Correlates of non-pathological dissociation in Northern Ireland: the effects of trauma and exposure to political violence

Abstract

Recent work has identified an empirical distinction between pathological and nonpathological dissociation. This study examined the correlates of nonpathological dissociation in a Northern Irish sample. The Dissociative Experiences Scale, the Traumatic Experiences Checklist, the Guilt Inventory, and the General Health Questionnaire, as well as two open-ended questions assessing exposure to political violence were completed by 119 participants. Nonpathological dissociation was predicted by age, perceived impact of traumatic events, and adherence to moral standards. Moreover, dissociation was found to be significantly higher in those exposed directly to political violence and those experiencing childhood emotional abuse. Results are consistent with previous theoretical and empirical work and it is proposed that nonpathological dissociation is related to traumatic experience in Northern Ireland.