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Revised Diss - Mathews Samantha L.pdf (677.35 KB)

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

Meaning-Making, Psychological Outcomes, and Language Use when Describing Traumatic Events

Mathews, Samantha L.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xavier1558042915273947

Abstract Details

2019, Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.), Xavier University, Psychology.
The theory of shattered assumptions asserts that traumatic events destroy individuals’ basic beliefs that they are worthy of love and that the world is a reasonably benevolent and orderly place (Janoff-Bulmann, 1992). Researchers have relied on this theory to understand the connection between cognitive word usage and both PTSD symptoms and posttraumatic growth (PTG), speculating that individuals who use more cognitive words are able to rebuild resilient assumptions about themselves and the world by making meaning out of out their trauma. Using an expressive writing prompt and the Language Inquiry Word Count Software (LIWC; Pennebaker et al., 2015), the present study (N = 114) sought to determine if meaning-making mediates the relationships between cognitive word usage and PTSD symptoms, and between cognitive word usage and PTG. Contrary to hypotheses and previous research, the mediation analyses indicated that cognitive word usage predicted more, not fewer, PTSD symptoms. Meaning-making predicted more PTSD symptoms and PTG, and it did not act as a mediator for the relationship between cognitive word usage and PTSD or PTG. These findings challenge previous researchers’ speculation and provide important information regarding the conceptualization of trauma and traumatic growth.
Jennifer Gibson, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
Tammy Sonnentag, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Christine Dacey, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
156 p.
Psychology
Trauma; meaning making; posttraumatic growth; post traumatic stress disorder; PTSD; LIWC; shattered assumptions

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Mathews, S. L. (2019). Meaning-Making, Psychological Outcomes, and Language Use when Describing Traumatic Events [Doctoral dissertation, Xavier University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xavier1558042915273947

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Mathews, Samantha. Meaning-Making, Psychological Outcomes, and Language Use when Describing Traumatic Events . 2019. Xavier University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xavier1558042915273947.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Mathews, Samantha. "Meaning-Making, Psychological Outcomes, and Language Use when Describing Traumatic Events ." Doctoral dissertation, Xavier University, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xavier1558042915273947

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

xavier1558042915273947
178
© 2019, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Xavier University Psychology and OhioLINK.