Leiden University Student Repository

Kapetanou, Vasiliki (2022)

Associations between childhood emotional and physical neglect and dissociative symptoms: An exploratory study

Bachelor thesis | Psychologie (BSc)

Background: It is well-established within the scientific community that dissociative symptoms represent a common consequence of childhood maltreatment. However, most studies have focused primarily on the impact of childhood abuse and the development of dissociation alone, while not also considering the effects of childhood neglect. 
Aims & Objectives: The current study examined the associations between childhood emotional / physical neglect and the development of dissociative symptoms such as absorption, de-realisation, de-personalization and dissociative amnesia.
Methodology: Participants were recruited through online platforms for domestic violence and asked to fill in the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire and the Dissociative Experiences Scale surveys. Overall, there were 410 participants with the majority consisting of females (60.4%). Results: Childhood neglect significantly predicted dissociative symptoms. Emotional neglect showed significant associations with absorption, de...Show moreBackground: It is well-established within the scientific community that dissociative symptoms represent a common consequence of childhood maltreatment. However, most studies have focused primarily on the impact of childhood abuse and the development of dissociation alone, while not also considering the effects of childhood neglect. 
Aims & Objectives: The current study examined the associations between childhood emotional / physical neglect and the development of dissociative symptoms such as absorption, de-realisation, de-personalization and dissociative amnesia.
Methodology: Participants were recruited through online platforms for domestic violence and asked to fill in the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire and the Dissociative Experiences Scale surveys. Overall, there were 410 participants with the majority consisting of females (60.4%). Results: Childhood neglect significantly predicted dissociative symptoms. Emotional neglect showed significant associations with absorption, de-realisation/de-personalisation, and dissociative amnesia. Similarly physical neglect revealed significant links with all four types of dissociative symptoms. 
Conclusions: Such results confirm the relevance of childhood neglect for the experience of dissociative symptoms. Future research should employ additional clinical assessments for enhancing definition within such concepts.Show less

child neglect

emotional

physical

dissociative symptoms

Author

Kapetanou, Vasiliki

Faculty

Faculty of Social & Behavioural Sciences

Supervisors

Dr Annegret Krause-Utz & Aischa Reinken

ECTS Credits

185

Language

en