The Internal Autobiographical Map: Enhancing Psychological Resilience in Post-Traumatic Recovery
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29070/wsy2aq83Keywords:
Internal Autobiographical Map, Trauma Recovery, Psychological Resilience, Narrative Identity, Autobiographical MemoryAbstract
Conventional trauma models often prioritize symptom reduction over restoring personal identity and narrative coherence, a critical gap for displaced and cross-cultural populations. This study proposes and tests the Internal Autobiographical Map (IAM), a framework for organizing life stories to foster resilience. A mixed-methods approach was utilized a structured questionnaire with 384 trauma-affected individuals from diverse backgrounds. Quantitative analyses revealed a strong positive association between autobiographical mapping and psychological resilience (r up to .764, p < .001). Factor analysis confirmed IAM as a robust, unidimensional construct explaining 88.46% of the variance. Storytelling (β = .508, p < .001) and positive reframing (β = .362, p = .005) were significant resilience predictors. Individuals with trauma histories scored significantly higher on IAM engagement (p < .001), indicating its role in identity reconstruction. The IAM is a powerful, culturally adaptable tool that empowers individuals to rebuild a coherent identity, thereby enhancing psychological resilience and enabling sustainable recovery that transcends clinical and cultural boundaries.
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