'It is nothing more than a senior moment': the moderating role of subjective age in the effect of change in memory on self-rated memory. (1st February 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Segel-Karpas, Dikla; Palgi, Yuval
• Is Part Of: Aging & mental health. Volume 23:Number 2(2019)
• Page Start: 272
• Page End: 276
• Publication Date: 2019-02-01
• Subjects: Memory -- self-rated memory -- subjective age; Older people -- Mental health -- Periodicals; Geriatric psychiatry -- Periodicals; Older people -- Psychology -- Periodicals; Aging -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Aged -- psychology -- periodicals; Mental Health -- periodicals; Mental Health Services -- periodicals; Aging -- psychology -- periodicals; Aged, 80 and over -- psychology -- periodicals; 618.97689
• DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2017.1399350
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1360-7863

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Objective: The association between memory performance and self-rated memory is yet to be understood. More specifically, little is known about the factors that lie at the base of self-evaluations of memory in relation to actual changes in memory. In this study, we suggest that subjective age modifies the effect of objective change in memory on self-rated memory. Method: We used two waves of the Health and Retirement Study ( N = 4624) to examine whether subjective age moderates the effect of experienced changes in memory between T1 and T2 on self-rated memory at T2. Results: Our results suggest that subjective age is a significant moderator of the effect of change in memory on self-rated memory. The effect is weaker among those with younger subjective age, and stronger for those with older subjective age. Conclusion: While preserving a young subjective age is usually considered an adaptive strategy, it also has potential negative effects, masking changes in memory performance.