Characteristics of Disclosing Childhood Victimization and Risk of Revictimization in Young Adulthood

Abstract

Experiencing victimization in childhood increases risk of adulthood revictimization, and it is important to understand what may contribute to such risk. One factor that may help to explain the increased risk of future victimization is disclosure. However, the literature is mixed as to whether disclosure of prior victimization is helpful for protecting against adverse outcomes, and much of the research on disclosure focuses solely on sexual victimization. The current study examines the relationship between various forms of childhood and adulthood victimization and whether disclosure moderates this relationship. In addition, this study investigates whether characteristics of disclosure are associated with revictimization risk. The sample included 275 undergraduates ( M age = 19.52 years; 75.6% female, 77.5% non-Hispanic White or Caucasian). Participants reported on previous history of various forms of childhood and adulthood victimization. They also reported whether or not they had disclosed childhood victimization, and, if so, characteristics related to disclosure. Results revealed that number of childhood victimization experiences significantly predicted number of adulthood victimization experiences, and nearly every type of childhood victimization significantly increased risk of experiencing each type of adulthood victimization. Disclosure did not moderate the relationship between childhood and adulthood victimization. Participants who disclosed were more likely to disclose crime and peer/sibling victimization and disclose to parents or friends. Positive reactions to disclosure were more common than negative reactions; however, 75% of disclosers received at least one negative reaction. Finally, revictimized individuals received more overall negative reactions than nonrevictimized individuals. They also received more reactions characterized by the person they disclosed to trying to take control of their decisions or treating them differently. Results highlight the importance of examining relationships between various forms of victimization, considering how characteristics of disclosure relate to risk of revictimization, and the importance of educating potential support networks about appropriate responses to disclosure.

Positive childhood experiences and adverse experiences: Psychometric properties of the Benevolent Childhood Experiences Scale (BCEs) among the Portuguese population

“…Thus, even when coexisting alongside positive childhood experiences, negative childhood experiences seem to have a greater impact on adversity in adulthood. In fact, previous studies revealed that abuse during childhood may be related to sexual abuse (Ports, Ford, & Merrick, 2016), intimate partner abuse (Riedl et al, 2019), and other forms of victimization in adulthood (Desir & Karatekin, 2019).…”

The future of childhood maltreatment research: Diversity and equity-informed perspectives for inclusive methodology and social justice

“…A study with college students indicated that of those reporting a history of childhood victimization such as maltreatment, only 53.3% had ever told someone about their experiences and if they did, they were more likely to first disclose to a parent or friend. Only 20.8% had first disclosed to a professional, suggesting that if disclosure does happen, it often happens to informal sources (Desir & Karatekin, 2019). Preference to avoid thinking about maltreatment could also certainly be the case for individuals who have avoidance symptoms of PTSD, feel unsafe or invalidated in the disclosure context, or perceive themselves as vulnerable in other ways because of having minoritized identities, being pregnant, or having low social support (Narayan et al, 2017;Herman, 2003).…”

Sociosexuality and maladaptive personality traits as mediators of the relationship between childhood trauma and sexual victimization in adulthood.

“…Importantly, these revictimization rates account for the presence of any secondary trauma, regardless of form. For example, while it is true that sexual victimization in childhood doubles a person’s risk for sexual victimization in adulthood, experiencing physical abuse and witnessing violence in childhood can also increase the risk of adult sexual victimization (Desir & Karatekin, 2021; Tjaden & Thoennes, 2000). Because of its high rates of revictimization and differential impact on survivors, research on sexual trauma is frequently examined separately from other forms of trauma (Barnes et al, 2009; Contractor et al, 2020).…”