Quality of memories in battered women: Analysis of positive narratives.

Abstract

Objectives: In recent years, the evidence regarding the characteristics of positive autobiographical memories in the field of posttraumatic stress disorder has gained increasing interest. The objective of this study was to add to the evidence in this area by analyzing the characteristics of positive memories in a specific trauma population, namely victims of intimate partner violence. Method: The study compared the narratives of highly positive events of 50 battered women (trauma-exposed group) with those of 50 nonexposed women (controls). Results: The results show that, compared with the narratives of the control group, the narratives of the trauma-exposed group contained fewer references to positive emotions and achievement and more words related to the first person and mistreatment. Conclusions: The results support the hypothesis that the consequences of trauma can impact the characteristics of positive autobiographical memories. The resulting clinical implications point toward the possible relevance of adding work with positive memories to the clinical approach to trauma. Clinical Impact StatementThe results have clinical implications since they point out that adding work with positive memories to trauma-focused interventions could have beneficial effects for women who suffer with intimate partner violence (Contractor et al., 2018). Specifically, working with positive memories would allow for increasing the availability of positive emotions and working on the adequate regulation of this type of emotion. In addition, they can enable women victims of intimate partner violence to increase the availability of memories in which they feel a sense of achievement, increasing their self-esteem.

Impact of life-threatening military incidents during deployments abroad on the relationships between military personnel and their families

“…But this was all the more the case when there were critical military incidents or when they were frequently exposed to death or suffering ( 42 ). In addition, intimate partner violence appears to negatively affect autobiographical memory ( 43 ).…”