‘Black Holes’ in Memory
Childhood Autobiographical Memory Loss in Adult Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse
Item Description
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Author: Wolf, Molly R.
Institution: Edinboro University of Pennsylvania
Department: Department of Social Work
Author: Nochajski, Thomas H.
Institution: State University of New York at Buffalo
Department: Buffalo Center for Social Research
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between child sexual abuse (CSA) and components related to the CSA experience, betrayal, dissociative amnesia, and childhood autobiographical memory loss (CAML). The a priori hypothesis was that components related to the CSA experience (such as abuse characteristics, disclosure characteristics, betrayal, and dissociative amnesia) would act as direct risk factors/predictors for CAML. It was further hypothesized that betrayal and dissociative amnesia would each act as a mediator of the relationships between these components related to the CSA experience and CAML. This retrospective survey was conducted online, anonymously, and contained a sample of 297 participants who were adult survivors of CSA. Data was analyzed using logistic and linear regressions, as well as path analysis. The results of this study suggest that betrayal, dissociation, duration of abuse, and dissociative amnesia had direct effects on CAML, and age at onset of abuse had indirect effects on CAML through dissociative amnesia. These results have both research and clinical implications, in terms of both prevention and intervention with survivors of CSA.
Description
European Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, vol 6, no. 1.
Date Created
2022
Date Issued
2023
Note
12 Month Embargo
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pdf, 34 pages; 447KB
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Rights
Wolf, M.R. and Nochajski, T.H. (2022). Childhood Autobiographical Memory Loss in Adult Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse. European Journal of Trauma & Dissociation 6(1), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejtd.2021.100234.
Access from Pennsylvania Western University, Edinboro Archives.
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