Journal List > J Korean Acad Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs > v.22(3) > 1057975

Kong and Bae: Impact of Childhood Trauma on Post-traumatic Stress Symptoms and Dissociation: Mediating Effect of Bullying

Abstract

Purpose

The purposes of the study were to determine whether specific forms of childhood traumatic experience predicts post traumatic stress symptoms and dissociation and to investigate the mediating effects of bullying experience on forms of childhood trauma and post traumatic stress symptoms or dissociation.

Methods

Participants were patients (n=90) from "S" clinic for psychological trauma. Data were collected from January 2012 to January 2013 through semi-structured interviews and self-reports using a modified Lifetime Incidence of Traumatic Events, Korean Version of Impact of Event Scale-Revised, and Dissociative Experience Scale.

Results

The participants showed high rates for childhood trauma and high scores on post traumatic stress symptoms and dissociation, and 38.9% of participants self-reported experiencing more than three types of trauma. Physical abuse was found to be a significant predictor of post traumatic stress symptoms and dissociation. It was also found that bullying experience partially mediated the association between physical abuse and post traumatic stress symptoms or dissociation.

Conclusion

Future interventions for patients with childhood trauma should focus on assessing the possibility of dissociation. As boys and girls who experienced physical abuse in childhood are likely to be victims of bullying, school counselors should assess their support system and refer to mental health professionals as necessary.

Figures and Tables

Table 1
Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of the Subjects (N=90)
jkapmhn-22-193-i001

PTSD=post-traumatic stress disorder.

Table 2
Major Variables of the Subjects (N=90)
jkapmhn-22-193-i002

IES=impact of events scale; DES=dissociative experience scale.

Table 3
Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms and Dissociation by Childhood Trauma and Bullying (N=90)
jkapmhn-22-193-i003

PTSS=post-traumatic stress symptoms.

Table 4
Frequency of Childhood Trauma by Bullying (N=90)
jkapmhn-22-193-i004

Fisher's exact test.

Table 5
Mediating Effects of Bullying between Childhood Trauma and Post-traumatic Stress Symptoms and Dissociation (N=90)
jkapmhn-22-193-i005

Adj. R2=adjusted R2.

The mediator is entered together with the predictors into regression equation.

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