Citation

Polusny MA, Rosenthal MZ, Aban IB, Follette VM. Violence Vict. 2004; 19(1): 109-120.

Affiliation

Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center, University of Minnesota Medical School, USA. melissa.polusny@med.va.gov

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, Springer Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

15179750

Abstract

The study examined experiential avoidance as a mediator between sexual victimization and negative adult outcomes. Baron and Kenny's (1986) regression analyses were performed on a sample of 304 undergraduate women to assess direct and indirect effects of sexual victimization on depressive, psychological distress, and alcohol abuse symptoms. Experiential avoidance accounted for statistically significant, but modest effects of victimization on depressive and distress symptoms. Child sexual abuse was not directly associated with experiential avoidance or negative outcomes, but increased vulnerability for adolescent sexual victimization. Adolescent sexual victimization contributed to increased experiential avoidance, which was associated with greater negative outcomes. These results uniquely contribute to the existing literature linking experiential avoidance to psychological problems.

Language: en