Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 23, 2025
06:58
Highlighting and Reducing the Impact of Negative Aging Stereotypes During Older Adults' Cognitive Testing
Published on: January 24, 2020
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Older adults' memory beliefs predict perceptions of memory strategy difficulty and effectiveness
Tara T Lineweaver1, Samuel D Fansler2, Michelle Horhota3
1Department of Psychology, Butler University, Indianapolis, United States.
Summary
Older adults’ memory self-efficacy influences perceived difficulty of memory strategies, while control beliefs affect perceived effectiveness. Understanding these memory beliefs is key for improving everyday memory function in seniors.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Gerontology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Aging is often associated with perceived declines in memory function.
- Older adults may adopt various strategies to enhance their everyday memory.
- Beliefs about memory abilities can influence strategy use and effectiveness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between memory self-efficacy and control beliefs with perceptions of memory strategy difficulty and effectiveness in older adults.
- To explore how personal beliefs about memory influence the selection of memory improvement strategies.
Main Methods:
- One hundred fifteen older adults (ages 65-89) participated.
- Participants completed the Personal Beliefs about Memory Instrument.
- The Memory Strategies Questionnaire assessed perceptions of strategy difficulty and effectiveness.
Main Results:
- Memory self-efficacy was associated with older adults' perceptions of the difficulty of implementing memory strategies.
- Beliefs about memory controllability were linked to perceptions of memory strategy effectiveness.
- These findings highlight the role of metacognitive beliefs in memory strategy utilization.
Conclusions:
- Memory self-efficacy and control beliefs are significant factors in how older adults perceive memory improvement strategies.
- Understanding these beliefs can inform interventions aimed at enhancing memory function in aging populations.
- These insights contribute to the broader understanding of memory adaptation in later life.
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