Meta-analysis of Valence Effects in Child Overgeneral Memory

• In Event: Poster Session 09
  In Poster Session: PS 09 Topic - Attention, Learning, Memory

Abstract

Overgeneral memory (OGM), or lack of memory specificity when recounting autobiographical events (Valentino et. al, 2011), is known to correlate with the emergence of depressive symptomology (Valentino et. al, 2009). Overgeneral memory is thought to serve as an emotion regulation strategy that aids in the avoidance of painful, negative memories (Summer, 2012). Research evaluating OGM in adults posits that the experience of childhood maltreatment or trauma is linked to more over-general memories when recalling autobiographical memories (Williams, 1996). The gold standard assessment for overgeneral memory employed in the vast majority of studies is the Autobiographical Memory Test (AMT). In this task, participants are prompted with positively and negatively valenced cue words and asked to recall a specific memory associated with the emotional cue (Williams et. al, 1986). Previous research with adults suggests that the specificity of participants’ responses do not vary as a function of the valence (positive vs. negative) of the cue words on the Autobiographical Memory Test (Griffith et al., 2012). There is less consensus, however, regarding response patterns of children to these valenced cue words. Specifically, one theory suggests that, as a developing emotion regulation strategy, children may provide more overgeneral memories to negative than positive cues (Woody et al., 2014). This meta-analysis seeks to evaluate child and adolescent overgeneral memory on the Autobiographical Memory Test and examine whether there are differences in OGM based on cue valence. In line with previous research, it is hypothesized that negative cue words will result in significantly higher instances of OGM among child and adolescent participants than positive cue words.
Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic literature search was performed across four databases using the keywords: autobiographical, overgeneral memory, memory specificity, youth, children, child, adolescents. Articles yielded from PubMed (N= 365), WebofScience (N= 187), PsycInfo (N= 205), and ProQuest (N= 29) were then manually reviewed with a title and abstract scan. Literature that had an irrelevant population, no mention of OGM or memory specificity, did not use the AMT measure, were not a primary research article, or used the same dataset as previous papers were not included in a full-text review. The estimated completion date of the full-text review is by the end of October followed by data extraction. To synthesize potential valence effects on OGM, a forest plot of effect sizes will be reported. The heterogeneity of studies will be assessed via Cochran’s Q, and a funnel plot will be completed to examine publication bias. All calculations and analyses will be performed through R studio with an estimated completion date of effect size analysis by the end of December. This study hopes to further the understanding of the Autobiographical Memory Test in addition to informing etiological theories about the emergence and possible functions of OGM.

Authors

• Tracy Preko, University of Notre Dame
  Presenting Author

• Brigid M Behrens, University of Notre Dame
  Non-Presenting Author

• Kreila E. Cote, University of Notre Dame
  Non-Presenting Author

• Kristin Valentino, University of Notre Dame
  Non-Presenting Author