Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 4, 2026

Assessing the Coherence of Parents' Short Narratives Regarding their Child Using the Five-Minute Speech Sample Procedure
Published on: September 19, 2019
Early memories in young adults from separated and non-separated families
Federica Artioli1, Elaine Reese
1a Department of Psychology , University of Otago , Dunedin , New Zealand.
Abstract:
Two studies investigated the earliest memories of New Zealand European young adults (N = 80, Study 1 and N = 120, Study 2) from separated and non-separated families. Participants' earliest memories were assessed for age, for density (how far apart the memories were, Study 2) and for narrative coherence of the memories. Questionnaires were designed to investigate the role of changes in family structure, for example, in the number of adults in the participants' households and the timing of the parental separation. Study 2 further investigated stress and painful divorce-related feelings as additional variables in adjustment after divorce. No overall differences in age of earliest memory emerged between young adults from separated and non-separated parents. Within the group from separated parents, however, memories were earlier when parents separated early in the child's life (
Related Concept Videos
Relationship with Parents: Attachment
Theory of Romantic Attachment in Adulthood
Relationship with Other Adult Family Members and Siblings
Close Relationships and Culture
Emerging Adulthood
Attachment

