The Mediating Role of Alexithymia in the Relationship Between Childhood Traumas and Dissociation

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of childhood trauma on dissociation and the mediating role of alexithymia in this relationship. Data from 508 participants aged 25-55 living in Istanbul were collected and analyzed using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES) and Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAÖ). Data were analyzed using SPSS 26.00 and Hayes' PROCESS macro. The research findings showed that childhood trauma significantly increased the perception of trauma (β = 0.25, p < 0.01). However, the direct effect of childhood trauma on dissociation was not found to be significant (β = -0.05, p = 0.09). In contrast, the effect of alexithymia on dissociation was strong and significant (β = 0.36, p < 0.01), while indirect effects revealed that alexithymia played a critical mediating role in this relationship (β = 0.09, 95% CI [0.06, 0.13]). When sociodemographic variables were examined, marital status, family structure, and psychiatric disorder diagnosis were found to have significant effects on dissociation. These findings indicate that the effect of childhood trauma on dissociation cannot be explained by a direct relationship, but that alexithymia plays an important mediating role in this process. The study makes an important contribution to understanding the long-term psychological effects of childhood trauma; it indicates that psychotherapeutic interventions, especially those that develop emotional awareness and regulation skills, may be effective in reducing dissociation symptoms.