Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 2005. / Title from PDF title page screen. Includes bibliographical references (p. 76-93).

L’objectif général de ce travail de thèse était d’étudier l’impact des ressources antérieures des individus sur la compensation mnésique perçue (étude 1 et étude 2) ainsi que sur la compensation mnésique externe objective (étude 3). Afin d’opérationnaliser l’évaluation des stratégies de compensation mnésique perçues, l’étude 1 concernait la validation française et la normalisation du memory Compensation Questionnaire (F-MCQ) sur 749 personnes âgées de 18 ans à 92 ans. Afin d’adapter cet outil à différents contextes, nous avons procédé à la construction de sa version brève (BF-MCQ) ainsi qu’à sa validation sur 260 personnes âgées de 50 ans à 85 ans dans l’étude 2. Les résultats de ces deux travaux montrent une validité interne satisfaisante pour ces deux échelles, et la normalisation rend compte d’un effet de l’âge et du genre sur la perception des stratégies de compensation mnésique qu’un individu pense utiliser au quotidien. La validité externe des deux échelles met en évidence des liens entre le stress, l’efficacité mnésique et la personnalité avec les cinq stratégies de compensation mesurées par ces outils. Notre troisième étude a testé a) l’impact du trait de personnalité « Ouverture aux expériences » et des processus contrôlés dans l’utilisation d’une aide externe et dans son efficacité en situation de rappel prospectif chez 80 personnes âgées de 50 ans à 92 ans et b) le lien entre les observations comportementales des participants et leur propre perception de fonctionnement durant l’expérience. Les résultats montrent que seuls les processus contrôlés sont impliqués dans la mobilisation des stratégies externes et dans leur efficacité. Bien que les personnes âgées déclarent utiliser les aides externes quotidiennement et fréquemment dans le French Memory Compensation Questionnaire, nous n’avons pas retrouvé ce comportement de manière significative en situation. Au final, ces trois études nous permettent de considérer la compensation mnésique externe comme un processus qui dépend de l’auto-initiation des ressources cognitives, et de mettre en évidence l’impact de différents facteurs affectifs et psychosociaux dans la perception que les individus ont de leur mode compensatoire quotidien. / The general objective of this thesis was to study the impact of past resources of individuals on perceived memory compensation (Study 1 and Study 2) and on objective external memory compensation (Study 3). In order to operationalize the evaluation of perceived memory compensation strategies, Study 1 involved the French validation and normalization of the Memory Compensation Questionnaire (F-MCQ) of 749 participants aged from 18 to 92 years. In order to adapt this tool to different contexts, we created a shorter version (BF-MCQ) and conducted his validation on 260 participants aged from 50 years to 85 years in study 2. The results of these two works show a satisfactory internal validity for these two scales, and normalization reports an effect of age and gender on the perception of memory compensation strategies that an individual thinks that he use in everyday life. The external validity of these two scales showed the links between stress, self-memory efficiency and personality with the five compensation strategies measured by these tools. Our third study tested a) the impact of the personality trait "Openness" and of controlled processes on the use of external aid and on its effectiveness in prospective recall situation with 80 participants aged from 50 to 92 years and b) the link between behavioral observations of participants and their own perception of behavior during the experiment. The results show that only the controlled processes are involved in the mobilization of external strategies and in their effectiveness. Although seniors reported using external aids daily and frequently in the French Memory Compensation Questionnaire, we did not find this behavior to occur significantly in situation. In the end, these three studies allow us to consider the external memory compensation as a process that depends on self-initiation of cognitive resources, and to highlight the impact of various emotional and psycho affective factors in the perception that individuals have about their daily compensatory mode.

BACKGROUND: Prospective memory difficulties are one of the most common deficits following acquired brain injury. The application of smartphones as a compensatory aid to these difficulties has shown promising results. This study looked to investigate these benefits further. OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to investigate whether receipt of reminder prompts through ones smartphone improved completion of pre-planned tasks, in addition to whether it also had secondary implications for participant's wellbeing, confidence, independent functioning, and whether it had any impact on caregiver strain levels. METHOD: This study used an ABAB case series design with mild to moderate acquired brain injury. Task completion rates were monitored across four phases (prompts vs. no prompts). Quantitative questionnaires were administered pre, post and at three months follow up to assess coping with memory difficulties. A qualitative questionnaire explored the perceived impact of the smartphone reminders on everyday functioning, in addition to a 3 month follow up measure assessing attrition rates in smartphone use. RESULTS: Visual inspection analysis suggested greater task completion when reminders were provided. The quantitative questionnaires showed increased use of a Smartphone as reminder device post intervention and at follow up. A basic thematic analysis highlighted a perception that the smartphone system increased task completion, confidence in coping with memory demands, supported emotional wellbeing and reduced dependence on others. As a memory aid it was also less stigmatising and promoted dignity. The three month follow up questionnaire highlighted that all participants continued to use their smartphone as a memory aid. CONCLUSIONS: Use of a smartphone as a memory compensation aid may improve completion of pre-set tasks. Secondary benefits may include increased confidence in coping with memory demands, reduced dependence on others for help, and reduced anxiety or frustration around forgetting.