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Emotion Dysregulation and Risky Sexual Behavior in Revictimization

NCJ Number
234017
Journal
Child Abuse & Neglect Volume: 34 Issue: 12 Dated: December 2010 Pages: 967-976
Author(s)
Terri L. Messman-Moore; Kate L. Walsh; David DiLillo
Date Published
December 2010
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This study examined emotion dysregulation (poor capacity to regulate emotion) as a factor underlying risky sexual behavior and sexual revictimization among adults who were victims of child sexual abuse (CSA) and child physical abuse (CPA).
Abstract
The study found that approximately 6.3 percent of participants reported CSA, 25.5 percent reported CPA, and 17.8 percent reported rape during adolescence or adulthood. CSA and CPA were associated with increased risk for adolescent/adult rape; 29.8 percent of CSA victims and 24.3 percent of CPA victims were revictimized. Path analytic models tested hypothesized relationships among child abuse, emotion dysregulation, adolescent/adult rape, and three forms of risky sexual behavior (failure to use condoms, contraception, or having sex with someone under the influence of alcohol/drugs), including frequency of risky sexual behavior with a regular dating partner, with a stranger, and lifetime number of intercourse partners. Emotion dysregulation mediated revictimization for both CSA and CPA. Emotion dysregulation also predicted lifetime number of sexual partners and frequency of risky sex with a stranger, but not frequency of risky sex with a regular dating partner. These findings confirm that emotion dysregulation is a critical pathway to more proximal risk factors such as risky sexual behavior. Clinical interventions aimed at improving emotion dysregulation may help reduce risky sexual behavior and risk for revictimization. Participants were 752 college women. Victimization history, emotion dysregulation, and risky sexual behavior were assessed with anonymous, self-report surveys, using a cross-sectional design. 1 table, 3 figures, and 63 references