A cross-cultural comparative analysis of the Trauma Bonding Scale for Adults© Between US and Kenyan Young Adults

• In Event: Comparative Interdisciplinary Research and the Trafficking in Persons Lab at the University of South Florida

Abstract

Trauma bonding—a phenomenon wherein individuals develop strong, trauma-coerced attachments to their abusers—has garnered significant attention in research and media. Sex trafficking is one context in which conditions instigate the development of trauma bonding between victims and traffickers. Despite the growing literature on trauma bonding within sex trafficking, scant research has examined the presentation of trauma bonding across various cultural contexts. The Trauma Bonding Scale for Adults© (TBSA) is a recently developed measure validated in the US (Reid, 2023) and in Kenya (Chenneville et al., 2023). The current study compares the factor structure of the TBSA between US and Kenyan samples of young adults (18-29). Findings underscore the significance of considering varying cultural contexts to gain a more nuanced understanding of the presentation of trauma bonding across diverse populations. Cultural implications in the utility of the scale within research and clinical settings are discussed.

Authors

• Klejdis Bilali, University of South Florida

• Serena Wasilewski, University of South Florida

• Tiffany Chenneville, University of South Florida

• Joan Reid, University of South Florida