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Impact of Cultural Differences in Self on Cognitive Appraisals in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 May 2009

Laura Jobson  and
Richard T. O'Kearney
Laura Jobson*
Affiliation:
University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
Richard T. O'Kearney
Affiliation:
Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
*
Reprint requests to Laura Jobson, School of Medicine, Health Policy and Practice, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK. E-mail: l.jobson@uea.ac.uk
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Abstract

Background: Accumulating research indicates posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a universal phenomenon. However, it remains substantially unknown as to whether the processes implicated in the aetiology and maintenance of PTSD are culturally similar. Aims: This study investigated the impact of cultural differences in self on negative cognitive appraisals in those with and without PTSD. Method: Trauma survivors with PTSD and without PTSD from independent and interdependent cultures (N = 106) provided trauma narratives. Narratives were coded for negative cognitive appraisals (mental defeat, control strategies, alienation and permanent change) as in Ehlers and colleagues' previous work. Results: Replicating Ehlers and colleagues' work, trauma survivors with PTSD from independent cultures reported more mental defeat, alienation, permanent change and less control strategies than non-PTSD trauma survivors from independent cultures. In contrast, for those from interdependent cultures, only alienation appraisals differentiated between trauma survivors with and without PTSD. Those with PTSD had more alienation appraisals than those without PTSD. Conclusions: The findings suggest cultural differences in self impact on the relationship between appraisals and posttraumatic psychological adjustment. Theoretical and clinical implications are discussed.

Keywords

Posttraumatic stress disorderappraisalscultureself
Type
Research Article
Information
Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy , Volume 37 , Issue 3 , May 2009 , pp. 249 - 266
Copyright
Copyright © British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 2009

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