<p>Exposure to violence and victimization is associated with adverse effects on psychological functioning, physical health, and well-being. Little is known about the association between violence/victimization exposure, event centrality and PSTD in caregivers living in poverty. We proposed direct and indirect effects such that: (1) violence/victimization exposure, depressive symptoms, and event centrality will be associated with trauma symptoms; (2) event centrality will be associated with depressive symptoms; (3) depressive symptoms will have an indirect effect on the relationship between violence/victimization exposure and trauma symptoms; and (4) event centrality will have an indirect effect on the relationship between violence/victimization exposures and trauma symptoms event centrality. We sampled 215 caregivers who were predominantly female (98.0%), African American (94%), and unemployed (79%). We used path analysis to test for direct and indirect effects. Participants reported an average of 11.13 violent/victimizing events (SD = 4.57). Most presented with probable clinical depression (CESD M = 21.15, SD = 11.95) and PTSD (PCL-C M = 42.21, SD = 15.09).</p><p>Positive associations were found between violence/victimization exposure, event centrality, depressive symptoms, and PTSD symptoms. Analyses detected significant indirect effects of event centrality and depressive symptoms on the relationship between violence exposure and trauma symptoms. Increased violence/victimization exposures were associated with increased depressive symptoms and greater perceived event centrality. As exposure increased, participants were more likely to incorporate violent events into personal narratives and to experience symptoms of depression and PTSD. Findings suggest therapeutic techniques that incorporate life stories are critical in addressing trauma symptomatology in female caregivers surviving poverty.</p>