Autobiographical Meaning Making Protects the Sense of Self-Continuity Past Forced Migration

The reminiscence bump and the self: evidence from five studies on positive and negative memories

A plethora of studies have shown that people persistently remember public and personal events experienced during adolescence and early adulthood, particularly with a positive valence. In five studies, we investigate the reminiscence bump (RB) for positive and negative memories of public events (Studies 1 and 2), private events (Study 3), music-related events (Study 4), and cross-cultural memory differences (i.e., China and US) (Study 5). Participants retrieved either one positive or one negative memory, indicated their Age of Encoding, and provided secondary measures, i.e., memory vividness and rehearsal (Studies 1 and 3) and emotional intensity (Studies 2 and 4). About 10,000 memories were collected and positive memories appeared generally older than negative recollections, but the RB emerged for both positive and negative memories. Furthermore, the peak was earlier for positive memories of public events (<15 years old) than for negative memories (20-40 years), while no differences were found for private events or music-related experiences (15-25 years). Chinese had their RB later than US respondents. Finally, autobiographical recollections have moderate to low associations with secondary measures of phenomenological features of memory. These findings are consistent with the identity-formation theory, providing additional and important information on the development of the Self.

Narrative identity does not predict well-being when controlling for emotional valence

Narrative identity refers to a person's internalized and evolving life story. It is a rapidly growing research field, motivated by studies showing a unique association with well-being. Here we show that this association disappears when controlling for the emotional valence of the stories told and individuals' general experience of autobiographical memory. Participants (N = 235) wrote their life story and completed questionnaires on their general experience of autobiographical memory and several dimensions of well-being and affect. Participants' life stories were coded for standard narrative identity variables, including agency and communion. When controlling for emotional valence of the life story, the general experience of autobiographical memory was a significant predictor of most well-being measures, whereas agency was a predictor of one variable only and communion of none. These findings contradict the claim of an incremental association between narrative identity and well-being, and have important theoretical and practical implications for narrative identity as an outcome measure in interventions.

Spurious Autobiographical Memory of Psychosis: A Mechanistic Hypothesis for the Resolution, Persistence, and Recurrence of Positive Symptoms in Psychotic Disorders

Psychotic disorders are complex disorders with multiple etiologies. While increased dopamine synthesis capacity has been proposed to underlie psychotic episodes, dopamine-independent processes are also involved (less responsive to dopamine receptor-blocking medications). The underlying mechanism(s) of the reduction in antipsychotic responsiveness over time, especially after repeated relapses, remain unclear. Despite the consistent evidence of dopamine overactivity and hippocampal volume loss in schizophrenia, few accounts have been provided based on the interactive effect of dopamine on hippocampal synapse plasticity mediating autobiographical memory processes. The present hypothesis builds upon previous works showing the potential effects of dopamine overactivity on hippocampal-mediated neuroplasticity underlying autobiographical memory, alongside known patterns of autobiographical memory dysfunction in psychosis. We propose that spurious autobiographical memory of psychosis (SAMP) produced during active psychosis may be a key mechanism mediating relapses and treatment non-responsiveness. In a hyperdopaminergic state, SAMP is expected to be generated at an increased rate during active psychosis. Similar to other memories, it will undergo assimilation, accommodation, and extinction processes. However, if SAMP fails to integrate with existing memory, a discontinuity in autobiographical memory may result. Inadequate exposure to normalizing experiences and hyposalience due to overmedication or negative symptoms may also impede the resolution of SAMP. Residual SAMP is hypothesized to increase the propensity for relapse and treatment non-responsiveness. Based on recent findings on the role of dopamine in facilitating hippocampal synapse plasticity and autobiographical memory formation, the SAMP hypothesis is consistent with clinical observations of DUP effects, including the repetition of contents in psychotic relapses as well as the emergence of treatment non-responsiveness after repeated relapses. Clinical implications of the hypothesis highlight the importance of minimizing active psychosis, integrating psychosis memory, avoiding over-medication, and fostering normalizing experiences.

Mental health among older Bhutanese with a refugee life experience: A mixed-methods latent class analysis study

There are disparities in the mental health of refugee populations compared to individuals who have not experienced forced migration. It is important to identify individuals with a refugee life experience who are most in need of mental health care and prioritize their engagement in services. The objectives of this convergent mixed-methods study are to quantitatively identify the association between exposure to pre- and postresettlement traumas and stressors and mental health among older adults with a refugee life experience, qualitatively identify typologies of narratives of forced migration, and integrate findings to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the relationship between trauma and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Study participants were Bhutanese with a refugee life experience living in a metropolitan area in New England (United States). We used quantitative surveys to identify exposures to traumas and symptoms of PTSD. We used latent class analysis to identify subgroups of trauma exposure and association with symptoms of PTSD. A subset of individuals participated in qualitative interviews. Narrative thematic analysis was used to explore typologies of life history narratives. Quantitatively, we identified four classes of patterns of trauma exposure throughout the refugee life trajectory. These classes were associated with current symptoms of PTSD. Qualitatively, we identified four narrative types that indicate participants interpreted and made sense of their life trajectories in a variety of ways. Integration of findings indicate that caution is needed in identifying individuals in need of mental health services and the best approach for interventions that promote psychosocial well-being. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Self-Continuity

Self-continuity is the subjective sense of connection between one's past and present selves (past-present self-continuity), between one's present and future selves (present-future self-continuity), or among one's past, present, and future selves (global self-continuity). We consider the motivational character of the three forms of self-continuity, their regulatory properties, and the internal or external factors that consolidate them. We also review their consequences for attitudes and judgments or decisions, motivation, intentions and behavior, and psychological and physical health. We further detail the psychological and behavioral benefits of self-discontinuity (i.e., a sense of disconnect among temporal selves). We next turn to the brain regions that are activated synchronously with self-continuity. We consider developmental perspectives on self-continuity, discuss collective self-continuity (along with its consequences and regulatory properties), and elaborate on cultural differences in self-continuity. This inaugural Annual Reviews chapter demonstrates the breadth, excitement, and sense of synergy among self-continuity researchers and points to promising research directions.

"I'm Going to Tell You Something I Never Told Anyone": Ethics- and Trauma-Informed Challenges of Implementing a Research Protocol with Syrian Refugees

As research subjects, refugees have numerous potential vulnerabilities. This study aimed to examine the ethics- and trauma-informed challenges of implementing a mental health research protocol with Syrian refugees living in Portugal. Guided by the integrated meaning-making model, the research project "Journeys in Meaning" employed a mixed-methods cross-sectional design to explore posttraumatic cognitive processing in refugees using two phases of data collection: two focus groups (Phase 1) to test the protocol and 39 in-depth individual interviews (Phase 2) to implement the protocol. Results examine the strategies used to address the following: methodological challenges related to protocol design, participant recruitment, and language; ethics- and trauma-informed challenges aimed at minimizing harm and maximizing benefit to participants that followed social justice principles; and perceived compassion fatigue on the part of the researcher following repeated empathetic exposure to traumatic content. Findings suggest the need for adaptive approaches to research with refugee populations that challenge strict compliance with the traditional principles of "do no harm" and researcher neutrality, and that accommodate individual and community complexities.