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Abstract

Stereotype threat occurs when negative stereotypes about one’s group increase cognitive load, impairing functioning in line with the stereotype. Cognitive and neurological symptoms of COVID-19 may be salient and worrisome to older adults as these functions are key to independence. We examined whether presenting adverse age-related information about COVID-19 invokes stereotype threat and impacts cognitive performance on a subsequent task. Older adults (59+), recruited online, read either neutral or negative age-related COVID-19 information. Participants then completed a word recognition task. The threat group had significantly worse memory performance compared to the neutral group even after controlling for age and history of COVID-19 diagnosis. Simply reading information about COVID-19 may pose a threat to older adults’ cognitive abilities. Our results highlight the far-reaching effects of the pandemic beyond experiencing symptoms of the disease and how the framing of health-related information can have negative consequences for older adults’ cognition.

Keywords

stereotype threat cognition COVID-19 recognition framing effects

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Negative Framing of COVID-19 Information Affects Older Adults’ Memory Function

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