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

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.