Improving specific autobiographical memory in older adults: impacts on mood, social problem solving, and functional limitations.
Older adults have difficulty recalling specific autobiographical events. This over-general memory style is a vulnerability factor for depression. Two groups receiving interventions that have previously been successful at reducing over-general memory in depressed populations were compared to a control group. Participants were healthy older adults aged ≥70 years: memory specificity training (MEST; n = 22), life review (n = 22), and control group (n = 22). There were significant improvements in autobiographical memory specificity in the MEST and life review groups at post-training, relative to the control group, suggesting that over-general memory can be reduced in older adults. Change in social problem solving ability and functional limitations were related to change in autobiographical memory specificity, supporting the suggested role of specific retrieval in generating solutions to social problems and maintaining independence. Qualitative analysis of participants' feedback revealed that life review may be more appropriate for older adults, possibly because it involves integrating specific memories into a positive narrative.
['Leahy|Fiona|F|0000-0002-7223-3861', 'Ridout|Nathan|N|0000-0002-7111-2996', 'Mushtaq|Faizah|F|0000-0001-6457-1652', 'Holland|Carol|C|0000-0001-7109-6554']
D000339:Affect D000368:Aged D000375:Aging D056344:Executive Function D005246:Feedback D005260:Female D006801:Humans D007858:Learning D008297:Male D061212:Memory, Episodic D011939:Mental Recall D010549:Personal Satisfaction D011340:Problem Solving D012919:Social Behavior
Autobiographical memory mood aging MEST life review