Posttraumatic Growth, Dissociation and Identification With The Aggressor Among Childhood Abuse Survivors
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Date
2023-02-28
Authors
Eliav, Ayala Sultana
Lahav, Yael
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Taylor & Francis Group
Abstract
Childhood abuse puts individuals at risk for psychopathology
and psychiatric symptoms such as posttraumatic stress disorder
(PTSD) and anxiety symptoms. At the same time, research has
indicated that some survivors report positive transformations in
the aftermath of their trauma, known as posttraumatic growth
(PTG). Yet the essence of PTG reports is questionable, and some
scholars claim that it may reflect maladaptive illusory qualities.
Furthermore, according to a recent theoretical model, PTG
might be dissociation-based and related to survivors’ bonds
with their perpetrators. This study aimed to explore these claims
by assessing PTG, dissociation, and identification with the
aggressor (IWA), as well as PTSD and anxiety symptoms. An
online survey was conducted among 597 adult childhood
abuse survivors. Study variables were assessed via self-report
measures. Analyses indicated positive associations between
PTG, dissociation, and IWA. Three distinct profiles were found,
reflecting high, medium, and low scores on PTG, dissociation,
and IWA. Profile type explained PTSD and anxiety symptoms
above and beyond gender, age, and abuse severity. These findings
suggest that whereas some childhood abuse survivors
might experience a positive transformation subsequent to
their trauma, others’ PTG reports might reflect dissociative
mechanisms and pathological attachments to their perpetrators,
and thus might be maladaptive.
Description
17 pages
Keywords
childhood abuse, posttraumatic growth, dissociation, trauma, identification with the aggressor
Citation
Ayala Sultana Eliav & Yael Lahav (2023) Posttraumatic Growth, Dissociation and Identification With The Aggressor Among Childhood Abuse Survivors, Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, 24:3, 410-425, DOI: 10.1080/15299732.2023.2181478