‘Felt Sense of Anomaly’-type transdiagnostic dissociative experiences in adolescents: endorsed phenomenology and plausible mechanisms.
Emma Černis, Milan Antonović, Katie Lofthouse, Lottie Shipp, Polly Waite
PsyArXiv February 18, 2026 preprint DOI: 10.31234/osf.io/xmqb3_v2 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational longitudinal survey study |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 3,076 |
| Population | Adolescents aged 13 to 18 years |
| Duration | One month between Time One and Time Two assessments |
| Measures | Černis Felt Sense of Anomaly (ČEFSA) scale |
| Topics | Philosophy of mind |
| Key findings | Dissociation-like experiences were highly prevalent among adolescents, with 91.87% endorsing at least one ČEFSA item and a mean of 13.00 endorsed items (SD = 9.67). Expressive suppression mediated the relationship between dissociation scores one month apart, suggesting that greater suppression is associated with greater dissociation one month later. The authors argue that affect intolerance may perpetuate dissociation in adolescence as proposed in an adult cognitive-behavioural model. |
Abstract
ObjectiveResearch indicates higher prevalence of dissociative experiences in adolescents than in adults. However, the exact phenomenology and underlying mechanisms of dissociation in adolescence have yet to be clarified. The current study explores the presentation of, and possible psychological factors underlying, dissociation in this population.MethodTwo online self-report surveys captured data from 3076 adolescents aged 13 to 18 years. Participants completed the Černis Felt Sense of Anomaly (ČEFSA) scale of felt sense of anomaly-type dissociation, alongside measures of mechanisms implicated in a cognitive-behavioural model of dissociation in adults (cognitive appraisals, alexithymia, and affect intolerance). N=409 completed the ČEFSA scale at a second timepoint, one month later.ResultsMost (91.87%) adolescents endorsed at least one ČEFSA item. The mean number of endorsed items was 13.00 (SD = 9.67). The most endorsed factors of the ČEFSA were Altered Sense of Agency (82.96%), Anomalous experience of the Self (76.76%), and Altered Sense of Connection (73.76%).Mediation analysis indicated that emotion regulation (expressive suppression) mediated the relationship between Time One and Time Two dissociation scores: greater suppression was associated with greater dissociation one month later. No other tested variables showed statistically significant mediation.ConclusionsAdolescents are likely to experience dissociation as detachment and disconnection, particularly relating to their selfhood and external world (i.e., depersonalisation and derealisation). This study suggests that the key element of a recent cognitive-behavioural model of dissociative experiences in adults – that affect intolerance perpetuates dissociation – may also be applicable in adolescence.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on philosophy of mind, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Survey of entity encounter experiences occasioned by inhaled N,N-dimethyltryptamine: Phenomenology, interpretation, and enduring effects. People who had a memorable entity encounter after taking N,N-dimethyltryptamine | 2020 | Survey | n = 2,561 |
| Future directions in meditation research: Recommendations for expanding the field of contemplative science Meditators | 2018 | Cross-sectional online survey | n = 1,120 |
| The Phenomenology of Lucid Dreaming: An Online Survey Respondents to an online survey about lucid dreams | 2014 | Online survey | n = 684 |
| The neurophenomenology of early psychosis: An integrative empirical study. Ultra-high risk for psychosis patients, first episode psychosis patients, and healthy... | 2019 | Cross-sectional | n = 123 |
| Spontaneous Spiritual Awakenings: Phenomenology, Altered States, Individual Differences, and Well-Being People reporting their most powerful Spontaneous Spiritual or Kundalini Awakening | 2021 | Mixed within and between-participants self-report survey design | n = 152 |