Laaser, D., Putney, H. L., Bundick, M., Delmonico, D. L., Griffin, E. J. (2017). Posttraumatic growth in relationally betrayed women. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12211
Study type: Quantitative analysis of an online survey
Sample size: 202
Demographics:
All 202 participants were heterosexual females who reported a relational betrayal in their current committed/romantic relationship. Median age range 41-50 years old. 95% Caucasian. Average length of marriage 20 years.
Key findings & quotes: Study examined whether relationally betrayed women viewed the betrayal as a traumatic event, and if so, whether they experienced post traumatic growth.
- 60.89% of participants met the DSM-5 criteria for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
- 96% of participants listed relational betrayal as a “very traumatic event” in their lives.
- 56.7% of participants labeled the betrayal as “the most traumatic event in my life.”
- Approximately 80% of participants reported some degree of posttraumatic growth in each of the five areas evaluated: Personal Strength 88.7%, Spiritual Change 87%, Relating to Others 86.2%, Appreciation of Life 85.3%, and New Possibilities 83.5%.
- There was no significant difference in posttraumatic growth between those who met the PTSD criteria and those who did not.
- For those who utilized professional supports, participants identified therapists (e.g., counselors, psychologists, or marriage and family therapists) as the most helpful, followed by psychiatrists.
- Clergy and other medical personnel were rated as the least helpful.
- 72% of those who utilized individual therapy identified it as one of their top four most important resources during the healing process. Likewise, couple’s therapy (49.5%), psychoeducational materials (47%), attending support groups (40.5%) and intensive multi-day treatment (29%) were listed in the top four important resources for those who utilized them.
- Of those who received a full disclosure of the relational betrayal, 50% identified it as one of the most important activities for their healing.
- “You need to forgive him and forget the past” was the advice rated as the least helpful by 34% of participants, followed by: “Leave your partner” (31%); “He will never change” (30%); “Pornography is not considered betrayal” (24%); “You just need to get over this and everything will be fine” (22%); and “If you had been more sexually available, he would not have betrayed you” (17%).