A Systematic Review of Trauma Disclosure Behaviors to Informal Support Sources

The process of trauma disclosure can positively impact recovery trajectories and prevent or reduce posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Notably, trauma disclosure to informal sources of support (e.g., family, friends) occurs more often than to formal sources (e.g., police, therapist). However, there is a gap in understanding various critical aspects of trauma disclosure behaviors, particularly to informal sources. This review synthesizes the extant literature of trauma disclosure behaviors to informal sources, examining behavioral aspects including whom survivors choose to disclose to, details that are shared, timing and frequency of disclosures, and reasons that motivate survivors to disclose their trauma.

We conducted a systematic review utilizing three databases (PsycINFO, PTSDPubs, PubMed). Eligible papers were required to assess trauma disclosure behavior among adult samples with lifetime trauma history, resulting in a total of 113 articles in the final review.

Rates of disclosure ranged from 25% to 97.6%. Diverse patterns of trauma disclosure emerged, with variations in the recipients of disclosures and the content shared. The time to first disclosure ranged widely, from the day the traumatic event occurred to nearly two decades afterwards. Motivations for disclosing trauma were also varied, encompassing both psychological needs and social factors.

The limitations of existing literature and methodological considerations are highlighted, particularly as the majority of studies utilized study-specific, non-validated methods for assessing disclosure. Additional research is needed to understand the nuanced aspects of trauma disclosure behaviors and their implications for treatment outcomes and cultivation of social support for survivors.