Changes in satisfaction with meaningful activities and subsequent subjective memory complaints: a two-wave...

This two-wave longitudinal study examined whether changes in satisfaction with meaningful activities (MA) were associated with subsequent subjective memory complaints (SMC) among community-dwelling older adults between 2019 and 2021.

Health surveys were conducted among local people at two time points: baseline (2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic) and follow-up (2021, during the pandemic). The participants were 275 community-dwelling older adults aged ≥65 years without cognitive decline at baseline. Satisfaction with MA was assessed using the Aid for Decision-Making in Occupation Choice and categorized as maintained/improved or decreased at follow-up. SMC was measured using four items developed by Tsutsumimoto and quantified according to the total number of complaints.

Older adults who maintained or improved satisfaction with MA showed no significant increase in SMC (p = 0.30), whereas those who demonstrated decreased satisfaction experienced a significant increase in SMC (p = 0.02). In the generalized linear mixed-effects model adjusted for covariates, a significant association was observed between decreased satisfaction with MA and increased SMC scores (β = 0.32, 95% CI = 0.09-0.55, p < 0.01).

Maintaining and improving satisfaction with MA may be associated with a reduced risk of SMC increase in older adults.