Metamemory Mediates the Effects of Age on Episodic and Working Memory across the Adult Lifespan

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background Previous studies have examined the direct relationship between metamemory and memory performance in young and older adults, but the results of these studies have been inconsistent. Therefore, we examined whether metamemory mediates the effects of age on memory performance. Methods We examined episodic memory and working memory through computerized tasks performed by a lifespan sample of 1554 healthy adults. Seven metamemory traits were measured with the Metamemory in Adulthood (MIA) questionnaire. Separate structural equation modeling analyses were conducted to investigate potential metamemory mediators that intervened between age and the accuracy and speed of accessing information from episodic and working memory. Results The use of internal or external strategies mediated the effects of age on episodic memory and spatial working memory performance. The perception of one’s own memory capacity and the experience of anxiety when using memory functions mediated the effects of age on working memory performance in both domains. Conclusions Metamemory traits have the power to strengthen or weaken the course of episodic and working memory decline throughout adulthood.