title: Trauma centrality and PTSD symptom severity in adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
abstract: Theorists have posited that regarding a trauma as central to one's identity leads to greater posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity. To test this hypothesis, we administered the Centrality of Events Scale (CES) to women reporting a history of childhood sexual abuse (N = 102). The CES scores were correlated with PTSD symptom severity, depression severity, and self-esteem. In addition, we conducted a principal component analysis (PCA) to evaluate factors underlying the CES. The PCA yielded 3 factors reflecting (a) the centrality and integration of the trauma, (b) whether the event is regarded as a turning point in one's life story, and (c) whether the event is a reference point for expectations about the future. Each factor was associated with PTSD symptom severity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA. robinaug@fas.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Donald J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Robinaugh
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: McNally
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054523:Adult Survivors of Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012649:Self Concept; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000523:psychology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires