Map learning in young and older adults: The influence of perceived stereotype threat

• Older adults learned maps less well than young adults.
• The older adults' map learning difficulty related to the type of recall task performed.
• Older adults had a stronger perceived stereotype threat than young adults.
• In the map-drawing task, the age effect was mediated by the perceived stereotype threat.

This study aimed to analyze whether social factors such as perceived stereotype threat can influence spatial recall in aging. Thirty-four young, 34 young-old and 34 old-old adults studied a map and then performed spatial recall tasks (pointing, a verification task and map drawing) and completed a questionnaire measuring their perceived stereotype threat concerning spatial skills declining with age. Results showed a worse spatial recall performance in both the older groups (young-old and old-old) than in the young adult group. In the map-drawing task, the age effect was also mediated by the perceived stereotype threat. Overall, these findings indicate that perceived stereotype threat mediates the relationship between age and map learning, depending on the type of spatial recall task used.