Abstract
Autobiographical memory function is categorized into three types according to the purpose of recalling personal episodic memories. We found a negative association between autobiographical memory function and self-rated health of healthy older adults.
Primary Author and Speaker: Inhye Kim
Additional Authors and Speakers: Hyunseo An, Sangmi Park
Contributing Authors: Jiwon Shin
This study aimed to investigate relationships between self-rated health and three types of autobiographical memory function(AMF). Online survey was conducted for this cross-sectional study. Community-dwelling individuals 60 years or older without depression were included. Three types of AMF were measured with the TALE-K. The participants’ self-rated health, socio-demographical characteristics, relationship satisfaction, and subjective memory were measured with the questionnaires developed by the research team. Hierarchical regression analysis was conducted to analyze the associations between AMF and self-rated health. The average score of self-rated health was 3.36 (SD 0.64). The average scores of self-function, directive function, and social function of AMF were 1.94(SD 0.70), 2.13 (SD 0.68), and 2.00(SD 0.70), respectively. Socio-demographic factors, health-related factors, and AMF respectively explained 10.0%, 16.8%, 6.4% of the variance in self-rated health. Association of social function of AMF with self-rated health was statistically significant (standardized β=−0.409, p<0.01) after controlling for, gender, age, education, living arrangement, socioeconomic status, subjective memory, number of chronic diseases, and relationship satisfaction. Statistically significant associations of self-rated health with self-function (standardized β=0.013, p>0.05) and directive function (standardized β=0.200, p>0.05) were not found. Negative correlation between self-rated health and social function indicates that healthier participants tend to use their AMF for socialization less. Regarding healthy older adults’ lower levels of social function of AMF, higher use of social function can be an indicator of health decline. Considering the positive effect of reminiscence on older adults’ health and well-being, therapeutic use of AMF is supported. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that confirmed association between AMF and self-rated health.
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