Semantic and Episodic Autobiographical Memory Recall for Memories Not Directly Associated With Childhood Sexual Abuse

• NCJ Number: 223751
• Journal: Journal of Family Violence Volume: 23 Issue: 6 Dated: August 2008 Pages: 429-435
• Author(s): D. J. Stokes; B. H. Dritschel; D. A. Bekerian
• Date Published: August 2008
• Length: 7 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Using a nonpsychiatric student population sample, this study compared two methods of accessing autobiographical memory: The Children’s Autobiographical Memory Inventory (CAMI), which uses temporal cues for both episodic and semantic autobiographical memories, and the Autobiographical Memory Task (AMT), which uses emotional cue words in encouraging participants to recall any memory from their lifetime.

Abstract

Contrary to predictions, the study did not find that episodic recall under the AMT was less specific for those in the group who had experienced child sexual abuse (CSA) compared to the two control groups (those who had experienced a variety of traumatic events, but not CSA; and the group with no childhood traumatic experiences). There were significant differences between groups on episodic recall as measured by the CAMI; however, this was not restricted to the CSA group; the other trauma control group also scored higher than the no-trauma group on the episodic scale of the CAMI, having greater detail in the event memories recalled. None of the memories recalled were trauma-related. The episodic recall elicited by the CAMI, using temporal cues rather than emotional cues, may facilitate the retrieval of memories that are more emotionally neutral in content. Significant differences were found between groups on personal semantic recall, with the CSA group reporting significantly lower semantic recall than the two control groups. These findings are relevant to therapeutic interventions as well as having potential implication for interviewing and obtaining statements to be used as evidence. Forty female undergraduate students at the University of East London participated in the study; 13 reported CSA; 12 reported a variety of traumas; and 15 reported no childhood traumas. The order in which the AMT and the CAMI were used in autobiographic memory tasks was alternated between participants. 2 tables, 2 figures, and 23 references