Memory Aging Knowledge and Memory Self-Appraisal in Younger and Older Adults

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine relationships among memory aging knowledge and memory self-appraisal in college students and community-dwelling older adults. Participants completed the Knowledge of Memory Aging Questionnaire ([KMAQ] Cherry, Brigman, Hawley, & Reese, 2003) and the Memory Functioning Questionnaire ([MFQ] Gilewski, Zelinski, & Schaie, 1990). We hypothesized that poorer performance on the KMAQ stereotype scale, suggesting an ageist response bias, would be associated with more negative self-appraisals of memory. Results confirmed that responses on the KMAQ stereotype scale were significantly associated with responses on the MFQ Frequency of Forgetting scale and two shorter scales derived from the full MFQ, the memory self-efficacy scale (Zelinski & Gilewski, 2004), and a revised Seriousness of Forgetting scale after controlling for age and educational level. Implications of these findings for the development of instructional materials to improve memory aging knowledge and memory self-appraisal in adulthood are discussed.

Acknowledgments

This research was funded by a National Institute on Aging grant to the first author (1R03 AG18034-01). This support is gratefully acknowledged.

We thank Karri Couch, Penelope Walker, Jennifer Knapp, Jenna Traylor, Marshall Smith, and Karen Ledet for their help with the research effort. We are grateful to Fr. Gerald Burns and Jean MacIntosh of St. Aloysius Catholic Church for their assistance in recruiting participants and for providing space for testing.

Notes

^a Knowledge of Memory Aging Questionnaire.

^b Memory Functioning Questionnaire.

Note. *p < .05; **p < .01.