The effect of autobiographical memory function on depression and anxiety in Chinese shiduers (parents who have lost their only child): The moderating role of familistic emotion

Autobiographical memory has an important influence on the mental health of bereaved people. In this study, we conducted a questionnaire survey of 372 shiduers (parents who have lost their only child) to investigate the moderating role of familistic emotion in the effect of autobiographical memory function on depression and anxiety in shiduers. The results show that when either self-function or directive-function is the independent variable, familistic emotion plays a moderating role; however, when social function is the independent variable, familistic emotion does not play a moderating role. This article discusses the reasons for these results.