The purpose of this study was to examine which childhood events
were associated with more extensive use of adult dissociative states
in 90 female inpatients with histories of sexual abuse. The study
found that childhood stressors of maltreatment (physical neglect,
witnessing sexual abuse, and witnessing physical abuse) were
associated with higher levels of dissociative symptoms. In contrast,
childhood stressors of loss (parental separation and death of a close
relative) were not related to increased severity of dissociative
symptoms. The study also demonstrated that a close relationship with
either a parent, sibling, extraparental adult, or friend did not have
a mediating effect on the degree of adult dissociative
symptoms. Directions for future research are presented.