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

Summary & key facts

Researchers interviewed 13 people who had been betrayed by a romantic partner and had completed a clinical trial for an adjustment-disorder treatment. Participants described betrayal as shocking and destabilizing and often used the word “trauma” to describe how they felt, but most did not label their own reactions as traumatic stress or PTSD. When participants read or heard explanations that framed betrayal in trauma or PTSD terms, many said they felt clearer, validated, and relieved. The study used in-depth interviews and thematic analysis, so the findings describe these people’s experiences but do not prove how common the patterns are in the general population.

Key facts:

• The study involved face-to-face semi-structured interviews with 13 participants who had completed a clinical trial for a treatment for adjustment disorder related to partner betrayal.
• Previous research cited in the paper reports that between 30% and 60% of people who experience partner betrayal have clinically meaningful symptoms of PTSD, depression, or anxiety.
• Participants commonly described betrayal as shocking and destabilizing and used trauma-related language such as “feeling traumatized.”
• Despite using trauma language, few participants had personally constructed their reactions as traumatic stress or a PTSD disorder.
• Many participants reported difficulty understanding why their emotional reactions were so intense after the betrayal.
• When participants encountered external sources (for example, books or psychologist interviews) that explained betrayal using a trauma or PTSD framework, they reported feelings of clarity, validation, and relief.
• Data were analyzed using thematic content analysis, a qualitative method that highlights themes in interview data; because the sample was small and specific, results are descriptive and not statistically generalizable.

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

Conditions & symptoms

Anxiety Anxiety or worry Sadness or low mood