The Knowledge of Memory Aging Questionnaire: Factor Structure and Correlates in a Lifespan Sample

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Psychology
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• Understanding perceptions of normal versus pathological memory aging is crucial for interventions.
• The Knowledge of Memory Aging Questionnaire (KMAQ) assesses these perceptions.
• Previous factor structures of the KMAQ require further validation across diverse age groups.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the factor structure of the Knowledge of Memory Aging Questionnaire (KMAQ).
• To validate the KMAQ using confirmatory factor analysis in a lifespan sample.
• To explore the relationship between memory aging knowledge and demographic/cognitive variables.

Main Methods:

• Confirmatory factor analysis was employed.
• A lifespan sample of 933 participants (ages 18-101) was analyzed.
• Data included college students and community-dwelling adults from the Louisiana Healthy Aging Study (LHAS).

Main Results:

• A bi-factor solution demonstrated good model fit.
• This model included a general response bias factor and specific normal or pathological knowledge factors.
• Knowledge scores showed correlations with demographic and cognitive performance variables.

Conclusions:

• The KMAQ's bi-factor structure provides a robust measure of memory aging knowledge.
• Findings support the distinction between knowledge of normal and pathological memory aging.
• These results have implications for clinical practice and future research in aging cognition.