Abstract processing of a positive memory is associated with recalling positive memories from an observer perspective

ABSTRACT

Abstract ruminative processing and recalling memories from an observer perspective represent two cognitive processes with adverse consequences in depression. However, no study to date has investigated the interrelationship of abstract processing, observer perspective and depression symptoms in the context of recalling personal emotional (positive, negative) memories, nor imagining emotional future events. An unselected online sample (N = 342) of participants was randomly allocated to one of four conditions: to recall a memory of a positive or negative event, or to imagine a future positive or negative event. Participants rated the vantage perspective from which they recalled or imagined the event, and the extent to which they engaged in abstract processing about it. For positive memories, a positive correlation emerged between abstract processing of the memory and observer recall; this relationship remained significant when depression symptoms were controlled. Abstract processing and vantage perspective were unrelated in the remaining three conditions. Whilst our findings await replication with a clinical sample to confirm generalisability to depressed individuals, they underscore the importance of investigating cognitive processes that influence positive memory recall and provide preliminary evidence that abstract processing of a positive memory is related to recalling the memory from an observer perspective.

KEYWORDS:

• Depression
• rumination
• abstract processing
• observer vantage perspective
• positive memories

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by an Australian Postgraduate Award and a Brain Sciences UNSW PhD Top-up Scholarship, both awarded to Ly Hart-Smith.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 The three subscales of the DASS-21 were administered. However, only data for the DASS-D subscale was reported given the focus and aims of the current study.

2 As recommended by the RTQ’s authors, the Absence of Repetitive Thinking subscale (4 items) was excluded due to substantially weaker psychometric properties (.62 and .72 for clinical and undergraduate samples respectively; Mahoney et al., 2012; McEvoy et al., 2010).

3 As noted in Measures and Materials, RTQ items were originally drawn from three existing measures including the RRS, with diagnosis-specific content removed, and adjustments made to focus on a specific event, in contrast to the RRS which indexes the trait tendency to engage in depressive rumination. While RTQ items drawn from the RRS are therefore not identical to those in the RRS, there is some similarity in the wording of the two measures. The positive correlation between them is therefore not surprising.