Presentations authored or co-authored by members of the Freyd Dynamics Lab at the

2006 Annual Meetings of the
Third Annual Conference on Innovations in Trauma Research Methods,
International Society for the Study of Traumatic Stress ,
and
International Society for the Study of Dissociation

Hollywood, California, November 3-11, 2006

(Scroll down for abstracts and handouts)

Presentation CITRM 2006

Becker Blease, K., Freyd, J.J., DePrince, A.P. (November 2006) The Ethics of Asking and Not Asking About Trauma. Presentation given at the Third Annual Conference on Innovations in Trauma Research Methods, Hollywood, CA, November 3-4, 2006.

Presentations ISTSS 2006

Becker-Blease, K., Friend, D. & Freyd, J.J. (November, 2006). Child Sex Abuse Perpetrators among Male University Students. Poster presented at the 22st Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Hollywood, CA, November 4-7, 2006.

Edwards, V. J., Freyd, J. J., Dube, S.R., Anda, R.F. Felitti, V.J. (November, 2006). Health effects by closeness of sexual abuse perpetrator: A test of Betrayal Trauma Theory. Poster presented at the 22st Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Hollywood, CA, November 4-7, 2006.

Foynes, M.M, Freyd, J. J., & DePrince, A.P. (November, 2006). Child Abuse, Betrayal, and Disclosure. Poster presented at the 22st Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Hollywood, CA, November 4-7, 2006.

Goldsmith, R., Freyd, J.J., & DePrince, A.P. (November, 2006). Abuse Awareness: Physical and Psychological Health Consequences. Poster presented at the 22st Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Hollywood, CA, November 4-7, 2006.

Klest, B., Allard, C., & Freyd, J.J. (November, 2006). Adult trauma and adult symptoms: Does childhood trauma drive the relationship? Poster presented at the 22st Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Hollywood, CA, November 4-7, 2006.

Presentations ISSD 2006

Cholankeril, A., Freyd, J.J., Becker-Blease, K.A., Pears, K.C., Fisher, P.A. (November 2006). Examining dissociation in maltreated preschool children. Poster presented at the International Society for the Study of Dissociation 23rd International Fall Conference, Los Angeles, California, November 9-11, 2006.

Tang, S.S. & Freyd, J.J. (November 2006). Gender differences in depression and anxiety: The mediating role of betrayal trauma. Presentation given at the International Society for the Study of Dissociation 23rd International Fall Conference, Los Angeles, California, November 9-11, 2006.


Abstracts & Handouts


Kathy Becker Blease

Becker Blease, K., Freyd, J.J., DePrince, A.P. (November 2006)
The Ethics of Asking and Not Asking About Trauma.

Presentation given at the Third Annual Conference on Innovations in Trauma Research Methods, Hollywood, CA, November 3-4, 2006.
Handouts:
Abstract
Researchers who would like to ask participants about trauma face unique methodological and ethical challenges, including 1) choosing appropriate instruments and confidentiality procedures, 2) responding effectively when participants disclose trauma, and 3) communicating risks and benefits asking (and not asking) about trauma to potential collaborators and Institutional Review Boards. These issues go beyond the information and skills taught in general graduate-level research methods and ethics courses. When researchers shy away from this research due to lack of expertise, science and society lack important knowledge about the causes and consequences of trauma, and participants may feel traumatic experiences are unimportant or taboo topics. Insufficiently trained researchers who do ask about trauma may put participants at risk. The presenters will emphasize important new research on these issues that will be applicable to a wide range of potentially traumatic events, including interpersonal violence, child abuse, war and community violence, natural disasters, death, serious illness, and grief. The presentation focuses on research projects that involve directly asking adult and child participants about trauma (as opposed to using archive data).
Kathy Becker Blease

Becker-Blease, K., Friend, D. & Freyd, J.J. (November, 2006).
Child Sex Abuse Perpetrators among Male University Students.

