Children's delayed memory accuracy: examining mechanisms of children's anxiety and parental attachment tendencies

Among various elements that can affect the accuracy of children's recall of stressful events, this study explores children's anxiety and parental attachment characteristics. A sample of 4- to 9-year-olds who underwent necessary dental treatment was recruited to examine how parents' avoidant or anxious attachment tendencies and children's anxiety levels influenced children's delayed recall. Results showed that children of parents with negative attachment tendencies and children who had greater anxiety displayed relatively lower accuracy in immediate recall. Negative parental attachment tendencies also significantly affected children's delayed recall accuracy. These findings indicate the importance of accounting for parental characteristics that affect children's memories of stressful events. Practically, given the inevitability of long delays in investigative interviews, the need to consider individual differences in both parents and children should be emphasized-especially in terms of interviewing child witnesses.