Impact of Childhood Trauma and Social Support on Dissociative Symptoms in Marines

Seong Sook Kong; Hey Rim Kim

doi:10.12934/jkpmhn.2015.24.4.257

Journal List > J Korean Acad Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs > v.24(4) > 1058050

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Kong and Kim: Impact of Childhood Trauma and Social Support on Dissociative Symptoms in Marines

Original Article

Journal of Korean Academy of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing 2015; 24(4): 257-266.

Published online: 31 December 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.12934/jkpmhn.2015.24.4.257

Impact of Childhood Trauma and Social Support on Dissociative Symptoms in Marines

Seong Sook Kong¹, Hey Rim Kim²

¹School of Nursing, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan, Korea.

²Armed Forces Goyang Hospital, Goyang, Korea.

Corresponding author: Kong, Seong Sook. School of Nursing, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, 31 Suncheonhyang 6-gil, Dongnam-gu, Cheonan 31151, Korea. Tel: +82-41-570-2488, Fax: +82-41-570-2498, kongsun@sch.ac.kr

Received 30 September 2015 Revised 16 November 2015 Accepted 18 December 2015

(open-access):

This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Purpose

The purposes of the study were to investigate childhood traumatic experiences and social support that might influence dissociative symptoms in Marine soldiers.

Methods

A cross-sectional study design was used with participants who were soldiers (n=122) assigned to one Marine corps in Ganghwa Island in the study. Data were collected on September 2015 through self-report using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Social Provisions Scale (SPS), and Dissociative Experience Scale. Descriptive analysis, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficients and stepwise multiple regression were performed.

Results

A total of 11.5% self-reported experiencing over three types of trauma; emotional neglect 34.4%, physical neglect 32.8%, emotional abuse 11.5%, physical abuse 11.5%, and sexual abuse 9.8%. For all subscales of the SPS, means of item were as high as three out of four points. A total of 9.0% were likely to be dissociative disorder. Sexual abuse, attachment, and opportunity for nurturance were found to be significant factors influencing dissociative symptoms.

Conclusion

Future military enlistment in Marines should include assessment of childhood trauma and dissociation to identify maladaptive soldiers. Because soldiers who experienced childhood sexual abuse are likely to show dissociative symptoms, military nurses should assess their social support and try to enhance attachment in order to prevent dissociative symptoms.

Keywords: Trauma, Dissociation, Social support, Marines

Figures and Tables

Table 1

Demographic Characteristics of Subjects (N=122)

Table 2

Major Variables of the Subjects (N=122)

CTQ=Childhood Trauma Questionnaire; SPS=Social Provisions Scale; DES=Dissociative Experience Scale.

Table 3

Correlations between Variables (N=122)

AT=Attachment; SI=Social integration; RW=Reassurance of worth; RA=Reliable alliance; GD=Guidance; ON=Opportunity for nurturance.

Table 4

Difference by Demographic Characteristics on Dissociation (N=122)

Table 5

Factors Influencing of Dissociation in Marines (N=122)

Adj. R²=Adjusted R².

Notes

This work was supported by the Soonchunhyang University.

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