Poster presented at the 22st Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Hollywood, CA, November 4-7, 2006.
Full Poster:
Abstract
Previous studies indicate that approximately 21% of undergraduate men reportattraction to "little children", 4 - 9 % report having fantasies about sexwith a child, and 5 - 6% report masturbating to these fantasies. Between 3 and 7% report some likelihood of having sex with a child if there was nochance they would be caught (Briere & Runtz, 1989; Smiljanich & Briere, 1996). Understanding potential for perpetration among young adult men is important for prevention, but research on perpetration in non-convicted samples is limited. We asked 531 undergraduate men about their experiences with abuse as a child, as well as perpetration of child sexual abuse. Approximately 18% report fantasies about child sexual abuse and 8% have masturbated to these fantasies. Four percent indicate some likelihood that they would have sex with a child, and just over 2.5% report having perpetrated at least one sexually abusive act against a child. More students in this survey report fantasies about child sex than in past surveys, perhaps because of the increased availability of child pornography, or differences in willingness to admit such fantasies. The results are discussed in terms of the need for prevention programs that target potential and unrecognized perpetrators.

Edwards, V. J., Freyd, J. J., Dube, S.R., Anda, R.F. Felitti, V.J. (November, 2006).
Health effects by closeness of sexual abuse perpetrator: A test of Betrayal Trauma Theory.

Poster presented at the 22st Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Hollywood, CA, November 4-7, 2006.
Full Poster: (3 MB)
Abstract
Betrayal trauma theory (Freyd, 1999) postulates that abuse perpetrated by a caregiver or someone close to you results in worse outcomes than abuse perpetrated by someone less central to your well-being. We used data from the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study to examine this hypothesis in relation to a variety of adult health outcomes. We tested whether adults whose abuser was a family member or non-relative living in the home would report substantially poorer health than those whose abuser was a family friend, relative living outside the home, or a stranger. Participants were HMO members undergoing a complete physical examination. 3,100 (17.4%) reported some form of childhood sexual abuse (fondling, attempted intercourse, or intercourse) and also identified their abuser. Thirty-two percent of sexual abuse survivors had high betrayal, defined as an abuser who was a family or non-family member living in the home. Over 75% of those reporting a high betrayal abuser were women. High betrayal abuse was related to depression, anxiety, suicidality, panic, and anger. High betrayal subjects had poorer health functioning on the SF-36 role-physical, role-emotional, and social functioning scales than low betrayal victims.
Melissa Foynes

Foynes, M.M, Freyd, J. J., & DePrince, A.P. ( November, 2006).
Child Abuse, Betrayal, and Disclosure.

Poster presented at the 22st Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Hollywood, CA, November 4-7, 2006.
Full Poster:
Abstract
The present study examined the association between perpetrator relationship and disclosure latency (DL) for physical and emotional abuse using a survey methodology with a sample of 202 undergraduate participants. Based on Freyd's Betrayal Trauma Theory (1996), we predicted that abuse by a close perpetrator would be related to longer DL, because nondisclosure may serve as a protective coping mechanism in the same way as unawareness of abuse. BTT frames disclosure as a risk that poses a threat to the emotional needs of the child, without requiring the child's conscious awareness of the way in which the world operates. We found that closeness of perpetrator significantly predicts DL above and beyond other variables such as age at abuse onset, gender of survivor and abuse severity. Abuse by very close perpetrators was associated with a greater likelihood of first disclosure years following abuse, if disclosure ever occurred. While delayed disclosure may allow the attachment relationship to be sustained, it may also prolong abuse and prevent receipt of emotional, legal, or financial support. Since disclosure may result in the loss of important social relationships, it is important to address these risks in interventions geared toward encouraging disclosure to promote ethical intervention delivery.

Goldsmith, R., Freyd, J.J., & DePrince, A.P. (November, 2006).
Abuse Awareness: Physical and Psychological Health Consequences.

