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Adverse Childhood Experiences and Dissociation Among Adults in Rural Alabama: The Moderating Role of Perceived Racial
Tenesha Littleton1, Joana Okine1, Sherinah Saasa2
1School of Social Work, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA.
Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work (2019)
|September 22, 2025
Summary
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) increase dissociative experiences. Perceived racial discrimination amplifies this link in Black adults, highlighting the need for race-based trauma screening in mental health care.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Public Health
- Sociology
Background:
- Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are linked to increased dissociative experiences.
- Black Americans report higher levels of dissociative experiences than White Americans, but contributing factors are unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the moderating role of perceived racial discrimination in the relationship between ACEs and dissociative experiences.
- To examine these factors in adults from predominantly Black communities in rural Alabama.
Main Methods:
- A sample of 184 adults from rural Alabama completed surveys.
- Measures included the ACE Study Questionnaire, Brief Dissociative Experiences Scale, and a racial discrimination subscale.
- Multiple linear regression was used to analyze the data, controlling for mental health and demographic factors.
Main Results:
- ACEs and depressive/anxious symptoms were significantly associated with dissociative experiences.
- Perceived racial discrimination was found to moderate the relationship between ACEs and dissociative experiences.
Conclusions:
- Findings highlight the importance of addressing race-based traumatic stress in mental health care.
- Screening for race-based trauma is crucial for equity-centered, trauma-informed approaches.
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