Theory and research suggest that posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may mediate the relationship between child sexual abuse and adult sexual assault. However, little empirical research has examined the mediational role of PTSD. In the present study, the authors use structural equation modeling to examine the degree to which the three symptom clusters that define PTSD (reexperiencing, avoidance, and hyperarousal) contribute to sexual revictimization. To assess PTSD symptomatology, undergraduate women completed questionnaires (N = 1,449), which detailed the history and severity of childhood and adult sexual assault experiences. Results indicated that PTSD mediated sexual revictimization. When PTSD symptom clusters were examined individually, only the hyperarousal cluster was a significant mediator. Results are discussed in terms of information-processing mechanisms that may underlie sexual revictimization.
Campbell R, Greeson MR, Bybee D, Raja S. Campbell R, et al. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2008 Apr;76(2):194-207. doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.76.2.194. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2008. PMID: 18377117
Ullman SE, Najdowski CJ, Filipas HH. Ullman SE, et al. J Child Sex Abus. 2009 Jul-Aug;18(4):367-85. doi: 10.1080/10538710903035263. J Child Sex Abus. 2009. PMID: 19842535
Kuijpers KF, van der Knaap LM, Winkel FW. Kuijpers KF, et al. J Trauma Stress. 2012 Apr;25(2):179-86. doi: 10.1002/jts.21676. J Trauma Stress. 2012. PMID: 22522732
Noll JG. Noll JG. J Interpers Violence. 2005 Apr;20(4):455-62. doi: 10.1177/0886260504267756. J Interpers Violence. 2005. PMID: 15722501 Review.
Foa EB, Street GP. Foa EB, et al. J Clin Psychiatry. 2001;62 Suppl 17:29-34. J Clin Psychiatry. 2001. PMID: 11495093 Review.
Tinsae T, Shumet S, Tadesse G, Takelle GM, Rtbey G, Melkam M, Andualem F, Nakie G, Segon T, Koye S, Fentahun S, Alemu WG. Tinsae T, et al. Front Psychiatry. 2024 May 9;15:1399013. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1399013. eCollection 2024. Front Psychiatry. 2024. PMID: 38784164 Free PMC article.
Howe ES, Dworkin ER. Howe ES, et al. Eur J Psychotraumatol. 2024;15(1):2311478. doi: 10.1080/20008066.2024.2311478. Epub 2024 Feb 20. Eur J Psychotraumatol. 2024. PMID: 38376992 Free PMC article.
Fereidooni F, Daniels JK, Lommen MJJ. Fereidooni F, et al. Trauma Violence Abuse. 2024 Jan;25(1):291-305. doi: 10.1177/15248380221150475. Epub 2023 Feb 3. Trauma Violence Abuse. 2024. PMID: 36737881 Free PMC article. Review.
Kearney BE, Lanius RA. Kearney BE, et al. Front Neurosci. 2022 Nov 21;16:1015749. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2022.1015749. eCollection 2022. Front Neurosci. 2022. PMID: 36478879 Free PMC article. Review.
Iverson KM, Rossi FS, Nillni YI, Fox AB, Galovski TE. Iverson KM, et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Sep 26;19(19):12217. doi: 10.3390/ijerph191912217. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022. PMID: 36231518 Free PMC article.