The Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire: a population-based random sampling study.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Neuroscience
• Gerontology

Background:

• The Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire (PRMQ) is a validated tool for assessing memory complaints.
• Previous PRMQ studies lacked representative adult samples and control for confounding factors like affective status.
• Metamemory, or awareness of one's own memory, is influenced by various demographic and health factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To administer the PRMQ to a probability sample representative of the adult population of Sao Paulo, Brazil.
• To test competing models of the PRMQ's latent structure using confirmatory factor analyses.
• To investigate the influence of gender, age, schooling, and economic status on prospective and retrospective memory complaints.

Main Methods:

• A probabilistic three-stage cluster sample (n=1042) of the Sao Paulo population (ages 20-80) was surveyed.
• Participants with memory-impairing conditions (e.g., depression, anxiety, neurological disorders) were excluded (n=664 remaining).
• Confirmatory factor analyses were used to evaluate the PRMQ's structure, and regression analyses examined demographic influences on memory complaints.

Main Results:

• The tripartite structure of the PRMQ (general, prospective, and retrospective memory factors) was confirmed.
• Women reported more general memory slips, particularly around menopause.
• Prospective memory complaints were more frequent than retrospective ones, except in lower-income individuals.

Conclusions:

• The PRMQ demonstrates a reliable tripartite structure in a representative Brazilian adult population.
• Demographic factors significantly influence prospective and retrospective memory complaints.
• The study highlights the need to consider gender, age, and socioeconomic status when interpreting memory complaints.