Dissociative disorders in adult missionary kids: Report on five cases

Growing up in a cross-cultural missions context exposes children to some un ique psychological stressors. The present article explores the manner throu gh which these stressors may increase vulnerability to the development of a dissociative adjustment in missionary kids (MKs) exposed to significant tr auma. Five cases of dissociative disorder among adult MKs were investigated for the reported prevalence of abusive and unique missions-related stress, The case analyses indicate that dissociative disorders can be found within the adult MX population. Furthermore, exposure to some unique missions str essors appeared to be associated with the occurrence of a dissociative diso rder in this sample, although determination of the nature and degree of thi s relationship awaits controlled research.