Karen Salmon

Karen Salmon is broadly interested in youth mental health. In particular, her broad focus is on how psychological difficulties (e.g., behavioural problems, depression) develop and how they might be reduced. Her current specific interest iis in how autobiographical memory is related to psychological wellbeing, particularly for children and adolescents. Autobiographical memory is memory for our personal experiences.These kinds of memories play important roles in our lives, including maintaining a sense of identity across time; guiding decisions on future courses of action; and helping to develop and build relationships with others.

Within this broader area, Karen's research (with students and collaborators) asks two main questions. First, how are the qualities of young people's memories of their personal experiences related to their depression, anxiety, and wellbeing? Second, how the qualities of children and adolescents’ reminiscing conversations with the adults in their lives shape their personal memories, their understanding of their world, and their psychological wellbeing?