On the factor structure of the Dissociative Experiences Scale: contribution with an Italian version of the DES-II

• Authors: Carlo Garofalo , Patrizia Velotti , Giulio Cesare Zavattini , Marco Tommasi , Roberta Romanelli , Helena Espírito Santo , Aristide Saggino

Title variants

PL

Struktura czynnikowa Skali Przeżyć Dysocjacyjnych: włoska wersja skali DES-II

• Languages of publication: EN PL

Abstracts

EN

Aim of the study: Notwithstanding its clinical and empirical relevance, there is no consensus on how to conceptualize dissociation. This may be partly due to the conflicting results yielded on the factor structure of the gold-standard selfreport measure of dissociation (the Dissociative Experiences Scale-Revised; DES-II, Carlson and Putnam, 1993). In an attempt to advance research on this topic, we sought to explore the factorial structure of an Italian version of the DES-II. Material and methods: A sample of 320 subjects (122 inmates and 198 community participants) was administered the Italian version of the DES-II. Results: The Italian version of the DES-II showed good psychometric properties and replicated a two-factor structure. Items content seemed to support the distinction into two qualitatively different forms of dissociative experiences, described as detachment and compartmentalization phenomena. In line with the expectations, participants in the inmate sample reported higher rates of dissociative experiences than community participants, on both dimensions. Conclusions: This study provides further support for the validity of the Italian version of the DES-II for use with community and inmate samples. Furthermore, we corroborated previous evidence on a two-factor structure of the DES-II, which is consistent with theoretical assumptions describing two distinct, albeit overlapping, dissociative dimensions (i.e., detachment and compartmentalization).

PL

Cel badania: Niezależnie od wartości klinicznej i empirycznej pojęcia, jakim jest dysocjacja, nie ma zgody co do właściwego sposobu jego konceptualizacji. Częściowo może to być spowodowane sprzecznymi wynikami analizy struktury czynnikowej złotego standardu wśród narzędzi do samooceny zjawisk dysocjacyjnych, jakim jest Skala Przeżyć Dysocjacyjnych (Dissociative Experiences Scale-Revised; DES-II, Carlson i Putnam, 1993). Mając na celu pogłębienie badań na ten temat, autorzy podjęli się analizy struktury czynnikowej włoskiej wersji skali DES-II. Materiał i metody: Badanie obejmowało próbę 320 osób (122 więźniów i 198 osób należących do populacji ogólnej). Zastosowano w nim włoską wersję skali DES-II. Wyniki: Włoska wersja skali DES-II wykazała dobre właściwości psychometryczne i została w niej zreplikowana struktura dwuczynnikowa. Treść pozycji na skali wydawała się potwierdzać istnienie podziału na dwie jakościowo inne formy przeżyć dysocjacyjnych, ujmowane jako oddzielenie (ang. detachment) i szufladkowanie (ang. compartmentalization). Zgodnie z oczekiwaniami więźniowie częściej zgłaszali występowanie przeżyć dysocjacyjnych niż osoby należące do populacji ogólnej, na obu wymiarach. Wnioski: Niniejsze badanie dostarcza kolejnych dowodów na zasadność stosowania włoskiej wersji skali DES-II w badaniach na populacji ogólnej oraz więziennej. Potwierdzono również poprzednie dane świadczące o dwuczynnikowej strukturze skali DES-II, co jest zgodne z założeniami teoretycznymi opisującymi dwa odrębne, choć nakładające się na siebie wymiary dysocjacji (tj. oddzielenie i szufladkowanie).

Keywords

EN

community sample; compartmentalization; detachment; dissociation; dysocjacja; inmates; oddzielenie; populacja ogólna; szufladkowanie; więźniowie

Discipline

• MEDICINE: MEDICINE

• Publisher: Medical Communications
• Journal: Psychiatria i Psychologia Kliniczna
• Year: 2015
• Volume: 15
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 4–12

Contributors

author

Carlo Garofalo

• Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, Sapienza – University of Rome, Via degli Apuli, 1, 00185, Rome, Italy, tel.: [phone], fax: [phone]

author

Patrizia Velotti

• Department of Education Sciences, University of Genoa, Italy

author

Giulio Cesare Zavattini

• Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy

author

Marco Tommasi

• Department of Psychological, Humanistic and Territorial Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, Italy

author

Roberta Romanelli

• Department of Psychological, Humanistic and Territorial Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, Italy

author

Helena Espírito Santo

• Department of Psychology, Miguel Torga Institute, Coimbra, Portugal

author

Aristide Saggino

• Department of Psychological, Humanistic and Territorial Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, Italy

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• Document Type: article