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<p>Epistemic Trust (ET), the capacity to consider communicated information as relevant, trustworthy, and generalizable, has emerged as a central construct in understanding psychological functioning, psychopathology, and therapeutic change. While theoretical accounts have proliferated, empirical evidence is only beginning to accumulate, particularly across diverse cultures. This paper presents two studies examining the psychometric properties and clinical relevance of the Hebrew version of the Epistemic Trust, Mistrust, and Credulity Questionnaire (ETMCQ). Study 1 (<i>N</i> = 2,561) tested the factor structure and construct validity of the Hebrew ETMCQ. Both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported the original three-factor structure. Construct validity was clearly established: Trust was negatively associated with childhood trauma and hostile worldview and positively associated with self-certainty and social support. Conversely, Mistrust and Credulity were linked with greater trauma exposure, impaired mentalizing, and insecure attachment. Study 2 (<i>N</i> = 253) tested a mediation model examining whether epistemic stance mediates the association between childhood trauma and Complex PTSD (CPTSD) symptoms. Results showed that Mistrust and Credulity partially mediated this relationship, whereas Trust did not emerge as a significant mediator. These findings suggest that mistrust and credulity function as specific mechanisms linking early adversity to trauma-related symptoms. Ultimately, the results support the Hebrew ETMCQ as a valid measure and underscore the importance of assessing epistemic stance in clinical research and trauma-informed interventions.</p>

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Epistemic trust and trauma: validation of the Hebrew ETMCQ and clinical implications

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月28日

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  • Shimrit Fisher,
  • Lilac Lev-Ari,
  • Peter Fonagy,
  • Michal Tanzer,
  • Chloe Campbell

摘要

Epistemic Trust (ET), the capacity to consider communicated information as relevant, trustworthy, and generalizable, has emerged as a central construct in understanding psychological functioning, psychopathology, and therapeutic change. While theoretical accounts have proliferated, empirical evidence is only beginning to accumulate, particularly across diverse cultures. This paper presents two studies examining the psychometric properties and clinical relevance of the Hebrew version of the Epistemic Trust, Mistrust, and Credulity Questionnaire (ETMCQ). Study 1 (N = 2,561) tested the factor structure and construct validity of the Hebrew ETMCQ. Both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported the original three-factor structure. Construct validity was clearly established: Trust was negatively associated with childhood trauma and hostile worldview and positively associated with self-certainty and social support. Conversely, Mistrust and Credulity were linked with greater trauma exposure, impaired mentalizing, and insecure attachment. Study 2 (N = 253) tested a mediation model examining whether epistemic stance mediates the association between childhood trauma and Complex PTSD (CPTSD) symptoms. Results showed that Mistrust and Credulity partially mediated this relationship, whereas Trust did not emerge as a significant mediator. These findings suggest that mistrust and credulity function as specific mechanisms linking early adversity to trauma-related symptoms. Ultimately, the results support the Hebrew ETMCQ as a valid measure and underscore the importance of assessing epistemic stance in clinical research and trauma-informed interventions.