# Cultural Scripts of Trauma in East Africa Predicted by Cultural and Intrapersonal Factors: Path Analysis of a New Psychopathological Concept

## TL;DR

The study explores how cultural values in East Africa influence trauma responses, showing that these responses differ from Western models and need culturally specific diagnostic tools.

## Contribution

The paper introduces and validates the cultural scripts of trauma (CSTs) framework in an East African context, revealing unique cultural dimensions of trauma expression.

## Key findings

- Social axioms like religiosity and reward for application strongly predict growth-related cultural scripts of trauma.
- CSTs such as frame of mind and body-related symptoms are positively linked to PTSD severity.
- Some trauma responses like family stress and cognitive disruption are not captured by standard PTSD or DSO criteria.

## Abstract

Cultural factors play a central role in shaping responses to traumatic events. However, most trauma research has been conducted in Western populations, and culturally specific trauma sequelae remain underexplored in other contexts. This study applied the framework of cultural scripts of trauma (CSTs) to examine how cultural values, intrapersonal factors and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and disturbances in self‐organization (DSO) are interrelated in an East African context. This cross‐sectional study used convenience sampling. Data from East African trauma survivors were analysed using structural equation modelling and path analysis to investigate links among social axioms, general self‐efficacy, self‐mastery, CSTs, and PTSD and DSO symptoms. Social axioms (social complexity, reward for application and religiosity) predicted growth‐related CSTs more strongly than self‐efficacy or self‐mastery. CSTs such as frame of mind and body‐related symptoms were positively associated with PTSD severity. Mediation analyses indicated that CSTs partially explained the association between social axioms and PTSD symptoms. Notably, CSTs such as family stress and cognitive disruption were not linked to PTSD or DSO, suggesting culturally specific trauma responses not captured by current diagnostic criteria. Findings provide empirical support for the CSTs framework in an East African setting. The study highlights the importance of integrating cultural values and culturally specific symptom expressions into trauma assessment and intervention, and advances the development of culturally sensitive models of adaptation to trauma by identifying both unique and cross‐cultural dimensions of trauma responses.

Cultural scripts of trauma (CSTs) offer a framework for understanding how trauma is expressed in culturally specific ways, extending beyond Western diagnostic categories.In East African survivors, cultural values (e.g., religiosity, social complexity, reward for application) strongly shaped trauma responses, highlighting the importance of integrating cultural worldviews into assessment and treatment.Certain CSTs (e.g., ‘frame of mind’, ‘body‐related symptoms’) were linked to PTSD severity, suggesting that clinicians should pay attention to culturally shaped symptom expressions that may otherwise be overlooked.Some trauma responses (e.g., ‘family stress’, ‘cognitive disruption’) were not tied to standard PTSD or DSO symptoms, underlining the need for culturally sensitive diagnostic tools and interventions.

Cultural scripts of trauma (CSTs) offer a framework for understanding how trauma is expressed in culturally specific ways, extending beyond Western diagnostic categories.

In East African survivors, cultural values (e.g., religiosity, social complexity, reward for application) strongly shaped trauma responses, highlighting the importance of integrating cultural worldviews into assessment and treatment.

Certain CSTs (e.g., ‘frame of mind’, ‘body‐related symptoms’) were linked to PTSD severity, suggesting that clinicians should pay attention to culturally shaped symptom expressions that may otherwise be overlooked.

Some trauma responses (e.g., ‘family stress’, ‘cognitive disruption’) were not tied to standard PTSD or DSO symptoms, underlining the need for culturally sensitive diagnostic tools and interventions.