Date of Award

2017

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Psychology

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Kahana, Boaz

Subject Headings

Clinical Psychology, Psychology

Abstract

The present study explored the mediating effects of dissociation and emotion dysregulation on the relationship between different types of childhood trauma and symptoms of posttraumatic stress. Participants were 181 undergraduate students at Cleveland State University, who competed measures of childhood trauma (emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and general trauma), posttraumatic stress symptoms, dissociation, and emotion dysregulation. Multiple mediation analyses were conducted to examine the model proposed in this study. The results of this study revealed that all trauma types significantly predicted adulthood posttraumatic stress. The relationship between emotional abuse and posttraumatic stress was mediated through both dissociation and emotion dysregulation. Specific indirect effects emerged through dissociation on physical abuse and emotional abuse, and through emotion dysregulation on general trauma, and posttraumatic stress. These findings support prior research that associates posttraumatic stress symptoms to traumatic childhood experiences. Furthermore, the results indicate differential psychopathological outcomes related to type of traumatic experience in early life.

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