Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, 90, Piazza Aldo Moro, 47521, Cesena, Italy.
Int J Obes (Lond). 2018 Aug;42(8):1500-1507. doi: 10.1038/s41366-018-0121-2. Epub 2018 Jun 18.
Obesity is a highly stigmatizing condition, and reduced cognitive functioning is a stereotypical trait ascribed to individuals with obesity. In the present work, we tested the hypothesis that stereotype threat (i.e., a depletion of working memory resources due to the fear of confirming a negative self-relevant stereotype when a stereotype-related ability is assessed) contributes to cognitive deficits in individuals with obesity.
Computerized tests of (a) working memory and (b) probabilistic learning-an ability unrelated with working memory-were administered to a community sample of 131 adults. Stereotype threat was manipulated by altering the alleged nature of the tasks; the tasks were alternatively labeled as intelligence tests (high stereotype threat condition), memory and learning tests (standard instructions condition), or distraction games (low stereotype threat condition).
A negative relation between body mass index (BMI) and working memory emerged in both the high stereotype threat (95% CIs = -0.872, -0.175, p = 0.003) and the standard instructions conditions (95% CIs = -0.974, -0.153, p = 0.007), but not in the low stereotype threat condition (95% CIs = -0.266, 0.430, p = 0.643). No effect emerged on probabilistic learning.
Stereotype threat is associated with impaired working memory of individuals with obesity. Implications for researchers and clinicians are discussed.
肥胖是一种高度污名化的状况，认知功能下降是肥胖个体的典型特征。在本研究中，我们检验了一个假设，即刻板印象威胁（即由于害怕在评估与刻板印象相关的能力时证实一个消极的自我相关刻板印象，而导致工作记忆资源枯竭）导致肥胖个体的认知缺陷。
对 131 名成年人进行了（a）工作记忆和（b）概率学习的计算机测试——这是一种与工作记忆无关的能力。通过改变任务的所谓性质来操纵刻板印象威胁；任务分别标记为智力测试（高刻板印象威胁条件）、记忆和学习测试（标准指令条件）或分心游戏（低刻板印象威胁条件）。
在高刻板印象威胁（95%置信区间 = -0.872，-0.175，p = 0.003）和标准指令条件（95%置信区间 = -0.974，-0.153，p = 0.007）中，体重指数（BMI）与工作记忆呈负相关，但在低刻板印象威胁条件下则没有（95%置信区间 = -0.266，0.430，p = 0.643）。对概率学习没有影响。
刻板印象威胁与肥胖个体的工作记忆受损有关。研究人员和临床医生对此进行了讨论。
