title: Traumatic childhood events, perceived availability of emotional support, and the development of dissociative tendencies.
abstract: Past research has documented a link between childhood traumatic experiences and dissociative tendencies in adulthood. This study was undertaken to investigate the possibility that the previously reported link is purely an artifact of the level of emotional support available during childhood. A nonclinical sample of Australian adults was surveyed for the incidence of traumatic childhood events, the perceived availability of emotional support from intrafamilial and extrafamilial figures, and the presence of a dissociative coping style. Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that perceived availability of emotional support in childhood was a predictor of current dissociative tendencies, but account of the support factor did not eliminate the relationship between childhood trauma and dissociation. The data are consistent with the view that lack of emotional support is an important mediator, but not a primary cause, of the development of dissociative tendencies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of New England, Armidale NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Irwin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D004213:Dissociative Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012944:Social Support; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology*