The self and friend reference effects in episodic memory are maintained in older adults

Self-referential information is better remembered than information encoded via semantic processing or in relation to others. Friend-referencing also enhances memory compared to more distant others, but its impact relative to self-referencing remains less understood. While older adults typically show declines in memory performance, it is unclear whether self- and friend-referencing advantages are preserved with age. Additionally, little is known about metacognitive monitoring in self- versus friend-encoded information in older adults. Participants completed a surprise recognition memory task for adjectives encoded in relation to the self, a close friend, or a celebrity. Item and source memory accuracy were assessed, along with metacognitive monitoring performance using confidence ratings. Both young and older adults exhibited a self-reference effect, outperforming friend- and celebrity-referenced conditions. A friend-referencing advantage was also observed compared to celebrity-referenced items. Metacognitive sensitivity (meta d’) and efficiency (meta d’/d’) were comparable across age groups. A self-referencing effect for source memory was identified but was limited to positive words. Despite lower overall source memory accuracy, older adults showed similar biases in self- and friend-referencing as younger adults. Self- and friend-referencing effects on episodic memory remain robust in older adults, offering potential strategies for improving memory retrieval in aging populations.