What comes to mind when you hear the term ‘trauma’? A qualitative study of social representations of trauma in Ireland

Psychological trauma is an increasingly prominent construct in contemporary culture, invoked across diverse contexts of policy, practice, and public discourse. However, little is known about how laypeople conceptualise trauma in everyday life. This qualitative study explored social representations of trauma among residents of the Republic of Ireland. Twenty participants completed interviews that elaborated their associations with the term ‘trauma’. Thematic analysis identified three overarching themes, which represented trauma as (a) an individual journey, (b) a byproduct of social ills, and (c) a cultural construct. More specifically, participants viewed trauma as highly subjective, shaped by individual differences in experiences, responses and outcomes. In parallel, trauma was linked to societal-level phenomena such as war and violence, with social support positioned as key to coping and recovery. Participants were highly sensitive to the growing cultural prominence and widening uses of trauma and expressed ambivalence regarding this trend, welcoming trauma’s de-stigmatisation but decrying its potential trivialisation. These findings offer original insights into how trauma is understood beyond clinical settings, informing responsible uses of the concept and ongoing debates about its cultural significance. • Psychological trauma is an increasingly prominent construct in contemporary culture • Qualitative interviews explored lay associations with the concept of trauma • Trauma was construed as an individual journey, byproduct of social ills, and cultural construct • Lay understandings of trauma have potential implications for clinical, personal and societal contexts