A threat in the elder: the impact of task-instructions, self-efficacy and performance expectations on memory performance in the elderly

Abstract

Widely used explicit memory tasks seem to overestimate age-related differences in memory performance. Social and personal factors may buffer or undermine the effect of age on memory performance. In two studies, the performance of older adults was compared with the performance of younger adults. Tasks were presented either as memory tasks or non-memory tasks. Older adults’ performance on a memory task improved when the task-instructions did not explicitly emphasize the memory component of the task. In the first study, results revealed that memory self-efficacy beliefs play a moderator role on the impact of task-instruction on memory performance, so that lower levels of memory self-efficacy correlate with lower performance in the memory emphasizing task condition but not in the orientation emphasizing task condition. In a second study actual performance expectations were measured. For older participants only, expectations were sensitive to task-instructions and mediated the relation between tasks-instructions and performances. These findings suggest that observed age-related differences in memory performance may be significantly exaggerated by the testing situation and by a low memory self-efficacy and low memory performance expectancies prevalent among older adults. Copyright # 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

The Dynamic Effects of Age-Related Stereotype Threat on Explicit and Implicit Memory Performance in Older Adults

“…Further, the current stereotype threat instruction was relatively unspecific as to the type of memory being tested. Previous research has shown that ST affects performance on tests directly related to the threatened ability (see Abrams, Eller, & Bryant, 2006;Desrichard & Kopetz, 2005). It is possible that the lack of an effect of ST on implicit memory stems from the fact the participants did not view the implicit memory test as diagnosic of memorial ability.…”

Stereotypes of Aging: Their Effects on the Health of Older Adults

“…Most studies underpinned by stereotype threat theory have examined memory or cognitive performance of older adults [12]. The relationship between stereotype threat and regressions in memory performance has been found among older adults who were explicitly primed with a negative stereotype (in the way the task was framed) [43][44][45], especially among those who were greatly invested in their memory ability or had high levels of education [46][47][48]. Stereotype threat has also been found to worsen older adults' math performance [49] and general cognitive ability [50].…”

Memory Complaints in Chronic Stroke Patients Are Predicted by Memory Self-Efficacy rather than Memory Capacity

“…A high MSE implies a strong sense of control and mastery of one’s memory. A higher MSE score may be related to the use of memory strategies and one’s task expectations in memory-demanding situations [19]. Thus, MSE refers to the feeling of control and mastery of one’s memory functioning in general and does not focus only on complaints, but also on certain beliefs about capacity, changeability of memory functioning and anxiety about performing memory tests or being in memory-demanding situations.…”