Predicting Visual and Auditory Memory in Adolescent Girls Based on Family Trauma
Keywords:
family trauma, visual memory, auditory memory, adolescent girls, emotional abuse, neglect, working memoryAbstract
Purpose: The present study aimed to predict visual and auditory memory performance in adolescent girls based on different dimensions of family trauma.
Methods and Materials: This study employed a descriptive–correlational design with a predictive regression approach and was conducted as a field study among female students in the first cycle of secondary education in District 3 of Tehran. A sample of 384 participants was selected using multistage cluster sampling followed by convenience sampling based on inclusion criteria. Data were collected using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) to assess emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional neglect, and physical neglect, the Corsi Block-Tapping Test administered via NCALab software to measure visual memory (forward and backward spans), and the Digit Span subtest of the Wechsler scales to assess auditory memory (forward and backward spans). Data collection was conducted individually in a controlled school environment after obtaining informed consent. Statistical analyses included Pearson correlation coefficients to examine relationships among variables and stepwise multiple regression analysis to determine the predictive power of trauma dimensions on memory performance using SPSS software.
Findings: The results revealed significant negative correlations between all dimensions of family trauma and both auditory and visual memory components (p < .05, p < .01). Emotional abuse and emotional neglect significantly predicted auditory forward memory, jointly explaining 22% of its variance (R = 0.47, R² = 0.22, p < .001), while emotional abuse showed a stronger predictive effect (β = -0.32, p = 0.002) compared to emotional neglect (β = -0.21, p = 0.03). Physical neglect emerged as the strongest predictor of visual forward memory, explaining 31% of its variance (R = 0.55, R² = 0.31, p < .001) with a substantial negative effect (β = -0.56, p < .001).
Conclusion: The findings indicate that family trauma, particularly emotional abuse, emotional neglect, and physical neglect, significantly impairs auditory and visual memory in adolescent girls, highlighting the importance of addressing adverse family experiences to support cognitive development and academic functioning.
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