‘Black Holes’ in memory: Childhood autobiographical memory loss in adult survivors of child sexual abuse

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between child sexual abuse (CSA) and components related to the CSA experience, betrayal, dissociative amnesia, and childhood autobiographical memory loss (CAML). The a priori hypothesis was that components related to the CSA experience (such as abuse characteristics, disclosure characteristics, betrayal, and dissociative amnesia) would act as direct risk factors/predictors for CAML. It was further hypothesized that betrayal and dissociative amnesia would each act as a mediator of the relationships between these components related to the CSA experience and CAML. This retrospective survey was conducted online, anonymously, and contained a sample of 297 participants who were adult survivors of CSA. Data was analyzed using logistic and linear regressions, as well as path analysis. The results of this study suggest that betrayal, dissociation, duration of abuse, and dissociative amnesia had direct effects on CAML, and age at onset of abuse had indirect effects on CAML through dissociative amnesia. These results have both research and clinical implications, in terms of both prevention and intervention with survivors of CSA.