The Dutch Memory Compensation Questionnaire: Psychometric properties and regression-based norms

Abstract

The Memory Compensation Questionnaire (MCQ) is a psychometrically sound instrument, which assesses the variety and extent to which an individual compensates for actual or perceived memory losses. Until now, only an English version of the MCQ has been psychometrically evaluated. The aim of the present study was to establish a Dutch version of the MCQ and evaluate its psychometric properties. The MCQ data of N = 556 cognitively healthy adults (61.8% females) aged between 50.1 and 95.3 years (M = 73.9 years, SD = 8.0) were analyzed. The results showed that the factor structure of the Dutch version of the MCQ corresponded well with that of the English version of the MCQ. The reliabilities of the scales of the Dutch version of the MCQ were all high (all Cronbach’s α-values ≥ .77). Demographic variables (especially age and gender) affected most of the MCQ scale scores. Regression-based normative data, which take these demographic influences into account, were established.