The Effect Of Childhood Maltreatment On Emotional Memory

Purpose:The purpose of this study is to explore the effect of childhood maltreatment on emotional memory.Methods: Chinese version of childhood trauma questionnaire(CTQ)was used to assess the state of childhood maltreatment and neglect in 573 college students.And selected 68 participants for experiments,24 students without history of childrenhood maltreatment and neglect during childhood/adolescence,23 students with history of emotional abuse and neglect before the age of 16,21 students with history of physical abuse and neglect before the age of 16.Experiment 1: the effect of velence to emotional memory,it's 3(group)× 3(valence)mixed task.The aim of this experience is to explore the effect of valence to different group of people's emotional memory.Experience 2: the effect of valence and arousal to emotional memory,it's 3(group)× 5(types of picture)mixed task.The aim of this experience is to explore the effect of valence and the effect of arousal to different group of people's emotional memory.Results: In experiment 1: The correct response was analyzed with Repeated Measurement ANOVA and the result showed that the main effects on valence were significant(F = 63.888,p = 0.000),and the main effects on group were significant(F = 3.427,p = 0.038).Negative pictures were remembered best,then is the neutral pictures,and participants had worst behavior on positive pictures.And students without history of childrenhood maltreatment had best behavior than two other groups.Two maltreatment groups had no significant differences.Use One – Way ANOVA analysis,this study found that control group had better behavior than the group with history of emotional abuse and neglect on negative pictures,and the group with history of physical abuse and neglect had more intense emotional enhanced memory on negative pictures than the other groups.In experiment 2: The correct response was analyzed with Repeated Measurement ANOVA and the result showed that the main effects on types of picture were significant(F = 30.659,p = 0.000),and the main effects on group were significant(F = 3.788,p = 0.028).The score of picture types from high to low is negative low arousing pictures,positive high arousing pictures and neutral low arousing pictures,negative high arousing pictures,positive low arousing pictures.Students without history of childrenhood maltreatment still had better behavior than two maltreatment groups.One – Way ANOVA analysis showed that the control group had better performance than the group with history of physical abuse and neglect on the score of positive high arousing pictures.Conclusion: Childhood maltreatment had the effect on the development of college students' emotional memory.Students with abuse and neglect experience have worse behavior on emotional memory;different types of abuse,valence,and arousal act on emotional memory.