A Review of Mediators in the Association between Child Sexual Abuse and Revictimization in Romantic Relationships

Hébert, Martine; Lapierre, Andréanne; MacIntosh, Heather B.; Ménard, A. Dana

doi:10.1080/10538712.2020.1801936

Cited by 25 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Experiences of CSA increase the risk of later sexual re-victimization [ 1 , 2 , 11 – 13 ]. Sexual re-victimization may involve exploitation and assaults by strangers and/or casual acquaintances, but can also occur in romantic relationships, i.e., as repeated non-consensual or forced sexual activity by a stable relationship partner [ 1 , 2 , 11 ]. Within romantic relationships, sexual re-victimization often has a more chronic and pervasive nature, and is often accompanied by other forms of intimate partner violence (IPV, e.g., psychological / physical aggression) [ 1 , 2 , 14 , 15 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sexual re-victimization may involve exploitation and assaults by strangers and/or casual acquaintances, but can also occur in romantic relationships, i.e., as repeated non-consensual or forced sexual activity by a stable relationship partner [ 1 , 2 , 11 ]. Within romantic relationships, sexual re-victimization often has a more chronic and pervasive nature, and is often accompanied by other forms of intimate partner violence (IPV, e.g., psychological / physical aggression) [ 1 , 2 , 14 , 15 ]. Therefore, this form of sexual re-victimization has been studied separately with regards to possible risk factors and underlying mechanisms (see) [ 2 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Within romantic relationships, sexual re-victimization often has a more chronic and pervasive nature, and is often accompanied by other forms of intimate partner violence (IPV, e.g., psychological / physical aggression) [ 1 , 2 , 14 , 15 ]. Therefore, this form of sexual re-victimization has been studied separately with regards to possible risk factors and underlying mechanisms (see) [ 2 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…With regard to sexual IPV specifically, it has been proposed that CSA, emotion dysregulation, and dissociation are key risk factor for re-victimization in romantic relationships. Trauma models propose that CSA leads to alterations in emotional and cognitive processing, which make sexually abused individuals more vulnerable to sexual revictimization in intimate relationships [ 2 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Linking experiences of child sexual abuse to adult sexual intimate partner violence: the role of borderline personality features, maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation, and dissociation

Krause-Utz

Dierick

Josef

et al. 2021

bord personal disord emot dysregul

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Background Child sexual abuse (CSA) has been linked to a higher risk of sexual re-victimization, including sexual intimate partner violence (IPV). The aim of this study was to investigate whether borderline personality disorder (BPD) features, dissociation, and maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation mediate the link between self-reported CSA severity and sexual IPV. Specifically, we were interested in the unique effect of each mediator variable, when accounting for the effect of the other variables. Methods Data was assessed in a cross-sectional anonymous online survey, posted on platforms for people affected by domestic violence, and research platforms of Leiden University. Overall, n = 633 participants completed the survey (including n = 100 participants with CSA and n = 345 reporting at least one incidence of sexual IPV). Multivariate regression analyses and path-analytical modelling were performed for hypothesis testing. Results Adult sexual IPV was predicted by more severe CSA, more severe BPD features, higher dissociation, and more maladaptive emotion regulation. Each mediator variable showed a significant effect in the separate mediation models. In the overall model, only dissociation and maladaptive emotion regulation, but not BPD features, mediated the association between CSA and sexual IPV. Conclusions Findings add to the existing literature, suggesting that CSA severity, BPD features, dissociation, and maladaptive emotion regulation are important risk factors for sexual IPV. Given the cross-sectional correlational design of our study, prospective studies are needed to corroborate our findings regarding potential psychological mechanisms underlying sexual re-victimization. Ultimately, this can help developing interventions aimed at breaking the cycle of abuse.

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