The Autobiographical Memory Content of Shiduers: The Influence of Chinese Culture

Abstract

Objective: To explore the autobiographical memory content of shiduers(parents who lost their single child)and the influence of Chinese culture. Methods: This study used the Autobiographical Memory Test(AMT) to conduct interviews with 17 shiduers, that is, the participants were presented with 10 pre-prepared clues, which triggered the participants’ autobiographical memory, and analysed the major items in their memory content. Results: The grief events associated with the loss of a child directly expressed the characteristics of grief and constitute explicit grief. Other types of autobiographical memory, including life-threatening events, other relationship events, self-knowledge and assessment, achievement events, recreation events, and non-classifiable events, all indirectly expressed grief characteristics and constitute implicit grief. Regardless of whether the content of the autobiographical memories expressesed explicit grief, such autobiographical memories were influenced by the traditional culture of China, including aspects of familism culture, such as the need to continue the family line by producing an heir and the belief that having no sons was contrary to the requirements of filial piety. Conclusion: To provide more effective service to shiduers, clinical psychologists and social workers must have a perspective on both explicit grief and implicit grief, they must also understand the expression of grief in light of the cultural backgrounds of individuals.