Retrospective Memory Bias for the Frequency of Potentially Traumatic Events: A Prospective Study

We conducted a prospective study that tracked the frequency of potentially traumatic events (PTEs) and nontraumatic events among college students over a 4-year period using a weekly web-based survey. At the study's completion, participants attempted to recall the number of events they had endorsed on the web surveys. Although participants underrecalled the frequency of all types of life events, recollection was more accurate for PTEs than for non-PTEs. Recalled-frequency of PTEs was associated positively with distress at recall and inversely with trait self-enhancement. These effects were qualified by a distress X self-enhancement interaction. High distress at recall was associated with a greater recalled-frequency of PTEs, but only for people low in trait self-enhancement.