OBJECTIVES: Memory complaints are present in adults of all ages but are only weakly related to objective memory deficits, raising the question of what their presence may indicate. In older adults, memory complaints are moderately related to negative affect, but there is little research examining this relationship in young and middle-aged adults. This study examined whether memory complaints and negative affect were similarly related across the adult lifespan and in adults with varying levels of objective memory performance. METHOD: The sample included 3798 healthy adults, aged 18 to 99, and was divided into five groups: young, middle-aged, young-old, old-old, and oldest-old adults. Participants completed questionnaire measures of memory complaints and negative affect (neuroticism and depressive and anxiety symptoms), in addition to lab measures of objective memory. RESULTS: Using structural equation models, we found that the relationship between memory complaints and negative affect was moderate in all the age groups, and there was no evidence for moderation by objective memory. CONCLUSION: For adults of all ages, perceived memory decline may be distressing and/or negative affect may lead to negative self-evaluations of memory.
OBJECTIVES: Memory complaints are present in adults of all ages but are only weakly related to objective memory deficits, raising the question of what their presence may indicate. In older adults, memory complaints are moderately related to negative affect, but there is little research examining this relationship in young and middle-aged adults. This study examined whether memory complaints and negative affect were similarly related across the adult lifespan and in adults with varying levels of objective memory performance. METHOD: The sample included 3798 healthy adults, aged 18 to 99, and was divided into five groups: young, middle-aged, young-old, old-old, and oldest-old adults. Participants completed questionnaire measures of memory complaints and negative affect (neuroticism and depressive and anxiety symptoms), in addition to lab measures of objective memory. RESULTS: Using structural equation models, we found that the relationship between memory complaints and negative affect was moderate in all the age groups, and there was no evidence for moderation by objective memory. CONCLUSION: For adults of all ages, perceived memory decline may be distressing and/or negative affect may lead to negative self-evaluations of memory.
Authors: Melissa J Slavin; Henry Brodaty; Nicole A Kochan; John D Crawford; Julian N Trollor; Brian Draper; Perminder S Sachdev Journal: Am J Geriatr Psychiatry Date: 2010-08 Impact factor: 4.105
Authors: Robert S Wilson; Lisa L Barnes; Kumar B Rajan; Patricia A Boyle; Joel Sytsma; Jennifer Weuve; Denis A Evans Journal: Neuropsychology Date: 2018-07-26 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Nikki L Hill; Jacqueline Mogle; Sakshi Bhargava; Emily Whitaker; Iris Bhang; Ana W Capuano; Zoe Arvanitakis; David A Bennett; Lisa L Barnes Journal: J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci Date: 2020-03-09 Impact factor: 4.077