Trafficking Survivors and Dissociative Experiences

Human trafficking is a global, multibillion dollar industry, profiting from the habitual abuse and exploitation of over 27 million people at any moment. Sex trafficking, defined by commercial sexual exploitation (CSE), constitutes a substantial sector of the industry. Profoundly traumatic, CSE inflicts lasting physical and psychological harm upon survivors, with distressing dissociative symptoms representing a frequently reported repercussion. This quantitative study explored sex trafficking survivors’ dissociative experiences. Utilizing purposive sampling, a Qualtrics survey was administered to CSE survivors aged 18 and older, gathering information about their dissociative experiences and backgrounds. Results from 52 survivors indicate adult CSE survivors experience clinically significant levels of dissociation, comparable to levels reported by individuals diagnosed with dissociative disorders.