The purpose of this study is to verify the mediating effects of dissociation experience, relationship addiction, and internalized shame in the relationship between complex trauma experience in childhood-adolescence and interpersonal trauma in adulthood.

Two hundred and thirty-eight adults participated in this study. They were administered the Korean versions of the Trauma Antecedents Questionnaire, Impact of Event Scale-Revised, Dissociative Experiences Scale, Relationship Addiction Questionnaire, and Internalized Shame Scale. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, reliability analysis, and structural equation modeling.

First, dissociation and internalized shame had a double mediating effect in the relationship between complex trauma experience in childhood-adolescence and interpersonal trauma in adulthood. Second, relationship addiction and internalized shame had a double mediating effect in the relationship between complex trauma experience in childhood-adolescence and interpersonal trauma in adulthood. Third, dissociation, relationship addiction, and internalized shame had a triple mediating effect in the relationship between complex trauma experience in childhood-adolescence and interpersonal trauma in adulthood.

Therapeutic intervention for revictimization should address symptoms such as dissociation, relationship addiction, and internalized shame. In addition, people with complex trauma experiences in childhood-adolescence require preventive intervention to avoid further exposure to interpersonal trauma.