RESEARCH PAPER
Adverse childhood experiences in women with externalisation and internalisation disorders
 
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1
Institute of Pedagogy and Psychology, Jan Kochanowski University, Kielce, Poland
 
2
Świętokrzyskie Centre of Prophylaxis and Education, Kielce, Poland
 
3
Institute of Psychology, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
 
 
Submission date: 2019-10-10
 
 
Final revision date: 2020-04-25
 
 
Acceptance date: 2020-05-11
 
 
Online publication date: 2020-06-30
 
 
Publication date: 2020-07-20
 
 
Current Issues in Personality Psychology 2020;8(2):119-130
 
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Background:
The aim of the study was to determine the connections between adverse childhood experiences and complex post-traumatic dis-orders and attachment types in women with externalisation (addictions, crime) and internalisation disorders (anxiety disorders and mixed anxiety-depressive disorders).

Participants and procedure:
The methods used in the study were as follows: Adverse Childhood Experiences – International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ), Fam-ily of Origin Dysfunction Scale (FODS) by Gąsior, Brier’s Trauma Symptom Inventory-2 (TSI-2) and Adult Attachment Scale (AAS) by Collins and Read. The studied group comprised women (N = 159) with externalisation issues (addicted, n = 80, in-cluding the addicted and incarcerated n = 23) and with internalisation issues (n = 79). The overall results of the clinical groups were compared with the control group of women without adaptation issues (N = 129).

Results:
The examined groups of women with internalisation and externalisation disorders differ both in terms of intensity and the scope of adverse childhood experiences, as well as in complex post-traumatic stress and attachment extent. The results obtained and the conclusions drawn from the research indicate that it is necessary to include a detailed diagnosis of adverse childhood experi-ences and traumas in the therapy and social rehabilitation of women with internalisation and externalisation disorders.

Conclusions:
Development trajectories of externalisation and internalisation issues in women in view of their adverse childhood experiences require further studies.

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