A 3.5year diary study: Remembering and life story importance are predicted by different event characteristics
Year: 2015
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Forty-five participants described and rated two events each week during their first term at university. After 3.5 years, we examined whether event characteristics rated in the diary predicted remembering, reliving, and life story importance at the follow-up. In addition, we examined whether ratings of life story importance were consistent across a three year interval. Approximately 60% of events were remembered, but only 20% of these were considered above medium importance to life stories. Higher unusualness, rehearsal, and planning predicted whether an event was remembered 3.5 years later. Higher goal-relevance, importance, emotional intensity, and planning predicted life story importance 3.5 years later. There was a moderate correlation between life story importance rated three months after the diary and rated at the 3.5 year follow-up. The results suggest that autobiographical memory and life stories are governed by different mechanisms and that life story memories are characterized by some degree of stability.
Source: Consciousness and Cognition
Authors: Dorthe Kirkegaard Thomsen, Thomas Jensen, Tine Holm, Martin Hammershøj Olesen, Anette Schnieber, Jan Tønnesvang
Institution: Aarhus University
Language: English
Subfield: Developmental and Educational Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,210
OpenAlex ID: W829856241