The Factor Structure of Items Assessing Subjective Memory: Between-Persons and Within-Persons across Time

Subjective memory measures: Metamemory questionnaires currently in use

Subjective memory evaluation is important for assessing memory abilities and complaints alongside objective measures. In research and clinical settings, questionnaires are used to examine perceived memory ability, memory complaints, and memory beliefs/knowledge. Although they provide a structured measure of self-reported memory, there is some debate as to whether subjective evaluation accurately reflects memory abilities. Specifically, the disconnect between subjective and objective memory measures remains a long-standing issue within the field. Thus, it is essential to evaluate the benefits and limitations of questionnaires that are currently in use. This review encompasses three categories of metamemory questionnaires: self-efficacy, complaints, and multidimensional questionnaires. Factors influencing self-evaluation of memory including knowledge and beliefs about memory, ability to evaluate memory, recent metamemory experiences, and affect are examined. The relationship between subjective and objective memory measures is explored, and considerations for future development and use of metamemory questionnaires are provided.

Does the association between objective and subjective memory vary by age among healthy older adults?

Subjective memory is commonly used as an indicator of older adults' objective memory in clinical screening; however, the correspondence between subjective and objective memory across different ages is unclear. The current study examined age-varying associations between subjective and objective memory in a cross-sectional sample of healthy older adults from the Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly (ACTIVE) study (N = 2,496). Time varying effects modeling (TVEM) models the association between variables as a function of time-varying metrics including age without imposing linear assumptions. TVEM was used to examine relationship magnitude fluctuations between subjective and objective memory across ages 65 to 85. Better subjective memory was weakly associated with better objective memory, even after controlling for gender, depressive symptoms, and education. The association was stable across all ages. There is a stable weak correspondence between subjective and objective memory in older adulthood across age, supporting the use of linear age as an appropriate time metric for examinations of objective and subjective memory among healthy older adults. Future work should examine the correspondence between subjective and objective memory in a larger age range. Longitudinal designs can also provide insights on whether the accuracy of subjective memory ratings change within a person over time.