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Autobiographical memory functions and posttraumatic stress symptoms across adulthood
Adriana Del Palacio-Gonzalez1, Lynn A Watson1, Dorthe Berntsen1
1a Department of Psychology and Behavioural Sciences , Center on Autobiographical Memory Research, Aarhus University , Arhus C , Denmark.
Memory (Hove, England)
|February 17, 2018
Summary
Certain ways of recalling memories, like rumination, are linked to higher posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). These connections remain consistent across adulthood, regardless of age.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Individual differences in autobiographical memory functions are well-documented.
- These memory functions correlate with psychological well-being and vary with age.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between autobiographical memory functions and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS).
- To determine if this relationship is moderated by age in adulthood.
Main Methods:
- A representative sample of 1040 adult Danes (aged 20-70) participated.
- Participants reported the frequency of using different autobiographical memory functions.
- Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom levels were assessed.
Main Results:
- Higher reflective and ruminative memory functions predicted increased PTSS.
- Lower social function of autobiographical memories predicted increased PTSS.
- No significant moderating effect of age was found on these relationships.
Conclusions:
- Specific autobiographical memory functions are uniquely associated with PTSS.
- The link between these memory functions and PTSS is consistent across adulthood.
- Understanding memory functions offers insight into PTSS across the lifespan.
Keywords:
Autobiographical memory functionsPTSDintegrative modellifespan developmentpsychological well-beingMore Related Videos
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