AFFECT-RELATED METAMEMORY AND MEMORY PERFORMANCE IN A POPULATION-BASED SAMPLE OF OLDER ADULTS

Research evidence shows that in older individuals self-efficacy measur es of metamemory predict memory performance. However, such findings ha ve been based on experimental samples, and studies have usually been c arried out in, laboratory settings. As such, they may not be represent ative of everyday situations in which memory is called on. We examined the metamemory-memory relationship-using the Metamemory in Adulthood Questionnaire (MIA)-in a population-based sample of older adults. The memory tests were carried out at the respondents' home, with the indiv iduals informed only about being subject to art extensive interview, n ot about having to perform memory tests. Achievement and Anxiety, both affect-related MIA subscales, predicted the memory test performance i n this study. The results suggest that for elderly persons, motivation and anxiety during testing are more important to memory functioning t han self-efficacy dimensions of metamemory. The setting in which memor y performance is required appears to affect the Kind of metamemory asp ects that influence performance.