Maternal elaboration and children's episodic memory accuracy: A double-edged sword?

IF 3.1 2区心理学 Q2 PSYCHOLOGY, DEVELOPMENTAL Developmental Psychology Pub Date : 2025-02-20 DOI:10.1037/dev0001924

Monica Lawson, Lillian Rodriguez Steen, Kamala London, Tori Holland, Katherine Gorelik, Sara Ferguson

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Research demonstrating the mnemonic benefits of maternal elaboration on episodic memory development has given limited attention to conversational and developmental factors that may moderate this association, especially in relation to the accuracy of children's recall of unshared events. The present study examined associations between maternal elaboration and the accuracy of children's collaborative recall with their mothers and independent recall with an unfamiliar adult for an unshared event. We examined whether these associations depended on maternal autonomy support, mothers' accurate versus inaccurate preconceptions about the unshared event, and children's age. Participants were 141 children (4- to 7-year-olds; 52% female) and their mothers (71% White, 60% completed a bachelor's degree). Children individually participated in an unshared event and discussed the event with their mothers prior to a neutral interview with an unfamiliar adult. We experimentally manipulated whether mothers were exposed to accurate (i.e., knowledgeable) versus inaccurate (i.e., misled) details prior to collaborative recall. Maternal elaboration increased accurate collaborative recall among children with knowledgeable mothers and among older children with misled mothers but only when misled mothers were autonomy supportive. Younger children with misled mothers reported more accurate collaborative details as maternal autonomy support increased. Representing a double-edged sword, maternal elaboration increased inaccurate collaborative recall among younger children and decreased accurate independent recall in both maternal bias conditions. The present findings underscore the importance of considering conversational (i.e., maternal bias and autonomy support) and developmental contexts (i.e., child age) in elucidating the manner in which maternal elaboration relates to the accuracy of children's recall. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

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来源期刊

Developmental Psychology PSYCHOLOGY, DEVELOPMENTAL-

CiteScore

5.80

自引率

2.50%

发文量

329

期刊介绍： Developmental Psychology ® publishes articles that significantly advance knowledge and theory about development across the life span. The journal focuses on seminal empirical contributions. The journal occasionally publishes exceptionally strong scholarly reviews and theoretical or methodological articles. Studies of any aspect of psychological development are appropriate, as are studies of the biological, social, and cultural factors that affect development. The journal welcomes not only laboratory-based experimental studies but studies employing other rigorous methodologies, such as ethnographies, field research, and secondary analyses of large data sets. We especially seek submissions in new areas of inquiry and submissions that will address contradictory findings or controversies in the field as well as the generalizability of extant findings in new populations. Although most articles in this journal address human development, studies of other species are appropriate if they have important implications for human development. Submissions can consist of single manuscripts, proposed sections, or short reports.