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.
Highlights
Age-related stereotypes are very present in our environment and our daily lives
Our results showed that the production of critical lures was best predicted by the perceived stereotype threat (PST) × Education interaction
Our results are consistent with previous research that has shown that highly educated older adults are more susceptible to false memories (Smith et al, 2017)
Summary
Age-related stereotypes are very present in our environment and our daily lives. Research shows that both young and older adults share many positive and negative perceptions and stereotypes about aging (e.g., Hummert et al, 1994; Grühn et al, 2011). The effects of negative age-related stereotypes on older adults’ episodic memory performance have been regularly highlighted in the literature. Several studies have shown that older participants previously subliminally exposed to negative age-related stereotypes performed worse in memory tasks than older adults exposed to positive age-related stereotypes or non-exposed to age-related stereotypes (e.g., Hess et al, 2004; Levy, 2009). Researchers observed that memory performance of participants aged 60 and over was worse (and the age-related difference increased) when the memory
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