TY - JOUR
T1 - Factor Structure and Correlates of the Dissociative Experiences Scale in a Large Offender Sample
AU - Ruiz, Mark A.
AU - Poythress, Norman
AU - Lilienfeld, Scott O.
AU - Douglas, Kevin S.
PY - 2008/1/1
Y1 - 2008/1/1
N2 - The authors examined the psychometric properties, factor structure, and construct validity of the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES) in a large offender sample (N = 1,515). Although the DES is widely used with community and clinical samples, minimal work has examined offender samples. Participants were administered self-report and interview measures, and a subsample was followed longitudinally to determine criminal and violent recidivism. The DES exhibited good psychometric properties, but an identified three-factor structure was of questionable replicability. Moreover, the DES factors displayed no evidence of differential correlates. DES total scores were correlated with trauma-related variables even after controlling for negative affectivity. Total scores were related to measures of antisocial behavior and aggression but did not predict recidivism. These findings support the reliability and construct validity of the DES in offenders but raise questions regarding the clinical utility of the DES factor scores above and beyond that of the total score.
AB - The authors examined the psychometric properties, factor structure, and construct validity of the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES) in a large offender sample (N = 1,515). Although the DES is widely used with community and clinical samples, minimal work has examined offender samples. Participants were administered self-report and interview measures, and a subsample was followed longitudinally to determine criminal and violent recidivism. The DES exhibited good psychometric properties, but an identified three-factor structure was of questionable replicability. Moreover, the DES factors displayed no evidence of differential correlates. DES total scores were correlated with trauma-related variables even after controlling for negative affectivity. Total scores were related to measures of antisocial behavior and aggression but did not predict recidivism. These findings support the reliability and construct validity of the DES in offenders but raise questions regarding the clinical utility of the DES factor scores above and beyond that of the total score.
KW - dissociation
KW - Dissociative Experiences Scale
KW - offenders
KW - Procrustes rotation
KW - dissociation and abuse
KW - dissociation and aggression
UR - https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/mhlp_facpub/17
UR - https://doi.org/10.1177/1073191108315548
U2 - 10.1177/1073191108315548
DO - 10.1177/1073191108315548
M3 - Article
VL - 15
JO - Assessment
JF - Assessment
ER -