Cited by 70Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ResearchIdentity, Memory, and TherapyMemory Processes and Influences

Trauma narratives: it’s what you say, not how you say it

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Jaeger, Jeff, Lindblom, Katie M., Parker-Guilbert, Kelly, Zoellner, Lori A.·2014·Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy

Abstract

Structural and content- related features of trauma narratives of traumatic events may help explain the development of PTSD. In a sample of 35 female assault survivors, we examined the association between the structure and content of trauma narratives and PTSD and other trauma-related reactions (i.e., depression, anxiety, anger, dissociation, and guilt). When controlling for recounting style and recounting distress, narrative structure was not strongly associated with PTSD or other trauma-related reactions. In contrast, the content of the trauma narratives (more positive and negative emotion words, higher cognitive process, and less self-focus being) was associated with lower symptomatology. Taken together, trauma narrative content rather than grammatical structure of the narrative may be more reflective of underlying emotional processing of the traumatic memory or lack thereof.

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Research works printed but not linked: 4

  1. First MB Spitzer RL Gibbon M Williams JB 1995 Structured clinical interview for DSM-IV axis I disorders-Patient edition (SCID-I/P, Version 2) New York Biometrics Research Department, New York State Psychiatric Institute
  2. Foa EB Riggs DS 1993 Post-traumatic stress disorder in rape victims Oldham J Riba MB Tasman A American Psychiatric Press Review of Psychiatry 12 273 303 American Psychiatric Press Washington, DC
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Authors
Jaeger, J., Lindblom, K. M., Parker-Guilbert, K., & Zoellner, L. A.
Affiliations
  • University of Washington (US)
  • Pennsylvania State University (US)
Venue
Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy
Published
2014-09
Volume
6
Issue
5
Pages
473-481
ISSN
  • 1942-9681 (ISSN-L)
  • 1942-969X
OpenAlex
W2107881927
Cited by
70
References
64
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 2
FWCI
5.51
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Psychological Trauma Theory Research Practice and Policy (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (F31MH077483; R01MH066347)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Identity, Memory, and Therapy
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
Keywords
trauma narratives, post-traumatic stress disorder, narrative content, narrative structure, women survivors, emotional words, cognitive processes, self-focus, depression, anxiety, anger, dissociation, guilt

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