A – 2 Acculturation Predicts Cognitive Performance in Older Spanish Speaking Hispanics Living in the United States

Abstract Objective We examined if acculturation predicted cognitive performance in an older Spanish speaking population living in the United States. Method Twenty-two Spanish speakers completed the Dementia Rating Scale-2 (DRS-2) and the Acculturation Rating Scale for Hispanic/Latino Americans (ARSHA) in Spanish. Pearson’s correlations were used to evaluate associations between acculturation via ARSHA and cognitive performance via DRS-2. Finally, a series of simple linear regressions were used to determine whether acculturation was predictive of cognitive performance abilities. Results Pearson’s correlations revealed that two cognitive performances from the DRS-2 (i.e., conceptualization & total score) significantly correlated with acculturation (r’s = .42 to .48, p’s < .05). Simple linear regression analysis revealed that acculturation was predictive of DRS-2 conceptualization and total score. With a beta of .42 (t = 2.09, p = .049), acculturation accounted for about 18% of variance in DRS-2 conceptualization performance. Meanwhile, with a beta of .48 (t = 2.43, p = .025), acculturation accounted for about 23% of variance in DRS-2 total score performance. Conclusion Findings indicated that acculturation predicts cognitive performance. Meaning that it can be predicted that older Spanish speakers with higher levels of acculturation are likely to have better DRS-2 conceptualization and total score (i.e., cognitive function) performances. Evidence suggests that bilingualism, age, and years of education completed can influence cognitive performance. Future work with a bigger sample should examine if acculturation and additional demographic factors (e.g., age & years of education completed) can predict cognitive performance via DRS-2 between older Spanish monolingual and bilingual speakers.