Sexual victimization, childhood emotional abuse, and distress: Daily coping and perceived control as mediators.

Abstract

The primary aim of the present study was to assess 2 potential mediators (daily avoidant coping and perceived control) of the relations between past sexual victimization and childhood emotional abuse and current distress. Participants (N = 268) were undergraduate students in psychology courses at a large Midwestern university who completed measures of sexual victimization, childhood emotional abuse, neuroticism, and distress at baseline; daily measures of avoidant coping and perceived control over stressors for 14 days (Time 2); and measures of avoidant coping, perceived control, and distress at Time 3. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the mediation model. The indirect path between childhood emotional abuse and T3 distress through daily avoidant coping was significant and remained significant in an alternate model that controlled for baseline neuroticism. The indirect effect of childhood emotional abuse on T3 distress through perceived control was not significant. Sexual victimization was not associated with greater use of avoidant coping or perceived control in the SEM models. The present study added to the literature by assessing multiple traumas and multiple mediators using longitudinal, daily diary methods. (PsycINFO Database Record

Trans Feminine Sexual Violence Experiences: The Intersection of Transphobia and Misogyny

“…In addition, most of the participants reported feeling invalidated upon disclosure of their incidences of sexual victimization either based on stigma and discrimination by providers (i.e., housing, law enforcement) or desensitization toward sexual violence among their trans feminine and cis female peers. This finding aligns with the literature indicating a high prevalence of provider-based transphobic stigma and discrimination (Fergusson et al, 2002; Herbst et al, 2008; Nguyen-Feng et al, 2017; Walsh et al, 2012). Participant experiences with invalidation upon disclosure of their experiences did not appear to vary based on race/ethnicity, age, employment, housing, pretransition histories with violence, or ability to pass.…”

“…Consistent with the literature (Fergusson et al, 2002; Nguyen-Feng et al, 2017; Walsh et al, 2012), participants discussed issues with depression, trauma, substance abuse, anxiety, sex work, suicidality, and HIV in association with their exposures to sexual victimization. These specific issues were not further investigated within the scope of this research.…”

“…Health consequences. There are several consequences of discrimination, victimization, and violence against transgender populations related to negative health and mental health outcomes, including related to HIV/AIDS (Herbst et al, 2008) and issues with depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, and substance use disorder (Fergusson et al, 2002;Mustanski, Garofalo, & Emerson, 2010;Nguyen-Feng et al, 2017). The prevalence of depression among transgender individuals is found to be more than 3 times that of the general U.S. population (Nuttbrock et al, 2010).…”

“…Barriers to accessing health-care services are found to correspond with providers’ lack of skills, knowledge, and trans affirmative attitudes when working with diverse transgender populations (Institute of Medicine, 2011; Poteat, German, & Kerrigan, 2013). This is particularly concerning considering research that indicates that sexual violence exposures and experiences with provider-based stigma contribute to the development of health, mental health, and substance use issues in sexual and gender minority populations (Fergusson, Swain-Campbell, & Horwood, 2002; Herbst et al, 2008; Nguyen-Feng, Baker, Merians, & Frazier, 2017; Walsh, Galea, & Koenen, 2012).…”

Assessing Change Over Time in Voice Handicap and Voice-Related Perceived Control Using Ecological Momentary Assessment

“…However, there was more variability in daily perceived control (SD = 0.69) than in previous EMA studies measuring daily evening perceived control among university students (SDs = 0.25-0.46). 40,41 In sum, there was significant within-person variability, especially with regard to voice handicap, suggesting that typical single timepoint assessments may not be sufficient.…”