Bartle, Ted (2024) The mediating effect of dissociation on the relationship between complex PTSD and social problem solving. Honours thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
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Abstract
Past research has highlighted an association between complex trauma and impaired social problem solving, however, less is known about the underlying processes. This is suggested to be a barrier when developing psychological interventions targeting social problem solving for traumatised adolescents (Ahmadi Forooshani et al., 2021). This research aims better understand this association and determine whether dissociation mediates the relationship between complex PTSD and social problem solving in adolescents. Participants, aged 14-18, were recruited via online platforms to complete a survey containing the International Trauma Questionnaire – Child and Adolescent Version (ITQ-CA; Cloitre et al., 2018), Adolescent Dissociative Experiences Scale - II (A-DES; Armstrong et al., 1997), and the Social ProblemSolving Inventory for Adolescents (SPSI-A; Frauenknecht & Black 1995). A sample of 332 adolescents, that met the ITQ-CA criteria for complex PTSD, were included in this study. A mediation analysis revealed that dissociation partially mediated the relationship between complex PTSD and social problem solving, β = -.02, z = -3.2, 95% CI [-.04, -.00], p <.001. These findings are in line with previous research that showed a strong association between complex PTSD and dissociation, and a moderate association between complex PTSD and impaired social problem solving. This research suggests that dissociation partially explains impaired social problem solving in individuals with complex PTSD. Consequently, interventions targeting social problem solving should consider both complex PTSD symptoms and dissociative symptoms. Implications and recommendations for future research are discussed.
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| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Honours) |
|---|---|
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Current – Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Psychology and Wellbeing (1 Jan 2022 -) |
| Supervisors: | Dr Izadikhah, Zahra |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Science (Honours) |
| Date Deposited: | 19 Jan 2026 06:56 |
| Last Modified: | 19 Jan 2026 06:56 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | complex PTSD, dissociation, social problem solving, adolescents |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1701 Psychology > 170106 Health, Clinical and Counselling Psychology |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5205 Social and personality psychology > 520505 Social psychology |
| Socio-Economic Objectives (2020): | 20 HEALTH > 2004 Public health (excl. specific population health) > 200409 Mental health |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/53073 |
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