Objective: The Memory for Intentions Test (MIsT) is a clinical measure of prospective memory that has strong evidence for convergent, discriminative, and ecological validity. This study evaluates the latent structure of the MIsT among two samples who may experience prospective memory deficits: older adults and people living with HIV disease. Participants and Methods: Study participants included 303 people with HIV disease (ages 18-67) and 267 community-dwelling older adults (ages 50-91). Confirmatory factor analyses of the MIsT were conducted separately in each sample. We evaluated a one-factor model, as well as three two-factor models with the MIsT items loading onto each factor based on cue type, delay interval, or response modality, respectively. Results: The one-factor model provided the best (and most parsimonious) fit to the data in both study samples. All two-factor models also demonstrated good fit statistics, although correlations between the two factors in each model were high and none of the two-factor models provided a significantly better fit than the one-factor model. Conclusions: Results provide support for the factor structure of the MIsT in older adults and people with HIV disease. A total score for the MIsT provides the most parsimonious solution, although available evidence and theory also support the use of subscales (e.g., cue type). Future studies of the MIsT would be useful to determine its psychometrics in different clinical populations.
Supporting strategic processes can improve time-based prospective memory in the laboratory among older adults with HIV disease.