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Cited by 63Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ResearchChild Abuse and TraumaPsychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research

Association of life threat and betrayal with posttraumatic stress disorder symptom severity

Kelley, Lance P., Weathers, Frank W., Mason, Elizabeth A., Pruneau, Genevieve M.·2012·Journal of Traumatic Stress
DOI 10.1002/jts.21727
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Abstract

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed., text rev.; DSM-IV-TR; American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2000) emphasizes life threat as the defining feature of psychological trauma. Recent theoretical and empirical work, however, indicates the need to identify and evaluate other key aspects of trauma. Betrayal has been proposed as a pertinent, distinct, and complementary factor that can explain effects of trauma not accounted for by life threat alone. This study examined the relationship between injury, perceived life threat (PLT), and betrayal with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity. Trauma-exposed college students (N = 185) completed self-report measures of trauma exposure and PTSD, as well as items regarding life threat, betrayal, and level of medical care received. In hierarchical regressions incorporating injury, PLT, and betrayal, betrayal was associated with all PTSD symptom clusters and PTSD total severity (f(2) = .08), whereas PLT was associated with hyperarousal (f(2) = .05) and PTSD total (f(2) = .03), and injury had no association with PTSD symptoms. In a revised model with trauma type as an additional variable, betrayal was associated with avoidance (f(2) = .03), numbing (f(2) = .04), and PTSD total (f(2) = .03), whereas PLT was associated with reexperiencing (f(2) = .04), hyperarousal (f(2) = .04), and PTSD total (f(2) = .03), and injury was associated with avoidance (f(2) = .03). These findings support the idea that…

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  • There is cause to explore and acknowledge trauma resulting not only from events with a perceived life threat, but also from events involving betrayal of trusted relationships.

    “However, whether related to a discrete trauma like discovery of an addiction, or a more complex trauma history, it appears there is cause to explore and acknowledge trauma resulting not only from events with a perceived life threat, but also from events involving betrayal of trusted relationships (Kelley et al., 2012).”

    From Assessing the Validity of the Trauma Inventory for Partners of Sex Addicts (TIPSA) (2020) · cites this paper as Kelley et al., 2012

  • Other studies suggest that betrayal may be a core dimension of trauma.

    “In addition to complex trauma, other studies suggest that betrayal may be a core dimension of trauma, and that it may be possible to differentially predict symptoms of PTSD resulting from instances of betrayal and threat to life (Freyd & Birrell, 2013; Gomez, Lewis, Noll, Smidt, & Birrell, 2016; Kelley, Weathers, Mason, & Pruneau, 2012; Platt & Freyd, 2015).”

    From Assessing the Validity of the Trauma Inventory for Partners of Sex Addicts (TIPSA) (2020) · cites this paper as Kelley, Weathers, Mason, & Pruneau, 2012

  • There appears to be cause to acknowledge that symptoms of PTSD can result not only from an event with a perceived life threat, but also from an event involving a betrayal of a trusted relationship.

    “As such, there appears to be cause to acknowledge that symptoms of PTSD can result not only from an event with a perceived life threat, but also from an event involving a betrayal of a trusted relationship (Kelley et al., 2012).”

    From Assessing the Validity of the Trauma Inventory for Partners of Sex Addicts (TIPSA) (2020) · cites this paper as Kelley et al., 2012

  • It may be possible to differentially predict symptoms of PTSD resulting from instances of betrayal and threat to life.

    “In addition to complex trauma, other studies suggest that betrayal may be a core dimension of trauma, and that it may be possible to differentially predict symptoms of PTSD resulting from instances of betrayal and threat to life (Freyd & Birrell, 2013; Gomez, Lewis, Noll, Smidt, & Birrell, 2016; Kelley, Weathers, Mason, & Pruneau, 2012; Platt & Freyd, 2015).”

    From Assessing the Validity of the Trauma Inventory for Partners of Sex Addicts (TIPSA) (2020) · cites this paper as Kelley, Weathers, Mason, & Pruneau, 2012

  • The experience of betrayal during a trauma is uniquely predictive of overall severity of PTSD symptoms, PTSD-related avoidance, and emotional numbing, above and beyond severity of the injury, trauma type, and perceived life threat.

    “Research has shown that the experience of betrayal during a trauma is uniquely predictive of overall severity of PTSD symptoms, PTSD-related avoidance, and emotional numbing, above and beyond severity of the injury, trauma type, and perceived life threat (Kelley, Weathers, Mason, & Pruneau, 2012).”

    From The association between social support and posttraumatic stress symptoms among survivors of betrayal trauma: a meta-analysis (2021) · cites this paper as Kelley, Weathers, Mason, & Pruneau, 2012

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Authors
Kelley, L. P., Weathers, F. W., Mason, E. A., & Pruneau, G. M.
Affiliations
Auburn University (US)
Corresponding author
Kelley, Lance P.
ORCID
Weathers, Frank W.
Venue
Journal of Traumatic Stress
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2012-07-20
Volume
25
Issue
4
Pages
408-415
ISSN
  • 0894-9867 (ISSN-L)
  • 1573-6598
DOI
10.1002/jts.21727
OpenAlex
W1989361200
Cited by
63
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 5
FWCI
3.63
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
  • Journal of Traumatic Stress (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
Keywords
post-traumatic stress disorder, perceived life threat, betrayal, trauma exposure, PTSD symptom severity, hyperarousal, avoidance, re-experiencing, numbing, injuries, trauma type, university students, PTSD etiology
MeSH terms
Accidents, Adolescent, Adult, Analysis of Variance, Disasters, Female, Health Services, Humans, Male, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Surveys and Questionnaires, Regression Analysis, Severity of Illness Index, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Students, Violence, Wounds and Injuries, Critical Illness, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Young Adult, Self Report

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