Researchers led by Michigan State University associate professor William Chopik studied how current relationships affect recollections of adverse childhood experiences. The team followed nearly 1,000 emerging adults for two months and asked them three times about memories of events before they turned 18.
At each assessment, participants reported on their adverse experiences and on the quality of relationships with parents, friends and romantic partners. The study found that reports of childhood adversity were generally stable, but meaningful differences appeared across the eight-week period.
The most consistent predictor of these fluctuations was relationship quality. When participants reported more parental support and less parental strain than usual, they tended to report fewer adverse experiences, notably emotional abuse, sexual abuse and neglect. The authors say recognizing both stable and changing aspects of memory could improve research measures and clinical intake practices, for example by assessing these experiences more than once.
Difficult words
- recollection — memory of past events or experiencesrecollections
- adverse — causing harm or negative effects
- emerging adult — young person moving into adulthoodemerging adults
- assessment — a time when someone is tested or evaluated
- fluctuation — a small change or variation over timefluctuations
- predictor — something that shows what will likely happen
- neglect — failure to give care or attention
- parental — relating to a mother or father
- intake — process of collecting information from a client
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Have you ever noticed that your memory of past events changes depending on current relationships? Give an example.
- Why do you think the authors suggest asking about childhood experiences more than once?
- How might understanding relationship quality help clinicians when they talk with young adults?
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