Relationships between Health, Depression, Memory Self-Efficacy and Metamemory in Adults

성인의 건강, 우울, 기억, 자기효능과 메타기억과의 상관관계 연구

Defining prediction variables related to metamemory for the adults in aging process has worthwhile meaning from the perspective that the produced results can be helpful to reducing the difficulty of memorizing efforts and it can also enhance quality of life of aged. This study attempted to analysis relationship between perceived health status, depression, memory self-efficacy and meta memory for the subjects of middle age and old age adults. This study was designed by adopting descriptive correlational analysis method for the 468 middle and old age adults who are living in Seoul. Samples were selected by convenience sampling. Data collection was done over 1 month period in june 1998. The instruments used in this study were health status measuring scale including depression measuring scale, memory self efficacy measuring scale and metamemory measuring scale which were verified for reliability. Data collected were analized by using SPSS for frequency, Peason correlation, t-test and ANOVA according to the variables character and the study purposes. Results of the study were as follows. 1. Relationship between perceived health status, depression, memory self-efficacy and metamemory. Relational analyses between perceived health status, depression, memory self-efficacy and metamemory supported the hypotheses of 1st, 2nd and 3rd(p < .01). These results suggested that the aged perceived great health status then their memory self-efficacy, and metamemory showed the high scores. In the case of depression when its level became decreased metamemory was inclined to increased. Thus, it is identified that strong relationship exists between these variables. 2. Perceived health status, depression, memory self-efficacy by subject's general characteristics. Scores of perceived health status were high in the group of man compared to the group of women, and also highly educated group showed great perceived health status. Group of persons having occupation showed high score of perceived health status and low depression score. The score of memory self-efficacy and metamemory showed higher in the middle aged than the old aged. The high scores of memory self-efficacy and metamemory were found in the group of highly educated people and who have continuing education. The high scores of memory self-efficacy were found in the group of persons having their job and high metamemory scores found in the group of persons having religion. In summary, the greater perceived health status and memory self-efficacy, the more metamemory scores were likely increased and the more depression level was decreased, the more metamemory was likely increased. Also it was found that general characteristics like educational level, continuing education and religion influenced the metamemory of the aged. Therefore, prevention the aged from getting depression and activation of health promotion are needed to delay time of memory loss.