Relationship between Traumatic Childhood Experiences and Schizotypal Personality Traits: The Mediating Role of Dissociative Experiences and Intolerance of Uncertainty

Schizotypal traits can lead to disturbance in social and personal functioning and are a prodromal risk factor for developing psychosis. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the mediating role of dissociative experiences and intolerance of uncertainty in relationship between traumatic childhood experiences and schizotypal personality traits.

The research was descriptive-correlational. The statistical population consisted of all students of Islamic Azad University of Birjand in the academic year of 2019-2020, whose number was 5200 people. The sample size was 400 people who were selected by cluster random sampling method. In order to data gendering, childhood trauma questionnaire (CTQ), dissociative experiences scale (DES), intolerance of uncertainty scale (IUS) and schizotypal personality questionnaire- Brief Form (SPQ-BF) was used. The present research data were analyzed using SPSS and LISREL software and structural equation modeling method.

The results of this study showed that dissociative experiences and intolerance of uncertainty mediated the relationship between traumatic childhood and schizotypal personality traits. In addition, this model has a good fit.

The results of the present study support of the mediating role of dissociative experiences and intolerance of uncertainty in relationship between traumatic childhood experiences and schizotypal personality traits. These results emphasize the need to pay attention to these structures and consider their role by specialists, therapists and planners when working with students and especially in counseling and treatment centers.