title: Young and older adults' beliefs about effective ways to mitigate age-related memory decline.
abstract: This study investigated whether young and older adults vary in their beliefs about the impact of various mitigating factors on age-related memory decline. Eighty young (ages 18-23) and 80 older (ages 60-82) participants reported their beliefs about their own memory abilities and the strategies that they use in their everyday lives to attempt to control their memory. Participants also reported their beliefs about memory change with age for hypothetical target individuals who were described as using (or not using) various means to mitigate memory decline. There were no age differences in personal beliefs about control over current or future memory ability. However, the two age groups differed in the types of strategies they used in their everyday life to control their memory. Young adults were more likely to use internal memory strategies, whereas older adults were more likely to focus on cognitive exercise and maintaining physical health as ways to optimize their memory ability. There were no age differences in rated memory change across the life span in hypothetical individuals. Both young and older adults perceived strategies related to improving physical and cognitive health as effective means of mitigating memory loss with age, whereas internal memory strategies were perceived as less effective means for controlling age-related memory decline.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Furman University, Greenville, SC 29613, USA. michelle.horhota@furman.edu
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Horhota
authors.forename: Tara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lineweaver
authors.forename: Monique
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ositelu
authors.forename: Kristi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Summers
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hertzog
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012649:Self Concept; D013240:Stereotyping; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
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