APS
2026 APS Annual Convention · 2026
The Trauma of Poverty: A Qualitative Thematic Analysis
- Natalie Milom
University of Georgia, Athens Georgia - Naureen Sial
University of Georgia - Orion Mowbray
University of Georgia, Athens Georgia - Miya Tate
University of Georgia, Athens Georgia
Abstract
This qualitative study analyzed 208 social media posts from adults reflecting on childhood poverty. Themes showed emotional distress, hypervigilance, and internalized scarcity that parallel DSM-5-TR PTSD criteria. Findings suggest poverty may operate as a chronic traumatic stressor, highlighting the need for trauma-informed clinical practices and policy reform.
