7 - Mommy and daddy did it: Betrayal trauma and dissociaton in a population of young children

Betrayal trauma theory posits that traumatic experiences perpetrated by caregivers are problematic for children to acknowledge due to their dependence on the perpetrator. Previous studies have found that betrayal trauma victims demonstrated higher dissociation compared to non-betrayal trauma-exposed groups. These findings involved samples of adults or older children, but young children are particularly dependent on their caregivers, making them an especially vulnerable population.
 
This study examined the relation between betrayal trauma and dissociation in a sample of young children ages 0-6 (n = 240) recruited for a larger study on treatment outcomes in a trauma exposed population. Caregivers reported on their child’s trauma history and dissociative symptoms. Children’s traumatic experiences were categorized as Lower (n = 161) and Higher Betrayal (n = 79).
 
Results indicated that young children with Higher Betrayal demonstrated significantly higher dissociation compared to those with Lower Betrayal. Interaction effects between the child’s gender and betrayal trauma were also explored, with findings demonstrating main effects of both gender and betrayal trauma on dissociation. These findings expand upon the current literature by replicating previous results from older samples. Results also highlight the importance of assessing for the perpetrator's identity when evaluating young children’s trauma-related symptoms.