Long-term memory and subjective forgetting: A longitudinal study

Questions of memory accuracy arise when adults report childhood trauma that was allegedly forgotten but later recalled. Our study examined the relation of memory accuracy and subjective forgetting (i.e., self-reported temporary forgetting of child sexual abuse [CSA]).

In longitudinal research on maltreatment and memory, spanning 20 years, we investigated the relation between memory accuracy for a childhood maltreatment evaluation and self-reported subjective forgetting of CSA. Past studies suggested links between these memory phenomena and trauma symptoms; we thus included a trauma symptom measure.

Adult participants (N = 109) had been admitted as children to a forensic unit for assessment of child maltreatment. As adults, they were interviewed, 20 years later, about the forensic unit evaluation, CSA, and trauma symptoms.

Memory for trauma-related and non-trauma related information was assessed by comparing adult interview responses against documented details of the childhood forensic evaluation. Adults were categorized into CSA disclosers who reported subjective forgetting, CSA disclosers who did not report subjective forgetting, and CSA non-disclosers.

Better memory in adulthood concerning core trauma-related events in childhood was associated with subjective forgetting, β = 0.22, p = .036. Time 1 age and adult trauma symptoms also predicted accurate memories, βs ≥ 0.34, ps < .001. Adults with heightened trauma symptomatology were more likely to report subjective forgetting, B = 0.08, p = .001.

Accurate memory of a child maltreatment evaluation was positively related to subjective forgetting and adult trauma symptoms. Implications are discussed.