Predictors of Subjective Memory in Older Adults

Memory complaints by healthy older people usually show little relation to objective memory performance. If subjective memory evaluations are not driven by actual memory problems, what is the cause of these complaints? Correlations of an objective measure of memory as well as measures of personality,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences Psychological sciences and social sciences, 2004-01, Vol.59 (1), p.P4-P6
Main Authors: Pearman, Ann, Storandt, Martha
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult. Elderly
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Biological and medical sciences
Correlation analysis
Dementia
Depression - epidemiology
Developmental psychology
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Health
Humans
Male
Memory
Memory Disorders - diagnosis
Memory Disorders - epidemiology
Neurotic Disorders - epidemiology
Older people
Personality
Prospective Studies
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Regression Analysis
Self Concept
Severity of Illness Index
Stress
Surveys and Questionnaires
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Summary:Memory complaints by healthy older people usually show little relation to objective memory performance. If subjective memory evaluations are not driven by actual memory problems, what is the cause of these complaints? Correlations of an objective measure of memory as well as measures of personality, emotional distress, and health with subjective memory evaluations were examined in 283 community-dwelling people aged 45 to 94 years. Stepwise regression analysis revealed that a combination of personality measures (Conscientiousness, self-esteem, Neuroticism) explained about a third of the variance in memory complaints compared with only 4% unique variance associated with the objective memory measure. Successful interventions for memory concerns in nondemented older people need to be tailored to the individual.
ISSN:1079-5014
1758-5368
DOI:10.1093/geronb/59.1.P4