Reduced specificity of autobiographical memory as a moderator of the relationship between daily hassles and depression

Abstract

Autobiographical memory biases are potential cognitive vulnerability factors for depression, with recent research highlighting the potential importance of accompanying high levels of life stress. Using a prospective design, the current study examined the role of autobiographical memory performance, both reduced specificity and propensity towards categoric memories, as moderators of the relationship between life stress and depression in a non-clinical college sample. Findings suggest that an increased propensity towards categoric recall emerged as a vulnerability factor for future depressive symptoms, with this vulnerability not being dependent upon the presence of high levels of life stress. In contrast, while reduced autobiographical memory specificity did not emerge as a vulnerability factor alone, it did emerge as a moderator of the relationship between chronic daily hassles and depression. These findings highlight the potential importance of both propensity towards categoric recall and reduced specificity of autobiographical memory as vulnerability factors for the experience of future depressive symptoms.

Keywords:

• Autobiographical memory
• Depression
• Vulnerability
• Overgeneral
• Life stress

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by an Economic and Social Research Council Doctoral studentship awarded to the first author. We are very grateful to the reviewers whose helpful comments have been incorporated within this script.