A - 88 Grandparent Caregivers Interaction with Experiences of Discrimination Effect on Perceptions of Cognitive Control

Abstract Objective This study hypothesized that perceptions of cognitive ability control will differ according to grandparent caregiving status and perceptions of discrimination based on age. Control beliefs mediate the relation between discrimination and executive function. Due to the intersectional nature of grandparents who raise grandchildren and minority statuses compared to non-caregiving grandparents, it is thought that perceptions of age being the main reason of discrimination will differentially affect caregiving grandparents compared to non-caregiving grandparents perceptions of control over cognitive ability. Method Data included 92 caregiving and 407 non-caregiving grandparent participants from the third wave of a longitudinal data collection survey Midlife in the United States study (MIDUS III). MIDUS III included self-administered surveys assessing caregiver status, perceptions of main reasons of discrimination, and perceptions of cognitive control. Result A 2-way ANOVA was performed to analyze the effect of grandparent caregiver status and age discrimination perceptions on perceptions of cognitive ability control. A 2-way ANOVA revealed there was a significant interaction between the effects of grandparent caregiver status and perceptions of aging discrimination (F(1, 498) = 7047, p < 0.001). Conclusions Grandparent caregivers are more likely to have higher perceptions of control over cognitive ability when they do not perceive age as a main reason for discrimination; whereas non-caregiving grandparents have higher perceptions of control over cognitive ability when they do perceive age as a main reason for discrimination. Perceptions of why individuals are discriminated against may interact with personal factors that contribute to perceptions of control in cognitive ability.