ACCURACY OF MEMORIES FROM CHILDHOOD AND ADOLESCENCE RELATED TO GROWTH AND SIZE

Authors: COLEMAN K ANN - BOSTON UNIVERSITY; DWYER JOHANNA T - TUFTS-HNRCA; CASEY VIRGINIA A - TUFTS UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Current Psychology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/17/1994
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: We assessed the ability of middle-aged adults to recall their body size during childhood and early and late adolescence as well as the date of such benchmarks of maturity as the onset of menstruation and the years of growth spurts. The accuracy of these memories was compared with the accuracy of current reports. In general, reports of childhood recall were at least as accurate as current reports. Males were less accurate in their reports of height and weight than women.

Technical Abstract: The ability of middle-aged adults to recall their body size and events occurring up to 40 years earlier was assessed. Ninety-one subjects recalled their relative height, weight and fatness during childhood, early adolescence and late adolescence. Accuracy of these memories was compared with the accuracy of current reports. The ability to accurately date benchmarks of their maturation such as menarche and year of maximal growth in height was also examined. Accuracy of reports did not decline uniformly over time. In general, reports of childhood were at least as accurate as current reports. Males were less accurate in their reports of relative height and fatness than women.