Exploring the impact of complex trauma on personal relationships. IPA
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring the impact of complex trauma on personal relationships: An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis
IRAS ID
335519
Contact name
Caroline Mangham
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of East Anglia - Research and Innovation Services
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 5 days
Research summary
The research question is: How do people experience the impact of complex trauma on personal relationships in their day-to-day lives? It is relevant to patients and the public due to the lack of qualitative research in this area, particularly studies that explore the personal experiences and meanings that people hold. Relationships can be very difficult for people who have endured complex trauma events and struggle with psychological, emotional, and relational difficulties throughout their lives. This may also impact their engagement with services because of difficulties trusting others. Therefore, further research in this area is important. The study area is complex trauma which relates to those who have endured complex trauma events throughout their development and often life course, and experience psychological difficulties because of their trauma. Potential participants would be NHS secondary care community mental health service users; adults over the age of 18 who struggle with complex trauma difficulties because of traumatic experiences. Recruitment will take place within secondary care mental health teams to establish a sample of 8-10 participants. The interviews will be conducted at an NHS site, participant’s home, or virtually via MS Teams. Each participant will be able to choose a suitable location for the interview. Potential participants will be approached by service professionals and provided with an information sheet. Once consent has been obtained from services, the Chief Investigator will contact potential participants, share information, and answer questions. If the potential participant decides to take part, arrangements will be made, and written consent obtained prior to the interview taking place. The study will last from the point of ethics approval until March 2025. However, participants will only be involved from the point of contact by the Chief Investigator, throughout the interview, and for two weeks afterwards to provide a window of time to withdraw consent.
REC name
HSC REC A
REC reference
24/NI/0040
Date of REC Opinion
21 Mar 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion