The authors investigated the consistency with which stressful life events are reported by unaccompanied refugee minors during a 12-month follow-up period and analyzed to what extent demographic and psychopathology variables affected memory consistency. From a population-based sample of 920 unaccompanied refugee minors aged 12 to 18 years old, 63 % completed the follow-up measurements. Younger participants and those with lower levels of internalizing behavior and posttraumatic stress at follow-up were more prone to memory inconsistencies. Moreover, younger participants and those with fewer inconsistencies were more likely to have obtained a temporary residence permit. Given the difference between accuracy and consistency, it is not warranted to interpret memory inconsistencies as an indication of lack of credibility when assessing traumatic life events in minors applying for asylum. © 2006 International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.

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Netherlands medical assessment longitudinal study refugee memory psychological aspect demography follow up human Longitudinal Studies Life Change Events Refugees statistics life event Self Report controlled study Internal-External Control control Minors Stress Disorders, Traumatic Cross-Sectional Studies mental disease school child cross-sectional study Humans Adolescent male female personality test Personality Inventory internalization juvenile reproducibility Reproducibility of Results questionnaire Psychometrics Incidence psychometry Article major clinical study adult posttraumatic stress disorder Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic accuracy Child