THE INFLUENCE OF DISSOCIATIVE RESPONSE ON CORTISOL LEVEL FOLLOWING CHILDHOOD AND LATER TRAUMA: A PATH ANALYSISTHE INFLUENCE OF DISSOCIATIVE RESPONSE ON CORTISOL LEVEL FOLLOWING CHILDHOOD AND LATER TRAUMA: A PATH ANALYSIS

Abstract Background Exposure to trauma during childhood can increase a risk of later traumatic experiences and dissociative responses. Furthermore, several studies found that dissociation is related with cortisol levels. Aims & Objectives In this study, we examined the impact of dissociative responses to traumatic experiences on cortisol levels in the general population with traumatic experiences. Method A total of one hundred seventy-five participants were recruited and had their morning cortisol levels measured. Clinical assessments were performed, including the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Life Events Checklist (LEC), Peritraumatic Dissociative Experiences Questionnaire (PDEQ). Partial correlation and path analyses were conducted controlling age, sex, years of education, and BMI. Results Partial correlation showed that childhood trauma was positively correlated with later traumatic events and dissociation. In addition, multiple path analysis indicated that the direct effects of childhood trauma on later trauma, childhood trauma on dissociation, later trauma on dissociation, and dissociation on cortisol level were significant. However, partial mediation model which added a direct path from childhood trauma to cortisol level was insignificant. Discussion & Conclusion These findings suggest that dissociation is a critical factor related to altered cortisol levels in people who experienced childhood and later traumatic events.