title: Autobiographical memory and well-being in aging: The central role of semantic self-images.
abstract: Higher levels of well-being are associated with longer life expectancies and better physical health. Previous studies suggest that processes involving the self and autobiographical memory are related to well-being, yet these relationships are poorly understood. The present study tested 32 older and 32 younger adults using scales measuring well-being and the affective valence of two types of autobiographical memory: episodic autobiographical memories and semantic self-images. Results showed that valence of semantic self-images, but not episodic autobiographical memories, was highly correlated with well-being, particularly in older adults. In contrast, well-being in older adults was unrelated to performance across a range of standardised memory tasks. These results highlight the role of semantic self-images in well-being, and have implications for the development of therapeutic interventions for well-being in aging.
authors.affiliation: Oxford Brookes University, Department of Psychology, Social Work and Public Health, Oxford, UK. Electronic address: crathbone@brookes.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Clare J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Rathbone
authors.affiliation: MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Emily A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Holmes
authors.affiliation: University of Oxford, Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Warneford Lane, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: Susannah E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.affiliation: University of Reading, School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, Reading, UK.
authors.forename: Judi A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ellis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D061212:Memory, Episodic; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012649:Self Concept; D012660:Semantics; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Episodic; Identity; Older adults; Self; Semantic