Objectives: Discrimination is associated with worse cognitive outcomes, but research is urgently needed to identify modifiable psychosocial resources that may buffer the impact of discrimination on cognition. Purpose in life is one such resource associated with positive health outcomes. However, it is unclear whether purpose in life may buffer the relationship between discrimination and cognition among older adults.
Method: We drew a sample of 22,369 adults aged 51 and older in the 2006 to 2020 waves of the nationally-representative Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Multilevel mixed models assessed whether (1) measures of everyday discrimination and purpose in life and (2) a purpose in life x discrimination interaction term were associated with cognition.
Results: Discrimination was associated with poorer cognitive functioning, both on its own and when controlling for purpose in life. Likewise, purpose in life was significantly associated with better cognitive functioning, with and without controlling for discrimination. Results also indicated that purpose in life significantly moderated the association between discrimination and cognitive functioning (b = 0.05, p = 0.01).
Conclusion: Findings underscore the importance of psychosocial resources that may serve as stress-buffering mechanisms and protect older adults' cognitive health. Future research is needed to clarify the biobehavioral mechanisms that may underlie this association.
Keywords: Cognition; discrimination; purpose in life; social determinants of health.