Is romantic partner betrayal a form of traumatic experience? A qualitative study

Summary & key facts

Earlier studies report that 30–60% of people who are betrayed by a romantic partner have PTSD, depression, or anxiety at clinically meaningful levels. This study interviewed 13 people who had completed a clinical trial for an adjustment problem after betrayal. Participants described betrayal as shocking and destabilizing and often used the word “trauma” as a metaphor. Few people framed their own reactions as traumatic stress, and many said they struggled to understand why their feelings were so intense. When they encountered explanations that used trauma or PTSD language, they reported feeling clearer, validated, and relieved.

Key facts:

• Previous research cited in the paper reports that 30%–60% of betrayed individuals show clinically meaningful PTSD, depression, or anxiety symptoms.
• The study used face-to-face, semi-structured interviews with 13 participants who had finished a clinical trial for an adjustment disorder related to betrayal.
• Researchers analyzed the interview data using thematic content analysis.
• Participants commonly described betrayal as a shocking and destabilizing event.
• Although participants used the word “trauma” as a metaphor for their experience, few explicitly labeled their own reactions as traumatic stress.
• Exposure to external sources that explained betrayal using a trauma or PTSD framework led participants to report feelings of clarity, validation, and relief.
• The authors note that, before this study, there was little or no qualitative research examining how betrayed people themselves experience or make sense of traumatic stress after betrayal.

Abstract

According to a growing body of research, betrayal by a romantic partner is increasingly considered as a form of interpersonal trauma. Between 30% and 60% of betrayed individuals experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety to clinically meaningful levels. From a clinical perspective, this constellation of symptoms can be conceptualized as a stressor-related adjustment disorder. Yet, no qualitative research has examined the association between romantic betrayal and traumatic stress from the perspective of betrayed individuals. Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 participants who had completed a clinical trial for a new treatment for adjustment disorder stemming from betrayal. Data were analysed using thematic content analysis. Although betrayal was experienced as a shocking and destabilizing event, and participants used trauma or 'feeling traumatized' as a metaphor to describe their experience, few had constructed their reaction as traumatic stress. In fact, participants reported experiencing difficulties understanding the intensity of their experience. However, when exposed to external sources (e.g., books and interviews by psychologists and researchers) that used a trauma and PTSD framework to explain the effects of betrayal, participants reported feeling clarity, validation and relief. Findings are discussed in the light of theoretical and clinical implications.

Topics

Attachment and Relationship Dynamics Child Abuse and Trauma Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research

Categories

Clinical Psychology Psychology Social Sciences

Tags

Anxiety Artificial intelligence Betrayal Clinical psychology Computer science Feeling Interpersonal communication Perspective (graphical) Psychiatry Psychology Psychotherapist Qualitative research Social psychology Social science Sociology Thematic analysis Traumatic stress