Adverse childhood experiences and dissociation among Hong Kong mental health service users

ABSTRACT

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have become a major concern in the mental health field. The literature suggests that ACEs could be associated with various mental health problems. Yet, ACEs require further investigation in Chinese cultures, especially in Hong Kong. Both the frequency of ACEs and their relationships with dissociation remain unknown in clinical settings in Hong Kong. In this study, we administered the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES), the Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire (SDQ) and the 10-item Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Questionnaire to 202 community mental health service users in Hong Kong. The frequency of ACEs and dissociation is reported and the trauma model of dissociation can be observed in this sample. Consistent with the Western literature, we found that ACEs are associated with mental health problems and that participants with childhood abuse and/or neglect report a significantly higher level of dissociation. While this study is preliminary, we suggest that ACEs and dissociation should receive more attention in the Chinese mental health field. Implications for practice are highlighted. Further studies are warranted.

KEYWORDS:

• Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)
• childhood trauma
• dissociation
• mental health
• Hong Kong

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Dr. Chui-De Chiu for granting the permission to use the Chinese version of the Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire. The authors would also like to thank the frontline social workers in the two mental health community centres for their help with the data collection.