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Experiences of violence can leave deep and lasting marks on the victim’s mental health. While some individuals remain affected for years, others recover and are able to move on. The study “Life After Violence,” conducted by the universities of Frankfurt, Giessen, and Marburg, investigates why people respond so differently to traumatic experiences and which factors shape these outcomes.
FRANKFURT. With the new study “Life After Violence,” researchers from the universities of Frankfurt, Giessen, and Marburg are examining how experiences of violence affect mental health – and why their psychological consequences vary so widely. The study is funded by the State of Hesse through the LOEWE program (State Initiative for the Development of Scientific and Economic Excellence), which supports cutting-edge research. The project forms part of the broader research network DYNAMIC, which brings together researchers from Frankfurt, Giessen, Marburg, and Darmstadt under the leadership of Winfried Rief and Andreas Reif. The study proposal was submitted by Regina Steil and Rolf van Dick (Goethe University Frankfurt), Christiane Hermann (University of Giessen), and Nina Alexander (University of Marburg), who also serve as the study’s principal investigators.
What the Study Examines
The study focuses on the psychological challenges that can emerge after experiences of violence: how these challenges manifest in everyday life, how they change over time, and how different symptoms interact. For the first time in this form, psychological, biological, and social factors are examined together within a single integrated framework.
Participants are followed over several weeks using a combination of questionnaires, structured interviews, and biological measures (such as hair samples). In addition, participants use a specially developed smartphone app to report on their daily well-being, stressors, and protective factors. This approach provides a detailed, real-time picture of psychological experiences in everyday life following violence. The study is recruiting both individuals who have developed psychological disorders after experiencing violence and those who report only mild or transient symptoms.
Why This Matters
Violence can have profound psychological and physical consequences. Some people develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or complex PTSD, while others show remarkable resilience despite comparable experiences. The researchers aim to better understand the mechanisms and conditions that shape these different trajectories – for example, how symptoms such as sleep disturbances, tension, or self-doubt interact and influence one another over time.
Using advanced analytical methods known as dynamic psychological network models, the project seeks to develop a new, holistic understanding of trauma outcomes. In the long term, these insights may contribute to improved diagnostics and more personalized, targeted therapeutic interventions.
Participation Requirements
The study is seeking adults aged 18 to 70 who have experienced physical violence at least once in their lives (for example, physical assault, childhood sexual abuse, rape, or other forms of physical violence). Participation in the approximately four-week study phase will be compensated with up to €420. Participants will also receive a comprehensive assessment of their mental health and, if psychological disorders are identified, information on appropriate treatment options. Participants need to be fluent in German to take part.
Study Procedure
Following an initial telephone contact, a brief screening will determine eligibility for participation. The study includes three in-person appointments, with the first two sessions lasting approximately three to four hours each. These sessions involve structured interviews on traumatic experiences and psychological symptoms, as well as standardized questionnaires. At the second appointment, biological samples (saliva and hair) are collected, and participants are introduced to the smartphone app mPath, which is used for daily data collection. This is followed by a three-week phase of ecological momentary assessment (EMA), during which participants respond several times a day to short app-based questions about their current feelings, thoughts, and symptoms.
The study concludes with a one-hour final session to address remaining questions, reflect on participants’ experiences, and formally complete participation.
Quote from the Study Leadership
“We want to understand in detail what happens psychologically when a person experiences physical violence and how this changes over time,” explains Regina Steil, one of the study’s principal investigators. “By identifying the underlying mechanisms, we aim to improve support and treatment for those affected.”
The study is funded by the DYNAMIC Center, which is supported by the Hessian Ministry for Science and Research, Art, and Culture. (LOEWE1/16/519/03/09.001(0009)/98)
Contacting the study’s organizers (for journalists):
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Regina Steil
Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy
Goethe University Frankfurt
E-Mail: steil@psych.uni-frankfurt.de
Prof. Dr. Christiane Hermann
Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy Justus Liebig University Giessen
E-Mail: Christiane.Hermann@psychol.uni-giessen.de
Prof. Dr. Rolf van Dick
Department of Social Psychology
Goethe University Frankfurt
E-Mail: van.dick@psych.uni-frankfurt.de
Prof. Dr. Nina Alexander
Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy
University Hospital Marburg
E-Mail: nina.alexander@uni-marburg.de
https://www.dynamic-center.net/leben-nach-gewalt/ E-Mail: Lebennachgewalt@psych.uni-frankfurt.de or Lebennachgewalt@uni-giessen.de
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