Illustration of fragmented memories within a silhouette, symbolizing childhood trauma and its long-term impact on memory.

Unlocking the Past: How Childhood Trauma Impacts Long-Term Memory

Avery Sinclair in Mind & Education August 2025 • 4 min read.

"A groundbreaking study reveals surprising insights into the enduring power of memory in adults who experienced childhood violence, challenging common assumptions about trauma and recall."

The legal landscape is shifting, with changes in statutes of limitations now allowing accusations of child sexual abuse to be considered in court, even decades after the alleged events. This development places a critical demand on scientific research to address the accuracy of long-term memory, especially concerning traumatic events like genital contact. Is it possible for memories of such experiences to endure, and what factors might influence their reliability?

While existing research confirms the potential for false memories of childhood sexual encounters, particularly in vulnerable individuals, a new study tackles a different aspect: the enduring nature of accurate memories of actual childhood genital contact. This is particularly important given concerns about inaccuracies amplified by trauma histories.

Now, a recent study published in Clinical Psychological Science sheds light on this critical area. Researchers analyzed adults' memories of verified childhood genital contact after an 18-to-20-year delay. This article will delve into the study's findings, exploring the factors that contribute to both accurate recall and potential memory errors, with implications for theory, clinical practice, and legal considerations.

Memory's Persistence: What the Research Reveals

Illustration of fragmented memories within a silhouette, symbolizing childhood trauma and its long-term impact on memory.

The study, led by Deborah Goldfarb and Gail S. Goodman, involved interviewing adults who, as children in the 1990s, underwent a documented child maltreatment medical examination that included genital touch. Nearly two decades later, researchers asked these adults to recall their experiences.

Here's what the study found:

Enduring Memories: Almost half of the adults accurately reported the childhood genital contact, demonstrating the remarkable persistence of these memories.
Factors Influencing Recall: Child sexual abuse and greater depression in adulthood predicted greater memory accuracy. This suggests that the impact of the trauma itself, and the individual's subsequent mental health, can play a significant role in shaping long-term recall.
No False Reports of New Abuse: Importantly, no participant falsely reported chargeable offenses that did not occur, even when such offenses had been falsely suggested in a childhood interview. This offers reassurance regarding the reliability of core memories.
Specific Errors: Some participants did make errors regarding specific and misleading questions, particularly those implying less egregious acts. This highlights the potential for suggestibility to influence memory details.

These findings challenge simplistic assumptions about memory and trauma, suggesting that while memories can be remarkably enduring, they are also susceptible to distortion and influenced by individual experiences and mental health.

Implications for Understanding and Healing

This research has significant implications for how we understand the long-term effects of childhood trauma. It suggests that memories of abuse can persist for decades, and that factors like prior abuse and depression can impact the accuracy of recall. Understanding these nuances is crucial for therapists, legal professionals, and anyone working with survivors of childhood trauma.

The finding that no participant falsely reported new abuse is particularly noteworthy. This suggests a degree of reliability in core memories of traumatic events, even when specific details may be susceptible to distortion.

Ultimately, this study underscores the complexity of memory and the need for a nuanced approach when working with individuals who have experienced childhood trauma. By understanding the factors that influence memory accuracy, we can better support survivors in their healing journey and ensure that legal and therapeutic practices are informed by the latest scientific evidence.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1177/2167702618805742, Alternate LINK

Title: Long-Term Memory In Adults Exposed To Childhood Violence: Remembering Genital Contact Nearly 20 Years Later

Subject: Clinical Psychology

Journal: Clinical Psychological Science

Publisher: SAGE Publications

Authors: Deborah Goldfarb, Gail S. Goodman, Rakel P. Larson, Mitchell L. Eisen, Jianjian Qin

Published: 2018-12-18

Everything You Need To Know

Do memories of childhood abuse really last for a long time?

The study showed that almost half of the adults accurately remembered the childhood genital contact, proving that memories of this type can indeed last for many years. This is significant because it challenges the idea that all traumatic memories are easily forgotten or unreliable. The study focused on the recall of *actual* events, which is crucial due to the rising number of legal cases involving historical accusations of child sexual abuse. This highlights the enduring nature of memories related to the specific experience of genital contact.

What makes a memory of childhood trauma more or less accurate?

According to the study, child sexual abuse and greater depression in adulthood were predictors of more accurate memory. This suggests that the severity of the traumatic experiences and the individual's ongoing mental health play a role in the accuracy of recall. The research also found that the impact of trauma itself and subsequent mental health shape long-term recall. The implication is that understanding the influence of these factors can help with therapy for those who have experienced trauma.

How did researchers study the long-term effects of childhood trauma?

The research, led by Deborah Goldfarb and Gail S. Goodman, looked into adults' memories of verified childhood genital contact, which occurred in the 1990s. The researchers interviewed adults who, as children, had undergone medical examinations that included genital touch and were documented as child maltreatment. The study examined the participants' recollections of their experiences nearly two decades after the events took place. This approach is essential to understand the long-term effects of trauma.

Did the study find that people made up abuse that never happened?

No participant falsely reported chargeable offenses that did not occur, even when suggested in a childhood interview. This is an important finding because it offers reassurance regarding the reliability of core memories. The study's design and findings support the reliability of the recalled events that took place, especially in the context of legal cases that might depend on the accuracy of these memories.

Can questioning someone about their past affect their memory?

Some participants made errors related to misleading questions, particularly those implying less severe acts. This indicates that suggestibility can influence specific details of a memory, even if the core event is remembered accurately. It emphasizes that while core memories can be reliable, the context in which the memory is accessed can introduce inaccuracies. These findings have implications for legal proceedings and clinical practice, specifically the way questions are framed when discussing past traumatic events.