Childhood socioeconomic status interacts with cognitive function to impact scam susceptibility among community-dwelling older adults

Abstract

Objectives

We examined whether childhood socioeconomic status (SES) is related to scam susceptibility in old age and tested the hypothesis that childhood SES interacts with cognitive function to impact scam susceptibility.

Methods

This study employed a cross-sectional design. All data were collected in participants’ community-based residences. Participants were 1071 older adults (mean age = 81.05 years, SD = 7.53) without dementia (median MMSE score = 28.29, IQR = 27.86–30.00). Participants completed assessments of childhood SES, cognitive function, and scam susceptibility. We used linear regression models to examine the associations of childhood SES and cognitive function with scam susceptibility.

Results

In a regression model adjusted for age, gender, and education, poorer cognitive function was associated with higher scam susceptibility, but childhood SES was not. However, in an additional model that included the interaction of childhood SES and cognitive function, the interaction was significant, such that lower childhood SES was associated with higher scam susceptibility among participants with lower cognitive function.

Conclusion

Lower childhood SES is associated with higher scam susceptibility among older adults with lower levels of cognitive function. Thus, older adults who experienced limited resources in childhood and have lower cognitive function may represent a specific group for interventions to increase scam awareness and prevent financial exploitation.

Keywords:

• Cognitive aging
• childhood socioeconomic status
• scam susceptibility
• cognitive functioning

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank all MAP study and Decision Making substudy participants. We also would like to thank all staff at the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts with any product mentioned or concept discussed in this article.

Authors’ contributions

CMG, LY, and PAB contributed to the conception and design of the research study; CMG, LY, and PAB drafted the work; CMG, LY, CCS, RSW, DAB, ML, and PAB revised the work critically for important intellectual content; CMG, LY, CCS, RSW, DAB, ML, and PAB provided approval for publication of the content; CMG and PAB agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by grants from the National Institute on Aging: P30AG10161 to DAB, R01AG17917 to DAB, 5R01AG062711 to ML, R01AG33678 to PAB, and 5R01AG060376 to PAB. The research reported herein was performed pursuant to a grant from the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) funded as part of the Retirement and Disability Consortium. The opinions and conclusions expressed are solely those of the authors and do not represent the opinions or policy of SSA or any agency of the Federal Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of the contents of this report. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply endorsement, recommendation or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof.