Increasing Memory Self-Efficacy and Strategy Use in Hispanic Elders

ABSTRACT

This study tested the effects of a 4-week, nine-session group intervention taught in Spanish to Hispanic older adults entitled “Quieres Mejorar Tu Memoria” (Do you wish to improve your memory?). The program was based on Bandura's self-efficacy theory and was designed to increase memory self-efficacy and strategy use. A total of 33 older adults attending a senior center (mean-age = 69 years; education = 5 years; MMSE = 25) participated in the study. A booster session and a post-test were given at 3 months to the intervention group (n = 22). At posttest the intervention reported greater confidence in preventing decline in their memories, and in particular greater use of the internal strategy of elaboration (2.99 vs. 3.41), and the external strategies of list (2.55 vs. 3.38) and note (3.27 vs. 3.75).