B - 82 Relations between Subjective and Objective Memory Functioning: Investigating Psychometric Equivalence across Race Using Structural Equation Models.

This article examines the relationship between subjective memory complaints, measured by the Subjective Memory Complaints Questionnaire (SMCQ), and objective memory performance, assessed via the Spanish-English Verbal Learning Test (SEVLT), across Black, Hispanic, and White American groups. Using structural equation modeling on data from the University of North Texas Health Science Center's Health and Aging Brain Study–Health Disparities (HABS-HD), the study found that the SMCQ demonstrates full scalar measurement invariance across these racial groups, allowing for valid mean comparisons. However, the strength of the association between subjective and objective memory differed significantly among groups, indicating that clinical thresholds for memory impairment may need to be tailored by race to enhance diagnostic accuracy. These findings support the use of the SMCQ in diverse populations while highlighting the importance of culturally sensitive interpretation of memory assessments.