The effect of subjective perception of memory and objective cognitive performance on negative affective symptoms in older adults

TL;DR

This study shows that how older adults perceive their memory and their actual cognitive abilities can predict symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress.

Contribution

The study highlights the predictive value of both subjective and objective memory assessments on negative affective symptoms in older adults.

Findings

Cognitive failures and objective cognitive performance significantly predict depression, anxiety, and stress.

Education and internal strategy use also show significant predictive value for depression.

Satisfaction with memory is a marginally significant predictor of depression and stress.

Abstract

The relationship between negative affective states and subjective memory is assumed to be bidirectional. Most studies have focused on the effect of negative affective symptoms on subjective memory functioning, whereas the influence of memory functioning on mood is less studied. Therefore, the present study aims to explore the predictive value of perceived memory performance and objective cognitive abilities on negative affective states such as depression, anxiety, and stress.

A total of 76 older adults participated in the cross-sectional study (mean age = 71.5 years (SD = 4.58), 21 males and 55 females), recruited by convenience and snowball sampling methods. We used the Multifactorial Memory Questionnaire and Cognitive Failures Questionnaire to assess subjective memory functioning, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment to measure objective cognitive performance, and the Depression, Anxiety, Stress-21 Scale to examine negative affective state and stress exposure.

The hierarchical regression models revealed that education (p = 0.033, and p = 0.044, respectively), cognitive failures (CFQ) (p < 0.001), objective cognitive performance (MOCA) (p = 0.019, and p = 0.024, respectively), and internal strategy use (p = 0.015) had a significant predictive value on depression. Education (p = 0.037) and cognitive failures (p < 0.001) also showed predictive value on anxiety and stress. Furthermore, objective cognitive performance significantly (p = 0.045) predicted perceived stress level. In addition, satisfaction with memory was identified as a marginally significant predictor of depression (p = 0.078) and stress (p = 0.096).

Our results showed that self-perceived memory functioning, memory concerns, and objective memory performance have a predictive value on negative affective symptoms. Thus, objective cognitive abilities and concerns about memory have a significant impact on mental health and well-being. Furthermore, our findings emphasize the importance of assessing negative affective states and perceived health status when evaluating both subjective and objective cognitive performance.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12877-026-06974-1.