SELF-CONTINUITY OF AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL MEMORY IN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN STRESS AND LIFE SATISFACTION
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.34142/23129387.2026.75.28Abstract
Relevance of the study. Subjective well-being is an important indicator of psychological functioning; however, its relationship with stress may depend on individual cognitive characteristics. One potentially significant factor is the self-continuity function of autobiographical memory (SCF), which provides a link between the past, present, and future self. At the same time, the role of SCF in the relationship between perceived stress and life satisfaction remains insufficiently studied.
Aim of the study. To examine whether the self-continuity function of autobiographical memory moderates the relationship between perceived stress (PS) and life satisfaction (LS).
Results. The study involved 87 participants who completed measures of perceived stress, life satisfaction, and the self-continuity function of autobiographical memory. Moderation regression, simple slopes analysis, and the Johnson–Neyman technique were used to test the hypothesis. A statistically significant negative association was found between perceived stress and life satisfaction. A statistically significant interaction between perceived stress and SCF was also identified. Simple slopes analysis showed that at high levels of SCF, the negative association between perceived stress and life satisfaction was stronger, whereas at low levels of SCF, it was weaker.
Conclusions. The findings indicate that the self-continuity function of autobiographical memory is a significant moderator of the relationship between perceived stress and life satisfaction. In the present sample, a high level of SCF did not attenuate but, rather, strengthened the negative association between stress and life satisfaction. These findings suggest that self-continuity in autobiographical memory should be considered not only as a potentially resourceful cognitive process but also as a factor whose role depends on the context of stress experience. The findings extend our understanding of the psychological mechanisms underlying the relationship between stress and subjective well-being and complement the transactional model of stress by incorporating the functions of autobiographical memory.
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