title: Continuity of phenomenology and (in)consistency of content of meaningful autobiographical memories.
abstract: Phenomenology is a critical component of autobiographical memory retrieval; it reflects both (a) memory-specific features and (b) stable individual differences. Few studies have tested phenomenology longitudinally. The present work examined the continuity of memory phenomenology in a sample of Italians adults (N=105) over a 4-week period. Participants retrieved two 'key' personal memories, a Turning Point and an Early Childhood Memory, rated the phenomenology of each memory, and completed measures of personality, psychological distress and subjective well-being. Phenomenological ratings were moderately stable over time (median correlation >.40), regardless of memory content. Personality traits, psychological distress and well-being were associated with phenomenology cross-sectionally and with changes in phenomenology over time. These results suggest that how individuals re-experience their most important personal memories is relatively consistent over time and shaped by both trait and state aspects of psychological functioning.
authors.affiliation: Florida State University College of Medicine, Department Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine, 1115 West Call Street, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA. Electronic address: martina.luchetti@med.fsu.edu.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luchetti
authors.affiliation: University of Bologna, Department of Psychology, Viale Berti Pichat 5, Bologna 40126, Italy. Electronic address: nicolinocesare.rossi@unibo.it.
authors.forename: Nicolino
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.affiliation: University of Bologna, Department of Psychology, Viale Berti Pichat 5, Bologna 40126, Italy. Electronic address: ornella.montebarocci@unibo.it.
authors.forename: Ornella
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Montebarocci
authors.affiliation: Florida State University College of Medicine, Department Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine, 1115 West Call Street, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA. Electronic address: angelina.sutin@med.fsu.edu.
authors.forename: Angelina R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Sutin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D061212:Memory, Episodic; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Autobiographical memory; Continuity; Memory Experiences Questionnaire; Phenomenology; Test-retest interval