Poster presented at the 22st Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Hollywood, CA, November 4-7, 2006.
Full Poster:
Abstract
Despite established links between child abuse and psychological symptoms such as depression, dissociation, and anxiety, many abuse survivors experience awareness of specific abuse instances or abuse-related symptoms without acknowledging the abuse itself. The current study examines relations among abuse awareness, physical symptoms, and emotional functioning in young adults. One hundred eighty-five university students responded to questions regarding perceptions of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, as well as standard abuse and symptom measures. Ninety-six individuals completed the questionnaire a second time 1-2 years later. At baseline, labeling oneself as having been abused was not correlated with depression, anxiety, dissociation, or physical health complaints. At follow-up, however, labeling abuse was significantly positively related to depression, anxiety, physical health complaints, and the number of reported visits to a health professional, even after controlling for abuse severity. These results indicate that processes involved in abuse perception appear to be connected to individuals' psychological and physical functioning, and that abuse awareness may have important clinical implications.

Klest, B., Allard, C., & Freyd, J.J. ( November, 2006).
Adult trauma and adult symptoms: Does childhood trauma drive the relationship?

Poster presented at the 22st Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Hollywood, CA, November 4-7, 2006.
Full Poster:
Abstract
We used structural modeling to examine observed relationships between childhood trauma, adult trauma, and adult dissociation and mental health. We propose a model in which childhood betrayal trauma predicts adult betrayal trauma and dissociation, and dissociation predicts mental health. Paths between adult betrayal trauma and dissociation, and adult betrayal trauma and mental health were set at zero. This model was tested using questionnaire data from 307 undergraduates. The model fit the data very well (comparative fit index = .98, chi-square(df = 8) = 21.99), and performed as well as other less parsimonious models. Alternative equivalent models and implications of these findings are discussed. The pattern of parameter estimates generated for this model suggests that childhood trauma drives the relationship between trauma and symptoms.

 
AnneMarie Cholankeril

Cholankeril, A., Freyd, J.J., Becker-Blease, K.A., Pears, K.C., Fisher, P.A. (November 2006).
Examining dissociation in maltreated preschool children.

Poster presented at the International Society for the Study of Dissociation 23rd International Fall Conference, Los Angeles, California, November 9-11, 2006.
Full Poster:
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to examine dissociation in a population of preschool-age foster children with documented cases of maltreatment. Data were collected from participants in the Early Intervention Foster Care program (EIFC), a randomized efficacy trial based on the empirically evaluated Multidimensional Specialized Foster Care program. Dissociative symptoms were assessed using three subscales of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) that have been previously published in the trauma literature. Because the three subscales were highly intercorrelated, items were combined for a Exploratory Factor Analysis. Two distinct factors were found that may comprise new subscales assessing dissociative symptomatology and post-traumatic arousal symptomatology. In order to test their predictive validity, analyses compared the foster care sample and a community sample with no known maltreatment history and also compared dissociation across maltreatment categories. Implications for the use of dissociation as an adaptive coping mechanism are discussed.
 
Shin Shin Tang

Tang, S.S. & Freyd, J.J. (November 2006).
Gender differences in depression and anxiety: The mediating role of betrayal trauma.

Presentation given at the International Society for the Study of Dissociation 23rd International Fall Conference, Los Angeles, California, November 9-11, 2006.
Handouts:
Betrayal trauma theory posits that traumas perpetrated by someone close to the victim are more likely to cause dissociation and unawareness than those perpetrated by someone not close (Freyd, 1994). Recent research (Freyd, Klest, Allard) discovered that traumas with high betrayal are significantly correlated with number of physical illness, anxiety, dissociation, and depression symptoms. Recent research (Goldberg & Freyd) has also found women tend to experience higher rates of betrayal trauma (BT) than men. Given this combination of results, we hypothesized BT would partially explain the higher rates of depression and anxiety consistently found among women. Based upon a sample of over 400 students from the University of Oregon, results indicated that BT mediated the relationship between gender and depression and between gender and anxiety. Although there were no gender differences found in rates of dissociation, BT was also predictive of dissociation.

Also see:

Betrayal Trauma Research
Our Full Text Articles on Trauma
Additional Lab Posters & Presentations