includes total learning, two delayed recalls and a recognition task. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to assess group differences in the priming task and memory performance, while a series of moderation analyses were performed to examine the moderating effects of social participation. Results The group that received negative age stereotype priming performed significantly worse than the group that received neutral words in their episodic memory test. Additional analyses showed that socially active individuals might be less prone to the effects of negative age stereotypes for the recognition task only. Conclusions Older adults who are more socially active might be more immune to the effects of negative age stereotype priming on episodic memory. These results provide initial support for the hypothesis that social participation might act as an effective strategy to ward against negative age stereotype priming. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04202120 (first posted December 17, 2019), (Retrospectively registered). Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12877-020-01833-z.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephen C Y Chan
- The Open University of Hong Kong, Good Shepherd Street, Ho Man Tin, Kowloon, Hong Kong. .,The Public and Social Policy Research Centre of The Open University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
| | - Alma M L Au
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Simon M K Lai
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Zhang X, Peng C. Ego-depletion and increased stereotyping of the older adults as forgetful in the Chinese culture. JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY IN AFRICA 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/14330237.2020.1821306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaobin Zhang
- School of Psychology, Shaanxi Normal University, Xian, China
| | - Cheng Peng
- School of Psychology, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Hashimoto K, Muto T, Spencer SD, Masuda A. Mitigating behavioral assimilation to age stereotypes: A preliminary analogue investigation of a contextual behavioral science approach. JOURNAL OF CONTEXTUAL BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcbs.2020.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
|
30
|
Barber SJ. The Applied Implications of Age-Based Stereotype Threat for Older Adults. JOURNAL OF APPLIED RESEARCH IN MEMORY AND COGNITION 2020; 9:274-285. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jarmac.2020.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
|
31
|
Flamion A, Missotten P, Jennotte L, Hody N, Adam S. Old Age-Related Stereotypes of Preschool Children. Front Psychol 2020; 11:807. [PMID: 32411060 PMCID: PMC7198741 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2019] [Accepted: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Ageist attitudes have been discovered in children as early as 3 years. However, so far very few studies, especially during the last decade, have examined age-related stereotypes in preschool children. Available questionnaires adapted to this population are scarce. Our study was designed to probe old age-related views in 3- to 6-year-old children (n = 126) using both an open-ended Image-of-Aging question and a new pilot tool, called Young Children's Views of Older People (YCVOP), based on a visual analog scale illustrated by cartoons. Parental views of older people were also collected. The YCVOP was easy to use and internally consistent. Both that scale and the Image-of-Aging question showed globally favorable views of older people in preschool children, especially regarding warmth and smartness traits. However, assessment of physical capacity and independence tended to be negative. The overall results were in line with the low-competence, high-warmth stereotype of older people that is common in young adults and school-age children and was found in parents in the current study (Stereotype Content Model). Strikingly, children's views did not correlate with those of their parents': The children's responses appeared more personal and emotional, while the parents tended to adopt global stereotypes. The preschoolers' views of older people were much more positive in those who spontaneously evoked their grandparents when asked to think of an old person. In conclusion, this study, introducing a new visual tool to assess age-related stereotypes, suggests ambivalent views of older adults start in preschool children and are influenced by grandparents relationships.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Allison Flamion
- Psychology of Aging Unit, Department of Psychology and Clinics of Human Systems, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
32
|
Pearman A, Neupert SD, Hughes ML. State Anxiety Is Related to Cortisol Response During Cognitive Testing for Older Adults. Gerontol Geriatr Med 2020; 6:2333721420914776. [PMID: 32284956 PMCID: PMC7139176 DOI: 10.1177/2333721420914776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Revised: 02/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Cognitive testing situations can be stressful for both younger and older adults,
but threats of cognitive evaluation may be particularly salient among anxious
older individuals as they tend to be more concerned than younger adults about
their cognitive abilities and age-related cognitive decline. We examined
age-related differences in the effect of anxiety on cortisol responses during
cognitive testing in a sample of 27 younger (M = 19.8) and 29
older (M = 71.2) adults. Older adults with higher anxiety also
had higher during-task cortisol (suggesting higher reactivity to testing) than
older adults with lower anxiety and young adults. There was no effect of anxiety
on cortisol for younger adults. Simultaneously examining subjective (state
anxiety) and physiological (cortisol response) indicators of threat during
cognitive testing appears to be especially important for older adults with
higher state anxiety. The results are important for understanding cortisol
reactivity, particularly in older adults. Researchers who administer cognitive
tests to older adults and clinicians who work with older adults with cognitive
concerns and/or anxiety may want to consider how they present their
material.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ann Pearman
- Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
33
|
