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The Role of Self-connectedness, Connectedness to Others, and Connectedness to the World in the Recovery from PTSD: A Systematic Literature Review
Ibrahimović, N. (2025) The Role of Self-connectedness, Connectedness to Others, and Connectedness to the World in the Recovery from PTSD: A Systematic Literature Review.
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| Abstract: | Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a complicated psychological response to experiencing or observing traumatic events. Connectedness may play a key role in PTSD recovery by fostering acceptance and a sense of purpose, which support emotional regulation and positive coping strategies. Connectedness includes three dimensions: connectedness to self, to others, and to the world. In this systematic literature search was conducted examining the role of the dimension of connectedness on PTSD recovery through the analysis of six peer-reviewed publications from Scopus, PsychINFO, and Web of Science databases. The included studies focused on diverse populations, such as women with experiences of sexual violence, individuals affected by natural and man-made disasters, military veterans with trauma related to deployment, and people living with severe mental health conditions. These studies utilised various research methods, including qualitative techniques and cross-sectional study designs. Despite the small number of studies, the findings indicate that all three types of connectedness may contribute to recovery from PTSD. Higher levels of connectedness to self, connectedness to others, and connectedness to the world were linked to improved emotional processing, resilience, and psychological growth. These results provide an important initial insight into how connectedness might aid recovery from trauma. However, due to the limited and varied nature of the existing evidence, conclusions should be made cautiously. In conclusion, future investigations should use longitudinal and mixed-method methodologies to broaden knowledge of connectedness and assist in designing more integrated and successful interventions. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Master) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 77 psychology |
| Programme: | Psychology MSc (66604) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/107870 |
| Export this item as: | BibTeX EndNote HTML Citation Reference Manager |
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