scholarly journals Mentalization and Dissociation after Adverse Childhood Experiences

Author(s):  
Jolana Wagner-Skacel ◽  
David Riedl ◽  
Hanna Kampling ◽  
Astrid Lampe

Abstract Background: Impairment of mentalization may impact coping strategies, regulation of affect and stress. So far, little is known about the influence of impaired mentalization on dissociation in patients with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). The aim of this study is to assess the relationship between ACEs, mentalizing and dissociation in adult individuals. Methods: Sixty-seven patients with ACEs completed the Mentalization Questionnaire (MZQ), the Essener Trauma Inventory (ETI) and the Brief Symptom Inventory-18 (BSI-18). The SPSS PROCESS macro tool was applied to test if mentalization mediated the relationship of ACEs and dissociation. Results: ACEs were significantly associated with higher dissociation (β=.42, p<.001) and lower mentalization (β=-.49, p<.001). When mentalization was added to the model as a predictor, the association of ACEs with dissociation was no longer significant (β=.11, p=.31) and a statistically significant indirect effect was found (β=.32, 95% CI: .16-.47). The overall explained variance of dissociation notably improved after inclusion of mentalization (17.5% to 49.1%). Thus, the results indicated that the association of ACEs on dissociation was fully mediated by mentalization. Conclusion: Our results suggest that ACEs are associated with lower mentalization and higher dissociation. Lower mentalization was also associated with worse depression, anxiety, somatization and PTSD symptoms. These findings underline the increasing importance of early treatment of individuals affected by ACDs with a focus to foster the development of mentalization.

2009 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert F Anda ◽  
Maxia Dong ◽  
David W Brown ◽  
Vincent J Felitti ◽  
Wayne H Giles ◽  
...  

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. e0244696
Author(s):  
Sven-Olof Andersson ◽  
Eva-Maria Annerbäck ◽  
Hans Peter Söndergaard ◽  
Johan Hallqvist ◽  
Per Kristiansson

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are common and known to have consequences for individuals’ adult health, leading to a higher risk of illness. The aims of the study were to investigate the ACEs in couples, to examine the extent of assortative mating and to investigate the association between the relationship of the load of ACEs within couples and health outcomes, one year after the birth of a common child. At antenatal clinics in Sweden 818 couples were recruited and investigated one year after the birth of a common child answering a questionnaire including the exposure to ten ACE categories and several outcome variables. In total, 59% of both mothers and partners reported exposure to at least one of the ten ACE categories. Among the mothers 11% and among the partners 9% reported exposure to ≥4 ACE categories (p = 0.12). There was a correlation between the numbers of ACE categories reported by the mothers and their partners (Spearman’s ρ = 0.18, p<0.001). This association pertained to six of the ten ACE categories. In multiple logistic regression analyses, there were associations between the ACE exposure load and unfavourable outcomes among the mothers, the partners and within the couples. Unfavourable outcomes concerning health were most prominent in couples where both members reported exposures to ≥4 ACE categories (self-rated bad health (OR 13.82; CI 2.75–69.49), anxiety (OR 91.97; CI 13.38–632.07), depression (OR 17.42; CI 2.14–141.78) and perceived stress (OR 11.04; CI 2.79–43.73)). Mothers exposed to ACEs tend to have partners also exposed to ACEs. Exposure to ACEs was associated with bad health and unfavourable life conditions within the couples, especially among couples where both members reported exposure to multiple ACEs. These results should stimulate incentives to find, to support and to treat individuals and couples where both members report multiple ACEs. The consequences for the children should be further studied as well as how these families should be treated in health care and society.


Author(s):  
E-Jin Park ◽  
Shin-Young Kim ◽  
Yeeun Kim ◽  
Dajung Sung ◽  
Bora Kim ◽  
...  

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are known to be closely related to depression, anxiety and sleep problems. However, it remains unclear whether adolescents with ACEs have sleep problems regardless of depression or anxiety or under a mediating effect from depression or anxiety. Therefore, our aim was to examine whether depression or anxiety mediates the relationship between ACEs and sleep problems in adolescents by using a community sample. The Early Trauma Inventory Self Report–Short Form (ETISR-SF) and List of Threatening Experiences Questionnaire (LTE-Q) were used to assess traumatic ACEs. Ultimately, data from 737 students (M = 448, F = 289, 15.1 ± 1.4 years old) were included in the statistical analysis. A total of 576 (78.1%) participants reported that they had experienced one or more ACEs. Adolescents with ACEs had higher levels of depression, anxiety and sleep problems than did adolescents without ACEs, and boys tended to experience more trauma than girls. Depression and anxiety partially mediated the relationship between ACEs and sleep problems. The results of this study suggest the need for depression and anxiety interventions for adolescents with ACEs to reduce the long-term consequences, including sleep problems and physical health problems.


2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (8) ◽  
pp. 398-405
Author(s):  
Takuma Ofuchi ◽  
Aye Myat Myat Zaw ◽  
Bang-on Thepthien

Currently, e-cigarettes are the most popular tobacco product among adolescents. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and use of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and dual use in a sample of adolescents in Bangkok, Thailand. The sample comprises 6167 students from 48 schools (grades 9, 11, and vocational year 2) who participated in the 2019 round of the Behavior Surveillance Survey. History of 11 ACEs was used to calculate a cumulative ACE score (range 0-11). Multinomial logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between history of ACEs and smoking. In the sample, 7.0% reported using e-cigarettes only and 9.5% used e-cigarettes and cigarettes (dual use). After controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, history of ACEs was associated with increased odds of dual use. The odds of cigarette, e-cigarette, and dual use was significantly greater if the adolescent had a history of ≥4 ACEs. Special attention is needed to prevent smoking of different types among those with a history of ACEs.


Author(s):  
Elizabeth Crouch ◽  
Elizabeth Radcliff ◽  
Kevin J. Bennett ◽  
Monique J. Brown ◽  
Peiyin Hung

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document