Émie Morin, Roxanne-Marguerite Demers, Anne-Sophie Roy-Clavel, Marissa Wais, Karin Ensink

Abus émotionnel et dissociation : Influence de la mentalisation et des traits de personnalité limite

Introduction

Abus émotionnel et dissociation : influence de la mentalisation et des traits de personnalité limite. Explore l'influence de l'abus émotionnel, la dissociation et les traits de personnalité limite (TPL) chez l'adolescent. Les traits TPL médient la relation.

Abstract

Contexte. Les relations entre l’abus émotionnel, les traits du trouble de personnalité limite (TPL) et la dissociation sont peu étudiées à l’adolescence. Objectif. L’objectif de cette étude est d’explorer l’association entre ces trois variables chez les adolescents et évaluer si les traits du TPL médient la relation entre l’abus émotionnel et la dissociation. Méthode. Un échantillon de 125 adolescents âgés entre 12 et 21 ans a complété des mesures autorapportées portant sur l’abus émotionnel, les traits du TPL et la dissociation. Résultats. L’abus émotionnel est positivement corrélé avec les traits du TPL et la dissociation. De plus, les traits du TPL médient la relation entre l’abus émotionnel et la dissociation, ce qui signifie que l’effet de l’abus émotionnel sur la dissociation est expliqué par les traits du TPL. Discussion. Ces résultats comblent une lacune dans la littérature concernant le rôle médiateur des traits du TPL dans la relation entre l’abus émotionnel et la dissociation.

Review

This manuscript, titled "Abus émotionnel et dissociation : Influence de la mentalisation et des traits de personnalité limite," delves into a crucial, yet understudied, area concerning adolescent psychopathology. The authors address a recognized gap in the literature regarding the complex interplay between emotional abuse, borderline personality disorder (BPD) traits, and dissociation within an adolescent population. Their primary objective is to explore the associations between these variables and, critically, to assess the potential mediating role of BPD traits in the relationship between emotional abuse and dissociation. This focus on an adolescent cohort is particularly timely, given the formative nature of this developmental period and the significant impact early adverse experiences can have on long-term mental health. Utilizing a sample of 125 adolescents aged between 12 and 21 years, the study employed self-report measures to gather data on emotional abuse, BPD traits, and dissociation. The findings reveal significant positive correlations between emotional abuse and both BPD traits and dissociation. The most impactful result, however, is the demonstration that BPD traits mediate the relationship between emotional abuse and dissociation. This suggests that the development and manifestation of borderline personality traits play a crucial role in explaining how emotional abuse contributes to dissociative experiences in adolescents. This mediation analysis offers valuable insights into the underlying psychological mechanisms, providing a clearer understanding of the pathway from early trauma to specific dissociative symptoms. While the study provides compelling results that advance our understanding of these critical relationships, some aspects warrant further consideration. A significant discrepancy exists between the title, which explicitly mentions "Influence de la mentalisation," and the abstract, which provides no information regarding mentalization's inclusion in the study's design, analysis, or results. Clarification on this omission is essential, as mentalization is highly relevant to both emotional dysregulation and BPD. Furthermore, the reliance solely on self-report measures, while practical for this population, introduces potential biases such as social desirability and retrospective recall issues. Future research would benefit from incorporating multi-informant reports or longitudinal designs to corroborate and expand upon these important insights. Nevertheless, these findings offer a valuable foundation for developing targeted interventions for adolescents who have experienced emotional abuse, suggesting that addressing emerging BPD traits could be a crucial pathway to mitigating dissociative symptoms.

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