Resilience, Racial Identity, and Memory in Marginalized Caregiving Grandparents: The Role of Physical Activity

TL;DR

This study explores how resilience and ethnic identity affect memory in marginalized caregiving grandparents, showing that physical activity can help reduce memory failures.

Contribution

The study reveals how ethnic identity and resilience interact with physical activity to influence memory outcomes in marginalized caregiving grandparents.

Findings

Resilience was linked to more memory failures, possibly due to increased cognitive load.

Physical activity mediated the relationship between resilience and memory failures.

Ethnic identity resolution strengthened the protective effect of physical activity on memory.

Abstract

Prospective memory failures in aging populations may reflect reduced engagement in protective behaviors like physical activity. Ethno-racially marginalized caregiving grandparents face intersecting stressors exacerbating memory challenges. While resilience and ethnic identity may buffer effects, their links to prospective memory remain underexplored. This study examines: 1) resilience-prospective memory links, 2) ethnic identity (resolution/exploration) moderation of resilience-physical activity pathways, and 3) physical activity’s mediation. A nationwide sample of 84 Black/Hispanic/multiracial grandparents (ages 45-54) completed surveys assessing resilience (MIIRM), prospective memory (PMQ; higher scores = more failures), ethnic identity (EIS_R resolution, EIS_E exploration), and physical activity. Moderated mediation analyses revealed resilience predicted more frequent memory failures (PMQ: b=0.52, p<.001), potentially explained by cognitive load theory (heightened responsibility increasing self-reported lapses). Physical activity mediated this link inversely (b = 2.86, p<.001): resilience increased activity, reducing failures among those with stronger ethnic identity resolution (B = 0.04, p<.01), aligning with social identity theory. Exploration (EIS_E) showed weaker moderation (B = 0.017, p=.023), with non-significant mediation, suggesting identity exploration offers fewer stabilizing benefits. Moderated mediation was significant for resolution (index=0.12, 95%CI[0.047,0.23]). Interventions fostering resilience and ethnic identity commitment may mitigate structural inequities’ cognitive toll through protective behaviors.