Three types of memory for childhood sexual abuse: relationships to characteristics of abuse and psychological symptoms.
ABSTRACT. Data from a clinical sample (N = 88) reporting childhood sexual abuse was compared by types of memory, abuse characteristics, and psychological symptoms. Three types of memory were identified from a questionnaire ("Always" n = 27 [31%], "Recovered" n = 41 [46%], and "Both" n = 20 [23%]). When compared with narrative reports from a subset (n = 30) of the sample, the lines between "Always," "Recovered," and "Both" types of memory were ambiguous. Consistency across reports, however, was 83%. Memories classified as either "Recovered" or "Both" were associated with earlier age-at-onset and more severe psychological symptoms compared to those who "Always" remembered CSA. No significant differences were found between the "Both" and "Recovered" groups.
Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY 13902, USA. scrowley@binghamton.edu
M Sue
MS
Crowley
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D054523:Adult Survivors of Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003071:Cognition; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008568:Memory; D011939:Mental Recall; D012094:Repression, Psychology; D013404:Suggestion