Relationship between Childhood Sexual Abuse Characteristics and Dissociation among Women in Therapy

Author(s)

Steven N. Gold, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
Erica L. Hill
Janine M. Swingle
Arian S. Elfant, Nova Southeastern University

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Journal of Family Violence

ISSN

0885-7482

Publication Date

6-1999

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between 10 characteristics of childhood sexual abuse and dissociation in adulthood. A structured clinical interview, the Dissociative Experiences Scale, and the Dissociation Subscale of the Symptom Checklist 90 - Revised were administered to 118 women survivors seeking psychotherapy. Separate stepwise multiple regression analyses were conducted for each dissociation scale to determine which abuse characteristics were predictive of dissociation. In both analyses, the same four variables were significantly related to dissociation: age at onset, coercive sexual acts, objectifying sexual acts, and concurrent multiple perpetrators. Implications of findings for future research and clinical practice are explored.

DOI

10.1023/A:3A1022076719138

Volume

14

Issue

2

First Page

157

Last Page

171

NSUWorks Citation

Gold, S. N., Hill, E. L., Swingle, J. M., Elfant, A. S. (1999). Relationship between Childhood Sexual Abuse Characteristics and Dissociation among Women in Therapy. Journal of Family Violence, 14(2), 157-171.
Available at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cps_facarticles/471