Disclosing traumatic experiences

The type and severity of traumatic events differentially predict negative posttraumatic outcomes, with betrayal traumas (in which the victim is perpetrated by someone s/he trusts) touted as the most harmful. Although disclosure is considered an important component of the "healing process," nondisclosure and delayed disclosure persist. This study explored factors predicting and the context surrounding disclosure as well as the link between disclosure timing and a trauma survivor's experience with depression. Participants (N = 124) were attendees of a Mental Health Awareness event who had experienced a traumatic event. Participant report of traumatic experiences revealed that 28.2%, 36.3%, and 35.5% of participants had experienced a low betrayal (LB), medium betrayal (MB), and high betrayal (HB) trauma, respectively. Almost half (43.5%) disclosed immediately after the trauma, 32.3% disclosed within a month, and 24.2% disclosed after 1 month or more. Betrayal trauma level significantly predicted disclosure timing with individuals who had experienced HB traumas significantly more likely to delay disclosure (HB:LB, odds ratio [OR] = 21.79; MB:LB, OR = 4.57). Trauma survivors predominantly first disclosed to informal support sources (e.g., friends, family), typically citing that they thought it would allow them to feel better or they perceived the other person to be concerned about their well-being as their reason for disclosing. Experiencing a HB trauma predicted subsequent depression severity, but disclosure status was not predictive of subsequent depression. Results will be discussed with respect to implications for assessment and interventions for trauma survivors

Betrayal · Moral injury · Psychiatry · Psychological intervention · Psychotherapist · Self-disclosure · Child Abuse and Trauma · Clinical Psychology · Medicine · Migration, Health and Trauma · Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research · Psychology · Social Psychology

• The Role of Emotional Creativity and Self-Disclosure in Post-traumatic Growth Among Healthcare Workers After the Covid-19 Pandemic

  Open Access•Anwar Iqbal, Muhana S Utami•Jurnal Psikologi•2024

  Añadir item

• Learning how to ask”

  Annett Lotzin, Cansas Study Group et al.•Psychological Trauma Theory…•2017

  Añadir item

• The stigma paradox

  Wanzhen Chen, Monit Cheung et al.•Journal of Ethnic & Cultural…•2025

  Añadir item

• Correlates of Formal and Informal Support Seeking in Sexual Assault Victims

  Open Access•Sarah E Ullman, Henrietta H Filipas•Journal of Interpersonal Violence•2001

  Añadir item

• Why children tell

  Open Access•Tina B Goodman-Brown, Robin S Edelstein et al.•Child Abuse & Neglect•2003

  Añadir item

• Disaster Victims Speak

  Fran H Norris, Melvin J Friedman et al.•Psychiatry•2002

  Añadir item

• Self-Reports of Potentially Traumatic Experiences in an Adult Community Sample

  Lewis R Goldberg, Jennifer J Freyd•Journal of Trauma & Dissociation•2006

  Añadir item

• Betrayal Trauma

  Jennifer J Freyd•Ethics & Behavior•1994

  Añadir item

• Childhood Adversities and Adult Psychiatric Disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication I

  Jennifer Green, Jennifer Greif Green et al.•Archives of General Psychiatry•2010

  Añadir item

• The CES-D Scale

  Open Access•Lenore Sawyer Radloff•Applied Psychological Measurement•1977

  Añadir item

• Delay in disclosure of childhood rape

  Open Access•Daniel W Smith, Elizabeth J Letourneau et al.•Child Abuse & Neglect•2000

  Añadir item

• The role of cumulative trauma, betrayal, and appraisals in understanding trauma symptomatology

  Christina Gamache Martin, Lisa Demarni Cromer et al.•Psychological Trauma Theory…•2011

  Añadir item

• An exploratory study evaluating responses to the disclosure of stressful life experiences as they occurred in real time

  Melissa Ming Foynes, Jennifer J Freyd•Psychological Trauma Theory…•2012

  Añadir item

• Betrayal and revictimization

  Robyn L Gobin, Jennifer J Freyd•Psychological Trauma Theory…•2009

  Añadir item

• Deciding Whom to Tell

  Open Access•Courtney E Ahrens, Rebecca Campbell et al.•Psychology of Women Quarterly•2007

  Añadir item

• Chronic Pain Syndromes and Violence Against Women

  Kathleen Kendall-Tackett, Kathleen Kendall–Tackett et al.•Women & Therapy•2003

  Añadir item

• The Impact of Trauma Exposure and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder on Healthcare Utilization Among Primary Care Patients

  Anand Kartha, Victoria Brower et al.•Medical Care•2008

  Añadir item