The Influence of Stereotype Threat on Cannabis Users' Immediate and Delayed Recall Memory
The Influence of Stereotype Threat on Cannabis Users' Immediate and Delayed Recall Memory
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Issue Date
2018
Authors
Bloxham, William Roger
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Abstract
Considerable research exists to suggest that long term cannabis use involves small but significant memory impairment, as reviewed here. However, only a few studies have considered the possible confounding and stigmatizing effect of stereotype threat on cannabis users' test performance. The present experiment investigated whether stereotype threat can impair performance on a story memory task involving tests of immediate and delayed recall (WMS-IV) Logical Memory subtests). Participants were 42 frequent cannabis users who endorsed using cannabis twice per week or more. They were randomly assigned to either a “ threat" or " no threat" condition which included, prior to testing, a written statement that frequent cannabis use was either likely or unlikely to impair task performance. A 2x2 mixed ANOVA revealed that performance was significantly better on immediate recall than delayed recall tasks. However, the predicted main effect of stereotype threat, and the predicted interaction showing that stereotype threat impairs delayed recall more strongly than immediate recall, were not found. Statistical trends were in the predicted direction to show stereotype threat. However, if the current result is a Type II error, then 514 additional participants would be needed for the current effect to achieve statistical significance, based on a power analysis. If trends reflect a real experimental effect, consistent with the few other recent studies that have explored stereotype threat in cannabis and other substance users, then expectancy effects may pose a threat to the validity of studies asserting impaired memory functioning due to cannabis use. (Such studies often base their statistical conclusions about significant memory deficits on hundreds or thousands of participants, but the magnitude of the "deficit" is often smaller than the magnitude of stereotype threat effects reported here). Additionally, it is possible that some memory and cognition deficits experienced by cannabis users in the real world may result from stigma-related stereotype threat, rather than neuro-cognitive decline from cannabis use.
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Keywords
"Stereotype threat”,“Cannabis”,“Marijuana","Substance use","Stigma","Memory"