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Role of Meaning Making in the Association between Multiple Interpersonal Traumas and Post-Traumatic Adaptation

McElroy, Sarah Kobielski
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1245674525

Abstract Details

2009, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Bowling Green State University, Psychology/Clinical.
Research has consistently shown that greater numbers of interpersonal traumas are associated with more serious mental health problems, yet we have a limited understanding of why there is significant variation in the severity and types of post-traumatic difficulties endorsed by victims of multiple interpersonal traumas. The current study examined the role of meaning making of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) in the association between multiple interpersonal traumas and post-traumatic adaptation. One hundred and four participants with confirmed histories of CSA concurrently reported on lifetime experiences of seven different types of interpersonal traumas, completed a sexual abuse meaning making interview, and completed questionnaires assessing different indicators of post-traumatic adaptation. Narrative analysis was used to categorize youth as using either a constructive meaning making approach or one of two non-constructive meaning making approaches (i.e., absorption or avoidance). The vast majority of these youth reported additional experiences of interpersonal trauma, and correlational analyses revealed that greater numbers of interpersonal traumas were associated with more internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Structural equation modeling was used to assess whether constructive versus non-constructive meaning making mediated and/or moderated the relationship between the number of interpersonal traumas and post-traumatic adaptation. Results supported a moderation model. Greater experiences of interpersonal trauma were associated with greater difficulties in post-traumatic adaptation for youth who approached meaning making in a non-constructive manner. In contrast, there was no association between multiple experiences of interpersonal trauma and difficulties in post-traumatic adaptation for youth who approached meaning making in a constructive manner. Path analysis was used to examine whether absorbed and avoidant meaning making moderated the relationship between the number of interpersonal traumas and different types of mental health problems (i.e., internalizing and externalizing symptoms). There was insufficient evidence to show that the relationship between multiple interpersonal traumas and both internalizing and externalizing symptoms vary according to the type of non-constructive meaning making victims use. Results of the current study suggest that the manner in which youth approach meaning making of CSA has implications for the relationship between multiple interpersonal traumas and post-traumatic adaptation.
Valerie Simon (Advisor)
Eric Dubow (Committee Member)
John Tisak (Committee Member)
Eric Myers (Committee Member)
96 p.
Psychology
multiple interpersonal traumas; meaning making; sexual abuse

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • McElroy, S. K. (2009). Role of Meaning Making in the Association between Multiple Interpersonal Traumas and Post-Traumatic Adaptation [Doctoral dissertation, Bowling Green State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1245674525

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • McElroy, Sarah. Role of Meaning Making in the Association between Multiple Interpersonal Traumas and Post-Traumatic Adaptation. 2009. Bowling Green State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1245674525.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • McElroy, Sarah. "Role of Meaning Making in the Association between Multiple Interpersonal Traumas and Post-Traumatic Adaptation." Doctoral dissertation, Bowling Green State University, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1245674525

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

bgsu1245674525
848
© 2009, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Bowling Green State University and OhioLINK.