Pathways from Child Sexual and Physical Abuse to Sexual and Physical Intimate Partner Violence Victimization through Attitudes toward Intimate Partner Violence

Abstract

Although many studies have shown that victims of child abuse have an increased vulnerability to revictimization in intimate relationships, the underlying mechanisms are not yet sufficiently well understood. Therefore, this study aimed at examining this relationship for both sexual and physical forms of violence as well as investigating the potential mediating role of attitudes toward sexual and physical intimate partner violence (IPV). Also, the potential moderating role of gender was explored. Sexual and physical child abuse and IPV victimization in adulthood as well as attitudes toward the respective form of IPV were assessed among 716 participants (448 female) in an online survey. The path analyses showed that child sexual abuse was positively linked to sexual IPV victimization among both women and men, whereas child physical abuse was positively associated with physical IPV victimization among women only. Furthermore, the relationship between both forms of child abuse and IPV victimization was mediated through more supportive attitudes toward the respective forms of IPV, but only among men. This study provides novel insights regarding the links between sexual and physical child abuse and revictimization in adulthood, suggesting that supporting attitudes toward IPV may be seen as vulnerability factor for revictimization. The moderating role of gender is especially discussed.

Sexual, Physical, and Emotional Maltreatment in Childhood Are Differentially Associated With Sexual and Physical Revictimization in Adulthood

“…Researchers have appealed to Bandura’s (1977) social learning theory to suggest that those who have experienced physical violence in childhood maybe more likely than those without this history to accept interpersonal violence by others in adulthood ( Schuster & Tomaszewska, 2021 ). And, the evidence generally appears to support a stronger relation of childhood physical maltreatment, over sexual or emotional maltreatment, to later physical revictimization.…”

Relative effects of childhood trauma, intimate partner violence, and other traumatic life events on complex posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms.

“…Complex posttraumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) follows persistent and repeated trauma and is a common mental health problem among women (Cloitre et al, 2009; Dorrepaal et al, 2012; van der Kolk, 2001), who are more likely to experience persistent trauma and are consequentially twice as more likely than men to develop symptoms of CPTSD (Cloitre et al, 2019; Knefel et al, 2015; Schuster & Tomaszewska, 2021). One of the strongest predictors of CPTSD symptoms is childhood trauma, specifically child abuse (physical, emotional, and sexual) and neglect (physical and emotional; Finkelhor & Dziuba-Leatherman, 1994; Karatzias et al, 2017, 2019), both of which are traumas that tend to be persistent and repeated.…”

Dissociation and multiple‐personality disorder in incarcerated women: Observations from the Washington, D.C. detention center. Jail 1987–1989

“…One woman complained of her stepfather's sexual abuse whereupon her mother at once put her out of the house to live on the streets. She was fourteen (Schuster & Tomaszewska, 2021). The pathway of childhood abuse to abuse as an adult was clear in these women; their abuse was exceptionally severe and what made it far worse was the lack of protection from the abuser often when still a child.…”

“…She ran away with a man who said he'd give her a good life and she entered the criminal world. Re‐victimization is a common sequela of “CSA” and Aster's history was one of the worst (Schuster & Tomaszewska, 2021).…”