Autobiographical Memory and Adaptation: A Structural Equation Approach

Abstract

This research uses structural equation modeling (SEM) to analyze the impact of autobiographical memory integration on resilience, coping mechanisms, and trauma recovery in order to investigate how it shapes psychological adaptability. Validated assessments measuring memory integration and adaptive outcomes were completed by 190 people who had faced major life obstacles as part of a purposive sample. Strong construct validity and reliability were shown by Confirmatory Factor Analysis, and the findings of SEM showed that autobiographical memory strongly predicts resilience, coping, and trauma recovery all of which have a major impact on total adaptation. According to mediation studies, autobiographical memory improves adaptive functioning in part because of coping mechanisms and resilience. The robustness of these relationships was highlighted by the model\'s strong fit indices and stable bootstrap estimates. Overall, the results show that autobiographical memory is a key tool that people use to make sense of their experiences, control their emotions, and overcome hardship. This has significant ramifications for trauma-informed therapies and resilience-building techniques.

Introduction

This study examines how autobiographical memory functions as a key psychological mechanism supporting resilience, coping, trauma recovery, and adaptive functioning. Autobiographical memory—conceptualized as the Internal Autobiographical Map (IAM)—is viewed not merely as a record of past experiences but as a dynamic system that helps individuals construct coherent life narratives, maintain identity continuity, regulate emotions, and adapt to adversity. Trauma and cultural disruption can fragment this system, but integrating and reconstructing personal memories promotes emotional stability and resilience.

Addressing gaps in existing research, the study develops and tests a comprehensive structural model to clarify the relationships between autobiographical memory integration and psychological adaptation outcomes. Using a quantitative, cross-sectional design, data were collected from 190 adults who had experienced significant stress or trauma. Validated self-report measures assessed autobiographical memory integration, resilience, coping strategies, trauma recovery, and adaptation outcomes.

Advanced statistical analyses—including Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM)—demonstrated excellent reliability, strong convergent validity, and good model fit. Results showed that stronger autobiographical memory integration is positively associated with resilience, effective coping, trauma recovery, and overall psychological adaptation.

Conclusion

Stronger adaption results are promoted by the current study\'s findings that autobiographical memory integration is a crucial psychological resource that greatly improves resilience, coping mechanisms, and trauma healing. Results from a Structural Equation Modeling study show that people are better able to control their emotions, discover new meaning in difficult situations, and keep their mental health in check when things become tough. In addition to serving as a cognitive archive, autobiographical memory actively makes meaning and facilitates adaptive functioning via the mediating functions of resilience and coping. Personal narratives impact emotional adjustment and identity formation throughout life, according to these findings, which support theoretical viewpoints. This study validates a strong structural model, which adds to our knowledge of how memory integration affects mental health and highlights the need to improve narrative coherence in treatments and preventions for trauma survivors.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Stoyana Natseva. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.