New research reveals that American children who report memories of past lives grow up to lead normal, productive lives, with many finding spiritual meaning in their unique childhood experiences.
Published in Frontiers in Psychology | Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
In a follow-up study, researchers at the University of Virginia’s Division of Perceptual Studies have tracked the life outcomes of adults who, as young children, reported memories of apparent past lives. The study offers reassuring insights for parents whose children share similar experiences, suggesting these unusual childhood memories don’t impede healthy development.
The research team, led by Marieta Pehlivanova, interviewed 23 American adults who were originally studied as children when they reported memories of past lives. On average, 36 years had passed since their initial interviews. The results reveal that these individuals have developed into well-adjusted adults with high educational achievement, successful careers, and normal relationships.
“Adults who reported apparent past-life memories as children seem to lead normal, productive lives,” notes the study, published in Frontiers in Psychology. The research participants spanned various professions, including teachers, healthcare workers, architects, and business executives.
The study found that 65% of participants reported some lasting impact from their childhood memories, though few described negative effects. Many participants expressed that the experience fostered spiritual growth and shaped their perspectives on life and death. One participant shared how losing several family members in childhood felt less devastating because “I started to understand that they will be back.”
Interestingly, the research revealed that individuals with a stronger tendency for psychological absorption – the capacity to become deeply immersed in experiences – were more likely to report lasting effects from their childhood memories. The study also found that participants showed moderate-to-high levels of spiritual well-being, comparing similarly to members of inclusive spiritual communities.
While most participants (52%) reported that their apparent past-life memories had completely faded, some still retained fragments of these early recollections. The majority of participants (65%) maintained a belief in reincarnation as adults, significantly higher than the general American population’s rate of 27%.
This research marks the first follow-up study of American adults who reported past-life memories as children, complementing similar studies conducted in Sri Lanka and Lebanon. The findings suggest that regardless of cultural context, children who report these experiences typically develop normally and often find positive meaning in their unique childhood memories.
Glossary
Past-life memories: Spontaneous recollections reported by young children, typically between ages 3-6, about apparent previous lives.
Absorption: A personality trait characterizing one’s tendency to become deeply immersed in experiences and mental imagery.
Spiritual well-being: A measure of life satisfaction related to spiritual or religious dimensions of experience.
Quiz
What percentage of study participants reported some impact from their childhood memories?
65% of participants reported some lasting impact from their past-life memories, with most describing neutral or positive effects.
At what age do children typically report these memories?
Children usually report these memories between ages 3 and 6, with the memories typically fading as they enter school age.
What personality trait was associated with greater reported impact of the memories?
The trait of absorption – the tendency to become deeply immersed in experiences – was positively associated with reported impact of the memories.
How does the rate of belief in reincarnation among study participants compare to the general population?
65% of study participants believed in reincarnation, compared to 27% of the general American population.
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