Ter vivido um trauma altera a maneira que me vejo? Análise de relações entre experiências traumáticas e a função self da memória autobiográfica

Abstract

Autobiographical memory (AM) is a part of declarative memory directly related to life story and has strictly personal character. Functional theory of AM proposes the existence of 3 functions; social, directive and self-function. Thus, individual can use own life memories assessment to guide interpersonal relationships, future behaviors and self-identity. Studies have shown that Early Life Stressors (ELSs), traumatic experiences lived on childhood and/or adolescence, can impact AM. Nonetheless, there are not studies which observed ELSs and functional aspects of AM. So, the aim of the study was to verify possible relations between living a trauma and specific damages on AM’s self-function. It is a correlational, descriptive, transversal and non-probabilistic study. Participated 70 people from both sexes aged between 18 and 49 years (M= 25,87; SD=7,20). To gather data, a sociodemographic questionnaire was used, in addition to Questionnaire on Trauma in Childhood (QUESI), the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and Thinking About Life Experiences Scale (TALE). Analysis was provided by Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). ANOVA-RM showed differences in between AM functions use: self-function and social function (b = -4,51; EP = 0,51; p < 0,001); self-function and directive function (b = -4,05; EP = 0,56; p < 0,001), but no differences in between social function and directive function (b = 0,45; EP = 0,51; p = 1,00). Correlations statistically significant was observed between self-function and QUESI total score [r (65) = - 0,62; p = < 0,001]; trauma subtype ‘emotional abuse’ [r (65) = - 0,58; p = < 0,001] and trauma subtype ‘physical negligence’ [r (65) = - 0,69; p = < 0,001]. It is considered that traumatic experience can provoke damages on AM self-function. It is pointed up that studies with higher populations and which cover those dominions could found more representative results and expand the comprehension about the influences of traumas in identity aspects like self-concept and self-continuity.