NSF Org:	BCS Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences
Recipient:	FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
Initial Amendment Date:	February 3, 1993
Latest Amendment Date:	December 15, 1995
Award Number:	9300956
Award Instrument:	Standard Grant
Program Manager:	Jasmine Young jyoung@nsf.gov  (703)292-4833 BCS  Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences SBE  Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences
Start Date:	January 1, 1993
End Date:	June 30, 1996 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount:	$49,521.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date:	$49,521.00
Funds Obligated to Date:	FY 1993 = $49,521.00
History of Investigator:	Lorraine Bahrick (Principal Investigator) bahrick@fiu.edu Janat Parker (Co-Principal Investigator)
Recipient Sponsored Research Office:	Florida International University 11200 SW 8TH ST MIAMI FL  US  33199-2516 (305)348-2494
Sponsor Congressional District:	26
Primary Place of Performance:	Florida International University 11200 SW 8TH ST MIAMI FL  US  33199-2516
Primary Place of Performance Congressional District:	26
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI):	Q3KCVK5S9CP1
Parent UEI:	Q3KCVK5S9CP1
NSF Program(s):	HUMAN COGNITION & PERCEPTION
Primary Program Source:
Program Reference Code(s):	9237
Program Element Code(s):	118000
Award Agency Code:	4900
Fund Agency Code:	4900
Assistance Listing Number(s):	47.075

ABSTRACT

This research will investigate memory in young children and their mothers for events related to a major hurricane as a function of stress, operationalized as level of hurricane exposure. Ninety-six three- and four-year-old children and their mothers will be interviewed two months and again one year following the devastation of Hurricane Andrew in Miami, Florida. Thirty-six additional three and four year olds and their mothers will be interviewed at the one-year interval only, as a control group. Participants will be selected so as to represent equally low, moderate, and severe hurricane exposure conditions, defined by the extent of damage to their homes. All participants will be asked to recount events that fall into three time periods, 1) the prehurricane preparations, 2) the hurricane itself, and 3) the posthurricane recovery period. The memory interview will consist of open-ended questions, followed by specific category prompts for each period. The research will assess the amount of rehearsal of the information from the period before, during, and after the hurricane, as well as the degree of child and adult well being. Accuracy, amount, and content of recall will be coded, using a propositional analysis. Of primary concern is how these retention measures differ as a function of stress level and retention interval. The research will assess the effects of the first interview on retention at one year, using comparisons against the control group for the three stress levels. The research will also explore relations between content and amount of recall for children and adults. Of secondary concern will be relations between measures of memory and well being, and between adult and child well being. Findings of this study may improve our understanding of the relation between memory and stress in children and provide us with important information about the amount, accuracy and nature of recall for a traumatic event. In contrast with most research on traumatic events (e.g., physical, emotional, or sexual child abuse), this research is unique in that stress is so easily operationalized and memories can be corroborated.

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