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Child dissociation and the family context
Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology
|June 1, 1994
Summary
Parental behaviors like inconsistency and rejection are linked to child dissociation. Fathers' and sons' dissociation scores corresponded, suggesting familial links in dissociative disorders.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Child Psychiatry
Background:
- Dissociative disorders in children are a significant concern.
- Understanding the etiological factors, including familial influences, is crucial.
- Previous research suggests complex interactions in the development of child psychopathology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between parental behaviors and child dissociation.
- To explore the correspondence of dissociation scores between fathers and sons.
- To examine the links between parental dissociation, inconsistency, rejection, and child dissociation.
Main Methods:
- Forty boys and their parents participated in the study.
- Measures included dissociation, state anxiety, and perceptions of parental behaviors.
- Mothers completed a behavior problems checklist for their sons.
Main Results:
- A significant correspondence was found between fathers' and sons' dissociation scores.
- Parental dissociation, inconsistency, and rejection were linked to child dissociation.
- State anxiety and perceptions of parental behaviors also showed associations.
Conclusions:
- Findings support the role of familial factors, including parental dissociation and inconsistent/rejecting behaviors, in the etiology of child dissociative disorders.
- The study highlights the importance of considering the parent-child dyad in understanding childhood dissociation.
- Results contribute to ongoing discussions about theoretical models explaining child dissociative disorders.