Date Approved
6-3-2002
Embargo Period
5-12-2016
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.A. in Applied Psychology
Department
Psychology
College
College of Science & Mathematics
Advisor
Frisone, John
Subject(s)
Child abuse; Memory--Testing
Disciplines
Psychology
Abstract
This thesis describes the memory functioning in children exposed to domestic violence trauma. Research findings suggest that adult participants with a clinical diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as defined by the Diagnostic Statistical Manual-IV (American Psychiatric Association, 1994) suffer from impairments in memory associated with reductions in hippocampal volume. However, a question arises as to whether children who have been exposed to domestic violence trauma will differ from controls in their memory functioning. A question also arises as to the relationship between the children's parent-reported behaviors and their memory functioning. The Children's Memory Scale (CMS) (Cohen, 1997) was administered to 22 children residing at a shelter for battered women in Delran, New Jersey. The children's mothers completed the Child Behavioral Checklist (CBC) (Achenbach, 1991).
The data were analyzed comparing the children's CMS (Cohen, 1997) scores to those of the CMS standardization sample, and comparing the children's CMS (Cohen) results to their CBC (Achenbach, 1991) results. Findings indicate that the children differed significantly from controls only in their CMS (Cohen) delayed verbal recall scores. No significant correlations were revealed for the CMS (Cohen) and CBC (Achenbach) indices. Implications for future research are discussed.
Recommended Citation
Cosgrove, Deanna, "Memory functioning in children exposed to domestic violence trauma" (2002). Theses and Dissertations. 1421.
https://rdw.rowan.edu/etd/1421