Barber SJ, Hamel K, Ketcham C, Lui K, Taylor-Ketcham N. The effects of stereotype threat on older adults' walking performance as a function of task difficulty and resource evaluations. Psychol Aging 2020; 35:250-266. [PMID: 31971413 PMCID: PMC7543189 DOI: 10.1037/pag0000440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Stereotype threat occurs when people are concerned about confirming a negative stereotype about their social group, and this often leads people to underperform within the threatened domain. Although this is well-documented, the majority of prior studies examining stereotype threat in older adults have focused on cognitive outcomes and comparatively less research has focused on how stereotype threat affects physical outcomes. In this study, we examined whether negative age-based evaluations invoke stereotype threat and adversely affect older adults' gait, and whether this depends upon the difficulty of the gait task and upon participants' evaluations of their own resources to cope with the demands of the gait task. To test this, we recruited 163 healthy, community-dwelling older adults and asked them to complete either an "easy" gait task (i.e., walking at their own comfortable pace) or a "difficult" gait task (i.e., walking within a 15 cm narrow base of support) along a 24' temporospatial-measuring walkway. This was done in either the presence or absence of a negative age-based evaluation. Results showed that the adverse effects of stereotype threat (i.e., walking slower, with relatively more variability in speed, and with more step errors) were generally limited to participants completing the difficult gait task who were not confident that they had sufficient resources to cope with the demands of the task. Thus, stereotype threat can impair older adults' physical performance, but the magnitude of this effect depends upon the task's objective difficulty and on participants' subjective evaluations of their own resources. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
Collapse
|
34
|
Bouazzaoui B, Fay S, Guerrero-Sastoque L, Semaine M, Isingrini M, Taconnat L. Memory Age-based Stereotype Threat: Role of Locus of Control and Anxiety. Exp Aging Res 2019; 46:39-51. [DOI: 10.1080/0361073x.2019.1693009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- B. Bouazzaoui
- Université de Tours, Université de Poitiers, UMR CNRS 7295 Centre de Recherches sur la Cognition et l’Apprentissage, Tours, France
| | - S. Fay
- Université de Tours, Université de Poitiers, UMR CNRS 7295 Centre de Recherches sur la Cognition et l’Apprentissage, Tours, France
| | - L. Guerrero-Sastoque
- Université de Tours, Université de Poitiers, UMR CNRS 7295 Centre de Recherches sur la Cognition et l’Apprentissage, Tours, France
| | - M. Semaine
- Université de Tours, Université de Poitiers, UMR CNRS 7295 Centre de Recherches sur la Cognition et l’Apprentissage, Tours, France
| | - M. Isingrini
- Université de Tours, Université de Poitiers, UMR CNRS 7295 Centre de Recherches sur la Cognition et l’Apprentissage, Tours, France
| | - L. Taconnat
- Université de Tours, Université de Poitiers, UMR CNRS 7295 Centre de Recherches sur la Cognition et l’Apprentissage, Tours, France
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Barber SJ, Seliger J, Yeh N, Tan SC. Stereotype Threat Reduces the Positivity of Older Adults' Recall. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2019; 74:585-594. [PMID: 29660076 PMCID: PMC6460340 DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gby026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2017] [Accepted: 03/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES As people get older, they show a relative preference to remember positive information over negative information. In two experiments, we tested whether the positivity of older adults' memory is affected by stereotype threat about age-related cognitive declines. We also tested whether highlighting a positive aging stereotype (older adults are wise) would inoculate older adults from stereotype threat's adverse effects. METHOD In Experiments 1 and 2, we manipulated whether stereotypes about age-related cognitive decline were highlighted (stereotype threat) or mitigated (stereotype alleviation). In Experiment 2, we included a third condition (intervention + stereotype threat), which highlighted positive and negative aging stereotypes. Participants then saw emotionally evocative pictures and completed a memory test. RESULTS In both experiments, stereotype threat selectively reduced older adults' memory for positive pictures but did not affect their memory for negative pictures. This eliminated the positivity effect (i.e., the Age × Valence interaction; Experiment 1). Our positive stereotype intervention did not reduce stereotype threat's adverse effect (Experiment 2). DISCUSSION Our findings show that the positivity effect is more robust when testing situations minimize stereotype threat. They also suggest that health interventions designed to capitalize on the positivity effect should ensure that ageist stereotypes are mitigated in the environment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J Barber
- Department of Psychology, San Francisco State University, California
| | - Jordan Seliger
- Department of Psychology, San Francisco State University, California
| | - Nicholas Yeh
- Department of Psychology, San Francisco State University, California
| | - Shyuan Ching Tan
- Department of Psychology, San Francisco State University, California
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Effects of Stereotype Threat and Prior Task Success on Older Adults’ Eyewitness Memory. JOURNAL OF APPLIED RESEARCH IN MEMORY AND COGNITION 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jarmac.2018.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
|
37
|
Lemaire P, Brun F, Régner I. Negative Aging Stereotypes Disrupt both the Selection and Execution of Strategies in Older Adults. Gerontology 2018; 64:373-381. [PMID: 29444508 DOI: 10.1159/000486756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2017] [Accepted: 01/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Age-based cognitive deficits are exacerbated by stereotype threat effects (i.e., the threat of being judged as cognitively incapable due to aging). We tested whether age-based stereotype threat effects can occur via impair- ing older adults' ability to select the best strategy and/or to execute strategies efficiently. METHODS Older adults (age range: 64.3-89.5 years) were randomly assigned to a stereotype threat or control condition before taking an episodic memory task. They encoded pairs of concrete words and of abstract words, with either a repetition or an imagery strategy, and then took a cued-recall task. Whereas participants in experiment 1 could choose between these two strategies, those of experiment 2 were forced to use either the repetition or the imagery strategy. RESULTS Our findings showed that age-based stereotype threat disrupts both the selection and execution of the most efficient, but also most resource-demanding, imagery strategy, and that these stereotype threat effects were stronger on concrete words. CONCLUSION Our findings have important implications to further understand age-based (and other) stereotype threat effects, and how noncognitive factors modulate age-related changes in human cognition.
Collapse
|
38
|
Advances in stereotype threat research on African Americans: continuing challenges to the validity of its role in the achievement gap. SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY OF EDUCATION 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s11218-017-9415-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
|