Relations Among Anxiety, Depression, and Dissociative Symptoms: The Influence of Abuse Subtype

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore relations and mediating factors among dissociation, depression, and state–trait anxiety for individuals who experienced physical abuse, sexual abuse, both physical and sexual abuse, or no abuse. In all, 549 Turkish undergraduate university students participated in the study and completed the Dissociative Experiences Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory, the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory, and a demographic measure. Both physical abuse and sexual abuse were associated with elevated levels of dissociative symptoms and with pathological dissociation. Results demonstrated that patterns of relations between anxiety, depression, and the forms of dissociation differed significantly among the participants who reported sexual abuse as compared with the other groups. Results suggest that dissociative symptomatology may differ in its relation to depression and anxiety according to abuse subtype.

KEYWORDS:

• dissociation
• anxiety
• depression
• sexual abuse
• physical abuse

The study was conducted at the University of Yüzüncü Yil, one of the oldest universities in the East Anatolian region of Turkey.