ABSTRACT

Many adults report memory changes as they age. The Multifactorial Memory Questionnaire (MMQ) measures different aspects of self-reported memory, including satisfaction with one’s memory, self-appraisal of memory ability, and compensatory strategy use. This questionnaire has been extensively used for clinical and research purposes, with studies reporting differences in the factor structure (three or four factors) underlying this measure. The current study evaluates previously reported factor configurations of the MMQ using best measurement practices. Confirmatory factor analyses were conducted on data from 560 cognitively – normal adults, ranging in age from 50 to 90 years old. Our results demonstrate support for both 3-factor model (with Satisfaction, Ability and Strategy scales) and 4-factor model structure (with Satisfaction, Ability, Internal Strategy and External Strategy scales) of this instrument. These results harmonise the existing literature which, in separate studies using exploratory analyses, supports the validity of one model or the other. The confirmation of multiple Strategy scales will provide clinicians and researchers with additional relevant information about how older adults compensate for their memory changes, enabling a broader understanding of the experience of age-related memory change. We contextualise these results within existing research identifying conceptual differences between internal and external strategy implementation.

摘要

许多成年人报告说，随着年龄的增长，记忆力会发生变化。多因素记忆问卷（MMQ）衡量自我报告记忆的不同方面，包括对一个人的记忆的满意度，对记忆能力的自我评估以及补偿策略的使用。该调查表已广泛用于临床和研究目的，研究报告了该方法所基于的因素结构（三个或四个因素）的差异。本研究使用最佳测量方法评估了先前报告的MMQ因子配置。对来自560名认知正常成年人（年龄在50至90岁之间）的数据进行了验证性因素分析。我们的结果证明了对三因素模型（具有满意度，能力和策略量表）和四因素模型结构（具有满意度，能力，内部策略和外部策略量表）。这些结果协调了现有文献，在使用探索性分析的单独研究中，这些文献支持一种模型或另一种模型的有效性。多种策略量表的确认将为临床医生和研究人员提供有关老年人如何补偿其记忆力变化的更多相关信息，从而使人们对与年龄有关的记忆力变化的经验有更广泛的了解。我们在现有研究中将这些结果进行了背景研究，以确定内部和外部策略实施之间的概念差异。多种策略量表的确认将为临床医生和研究人员提供有关老年人如何补偿其记忆力变化的更多相关信息，从而使人们对与年龄有关的记忆力变化的经验有更广泛的了解。我们在现有研究中将这些结果进行了背景研究，以确定内部和外部策略实施之间的概念差异。多种策略量表的确认将为临床医生和研究人员提供有关老年人如何补偿其记忆力变化的更多相关信息，从而使人们对与年龄有关的记忆力变化的经验有更广泛的了解。我们在现有研究中将这些结果进行了背景研究，以确定内部和外部策略实施之间的概念差异。