Examination of the phenomenological characteristics, reconsolidation update, and perceived temporal distance of intrusive memories in university students with high and low depressive symptoms

Abstract

Objective: It is known that experiential and coginitive features of intrusive memories differ in accordance with the type and severity of psychological disorders. This investigation sought to gather all the experiential and cognitive dispositions of intrusive memories that take place in literature and to make comparisons in terms of the mentioned dispositions between participants with high and low depressive symptoms. It is also aimed to reveal perceived temporal distance and reconsolidation processes of intrusive memories. Method: 134 participants are asked to describe narratives of their intrusive-memories experienced in the preceding week. Beck Depression Inventory was applied in order to determine depression severity while the Post Traumatic Stress Symptom Inventory-Intrusion was applied in order to determine intrusions of memory. Results: It has been found that when the time of the memories intrude, the group with high depressive symptoms experience more helplessness and sadness and make more negative attributions to themselves and to the future compared to the group with low depressive symptoms. Finally, level of intrusion serves as mediator variable in the relation between depressive symptoms and reconsolidation process while reconsolidation process serves as mediator variable in the relation between level of intrusion and percieved temporal distance. Discussion: Phenomenological differences in accordance with depression severity have been discussed. Additionally, the mediator role of intrusion in the relation between depressive symptoms and reconsolidation process and the mediator role of reconsolidation process in the relation between intrusions and percieved temporal distance have been discussed. It is thought that more studies in the area of intrusive memories are needed.