Reminiscence and its Relationship to Attachment and Personality in Geropsychiatric Patients

The relationships between reminiscence functions and attachment styles; reminiscence and personality factors; and attachment and personality were examined in forty patients attending a geropsychiatric outpatient clinic. They were administered the Reminiscence Functions Scale, NEO-FFI, and the Relationship Questionnaire. Compared with insecurely attached older patients, securely attached older patients score higher on the teach/inform reminiscence function. Consistent with prior research, relationships were found between the extraversion personality factor and conversation reminiscence; and between the openness personality factor and both identity and problem-solving reminiscence functions.