Poster Session 11 Program Schedule
02/17/2024
10:45 am - 12:00 pm
Room: Majestic Complex (Posters 61-120)
Poster Session 11: Cultural Neuropsychology | Education/Training | Professional Practice Issues
Final Abstract #86
Impact of Language and Culture on Prospective Memory Performance in English, Spanish, and Bilingual Speakers
Alicia Camuy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, United States
Ashley Diaz, Trinity College, Hartford, United States
Sarah Raskin, Trinity College, Hartford, United States
Category: Memory Functions/Amnesia
Keyword 1: memory: prospective
Keyword 2: acculturation
Keyword 3: language: second/foreign
Objective:
This study aimed to provide preliminary data on the effects of language on prospective memory performance in Spanish speakers (n=30), English speakers (n=30), and Spanish-English bilingual individuals (n=30).
Participants and Methods:
Participants were between the ages of 18-65 and none had a history of neurologic or psychiatric diagnoses. Participants had cultural ties with Puerto Rico, Central America, and South America. All participants were administered a measure of acculturation (Abbreviated Multidimensional Acculturation Scale), prospective memory (Memory for Intentions Test), working memory (digit span), executive functioning (color word interference), and retrospective memory (auditory verbal learning test). Spanish speaking participants were tested in Spanish, English speaking participants were tested in English, and the bilingual group was tested in their language of choice (60% English).
Results:
Overall, Spanish-English bilinguals performed significantly better on the MIST recognition item than English speakers on the English MIST (p<.01). However, there were no differences between the Spanish-English bilinguals and the Spanish speakers on the Spanish MIST. Pearson product moment correlations demonstrated that the MIST total score and recognition items were significantly related to years of education and years of speaking Spanish (r (28) = .56, p < .001). Greater U.S. acculturation predicted better performance on the Spanish version of the MIST (b = .43, p = .001).
Conclusions:
These data reinforce recent studies that suggest that language and culture have an impact on prospective memory performance and that these variables need to be taken into account during assessment and treatment planning.
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