Influence of Memory Intensive Training Program on Cognitive Function, Memory Performance, and Self-Esteem in Elderly People

Jung, Myung Sook; Kim, Jeong Hwa

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was to confirm the influence of memory intensive training program on the elderly people's cognitive function, memory performance, and self-esteem. METHOD: Using a quasi-experimental or experimental design, 60 elderly aged over 60 years randomly assigned the experimental and control groups completed pretest-post evaluation. The experimental group participated in the memory intensive training program was offered to the participants in the experimental group for three weeks (2times/week). The t-test and chi2-test using SAS program.
RESULTS
1) The cognitive function was significantly higher in the experimental group compared to that in the control group (t=3.26, p=.002). 2) The memory performance that included immediate word recall tasks, word recognition tasks and delayed word recall tasks was significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group (t=5.30, p<.001). The experimental group showed significantly higher scores for memory performance than the control group (t=5.30, p<.001). 3) The self-esteem was higher in the experimental group than in the control group, but there was no significant difference between the two groups (t=1.94, p=.058).
CONCLUSION
The Memory Intensive Training Program could be an effective intervention for improving cognitive function, and memory performance of the elderly people.