Can Adult Relationships Shape Memories of Childhood Trauma?

"When we talk about childhood trauma, we often assume it's something fixed-a set of experiences that happened long ago and permanently shaped who we are. Research on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) reinforces this idea by linking early adversity to long-term mental, physical, and relational outcomes. 1,2 But what if how we remember childhood trauma isn't entirely fixed? What if our adult relationships play a role in shaping those memories?"

"Researchers from Michigan State University examined whether adults' reports of ACEs remain stable over time or fluctuate in response to current life circumstances. Although ACEs are typically treated in mental health and medical settings as fixed indicators of early adversity, the authors argue that remembering childhood experiences is actually a reconstructive process that can be shaped by present social and emotional contexts."

"On one hand, reports of childhood trauma were largely stable-people didn't radically change their stories from month to month. However, the researchers found meaningful variation among the reports, which was telling. When participants experienced greater-than-usual support from their parents (including periods of lower-than-usual relationship strain in the family), they reported fewer childhood adversities, especially emotional abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect. Interestingly enough, these results were most significant with parental relationships; support from friends and romantic partners mattered, too"

Adults' reports of adverse childhood experiences show relative stability over short intervals while also exhibiting meaningful variation tied to current life circumstances. Periods of greater-than-usual parental support and lower family strain correlate with fewer reported childhood adversities, particularly emotional abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect. Support from friends and romantic partners also relates to recollections, though parental relationships demonstrate the strongest association. Memory for childhood adversity operates as a reconstructive process influenced by present social and emotional contexts, indicating that ACE assessments can reflect both past events and current relational environments.

Read at Psychology Today