Cognitive aging research has demonstrated reliable declines in memory ability with age, and, in response, several memory enhancement programs have been developed to address these concerns. Most research indicates that these programs are beneficial. However, research into the predictors of memory enhancement outcomes is limited. In brief, age, cognitive status, and memory ability have been shown to be influential. Only a few studies have investigated other potentially important psychosocial influences such as personality, metacognition, and coping styles. The goal of this study was to identify potentially important demographic, cognitive, and psychosocial influences on memory enhancement intervention outcomes. Thirty-nine older adults completed a multifaceted memory enhancement program that included psycho-education, memory compensatory strategy instruction, and discussion aimed at addressing metacognitive concerns and ageist stereotypes. Eighteen participants served as delayed-treatment controls. Predictor variables included demographic, cognitive (3MS, HVLT, Buschke Cued Recall Protocol), personality characteristics (NEO-PI-R), coping styles (Brief Cope), and metacognitive measures (MCI, MIA). Dependent measures including subjective (MMQ) and objective (Face/Name Recall, Grocery List Recall, Story Detail Recognition, Strategy Application) memory measures were obtained pre- and post-intervention. The current memory enhancement program was effective in improving both subjective and objective memory functioning immediately following program completion. Results revealed individual variation in outcomes ranging from 30 to 60 percent of participants showing improvement depending on the measure assessed. Improvements in subjective memory functioning were maintained at three-month follow-up. Investigation of predictors of individual differences in outcome indicated that memory performance scores were the most consistent predictor of objective memory functioning improvement, although metacognitive factors were also influential. Immediate improvement in subjective memory functioning was associated with both metacognitive ratings and memory performance scores whereas only metacognitive ratings were associated with lasting subjective improvement. In general, metacognitive constructs of memory efficacy, controllability, and locus of control appeared to be associated with positive intervention outcomes. An unexpected finding of higher levels of memory-related anxiety being associated with positive outcomes was noted. Personality characteristics (e.g., openness, neuroticism) were predictive of immediate increases in memory strategies usage. Implications for cognitive rehabilitation and social cognitive theory and clinical application are discussed.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:uvic.ca/oai:dspace.library.uvic.ca:1828/1471 |
| Date | 21 July 2009 |
| Creators | Ebert, Patricia Lynn |
| Contributors | Tuokko, Holly A. |
| Source Sets | University of Victoria |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | Available to the World Wide Web |
Page generated in 0.0229 seconds