Dissociation in Foster Preschoolers: A Replication and Assessment Study

ABSTRACT

This study replicated the Child Behavior Checklist factor structure of traumatic sequelae in maltreated children that was established by A. C. Hulette and colleagues (in press; see also A. Cholankeril et al., 2007). The factors represent dissociation and posttraumatic stress disorder symptomatology. The present study also examined the extent to which these 2 factor scores varied depending on specific maltreatment experiences. Results indicated that children who experienced both physical and sexual abuse in addition to neglect had significantly higher levels of dissociation than children who experienced (a) sexual abuse alone or with neglect, (b) physical abuse alone or with neglect, or (c) only neglect. The current study provides evidence that children who experience multiple forms of maltreatment are more likely to be dissociative, perhaps due to a greater need for a coping mechanism to manage the distress of that maltreatment.

KEYWORDS:

• Dissociation
• PTSD
• maltreatment
• child abuse
• preschoolers

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to their participants and colleagues at the Child and Adolescent Services Research Center in San Diego, the Oregon Social Learning Center, and the Freyd Dynamics Lab at the University of Oregon.

Support for this research was provided by the following grants: DA021424 and DA017592 (National Institute on Drug Abuse) and MH059780 (National Institute of Mental Health).