Citation

Decou CR, Lynch SM, Cole TT, Kaplan SP. J. Trauma Dissociation 2016; 17(4): 480-493.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology , Idaho State University , 921 South 8th Avenue, Mail Stop 8112, Pocatello , Idaho , 83209.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/15299732.2016.1141148

PMID

26836048

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Women in prison experience high rates of interpersonal trauma, as well as elevated rates of PTSD relative to women in the general population. The present study examined the relationship between recent intimate partner violence (IPV), additional forms of lifetime trauma exposure, trait dissociation, and posttraumatic stress among a sample of incarcerated female survivors of IPV.

METHOD: Participants were 186 treatment-seeking incarcerated women who reported experiences of IPV in the year prior to incarceration. Participants completed self-report measures of IPV, non-partner perpetrated lifetime trauma exposure, trait dissociation, and PTSD symptomatology. Associations among study variables were evaluated using sequential multiple regression.

RESULTS: Participants reported experiencing several forms of interpersonal trauma. More than half of respondents (i.e., 53%) fell beyond a conservative cutoff score on the PCL-C, indicating clinically significant symptoms of PTSD. Trait dissociation partially mediated the association between IPV and PTSD symptoms above and beyond history of non-partner-perpetrated violence. Trait dissociation emerged as the strongest independent predictor of PTSD symptoms, and explained approximately 15% of the variance in PTSD symptoms.

CONCLUSION: This finding highlights the need for additional research concerning dissociation among women in prison, and warrant consideration in future research and intervention efforts focused on trauma recovery among incarcerated women.

Language: en