Discrete memories of adverse experiences differ according to post-traumatic growth

Abstract

People organize their experience into discrete memories, which are used to remember, comprehend, and predict. Retrospective evaluations of complex experiences seem to be influenced by memories of negative “peak affects” and positive “end affects”. However, it is not known if these discrete memories vary depending on people's post-traumatic growth (PTG). Two cross-sectional studies aimed to examine the extent to which participants classified according to the 33rd and 66th percentile scores on PTG differed in their discrete memories, reported current strengths, and perceived changes. A total of 345 people with at least one adverse experience were selected from two convenience samples. While a higher proportion of memories of negative “peak affects” was found in whole samples, comparisons between the PTG groups confirmed a higher proportion of positive “end affects” (turning points) in the medium and high groups compared to the low groups. Significant differences between the two extreme groups (low and high) in both current strengths and perceived changes were found when using univariate analyses of variance and post-hoc comparisons. Medium and high groups differed only in their current strengths. Interventions to promote PTG would benefit from favoring the identification of positive “end affects”.