Development and initial validation of the Betrayal Blindness Questionnaires (BBQs)
Files
Accepted manuscript
Date
2023-03-04
Authors
Gómez, Jennifer M.
Zounlome, Nelson O.O.
Noll, Laura K.
Version
OA Version
Accepted manuscript
Citation
J.M. Gómez, N.O.O. Zounlome, L.K. Noll. 2023. "Development and Initial Validation of the Betrayal Blindness Questionnaires (BBQs)" Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment and Trauma, Volume 32, Issue 3, pp.449-466. https://doi.org/10.1080/10926771.2022.2112339
Abstract
Emerging adults of Color are at increased risk for interpersonal trauma, including physical,
sexual, and emotional abuse (Porter & Williams, 2011). Understanding victims’ awareness of the
existence and impact of their own trauma history is important for research and clinical work.
However, because of trauma awareness processes (e.g., underreporting), it is challenging to
accurately measure awareness of trauma. Based on betrayal trauma theory (Freyd, 1996), the
concept of rotating betrayal blindness theorizes that awareness of past trauma may shift across
contexts and time (Noll & Gómez, 2013). The purpose of the current study is to provide an initial
validation of the Betrayal Blindness Questionnaires (BBQs) among a sample of emerging adults
of Color with trauma histories using exploratory factor analysis (EFA). With its three
questionnaires assessing past memory (PM-BBQ), current memory (CM-BBQ), and rotating
betrayal blindness (R-BBQ), the BBQs measure the past and present impact of traumatic events,
as well as how this impact may vary according to the theory of rotating betrayal blindness.
Participants (N = 155) were college students of Color who completed the one-hour online survey
at a location of their own choosing. Based on the EFA, the R-BBQ retained 19 items across 4
factors, the PM-BBQ retained 22 items across 4 factors, and the CM-BBQ retained18 items
across 4 factors. The questionnaires demonstrated adequate to excellent reliability (α = .66-.95).
The BBQs can be used in basic and applied research to better examine nonlinear changes to
autobiographical memory for trauma.