Citation

Dugal C, Girard M, Belanger C, Sabourin S, Bates EA, Godbout N. J. Interpers. Violence 2018; ePub(ePub): 886260518801022.

Affiliation

Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Intimate Relationship Problems and Sexual Abuse (CRIPCAS), Montréal, Quebec, Canada.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0886260518801022

PMID

30269629

Abstract

The current study examined the mediating role of affect dysregulation, maladaptive personality traits, and negative urgency in the association between childhood cumulative trauma (CCT) and psychological intimate partner violence (IPV). A total of 241 men and women from the general population answered self-report questionnaires assessing these variables.

RESULTS indicated that 70% of participants reported at least two different types of childhood trauma, while, over the past year, 80% indicated having perpetrated or experienced psychological IPV. Path analyses of a sequential mediation model confirmed that the CCT-IPV association is explained by affect dysregulation, maladaptive personality traits, and negative urgency. These findings support the need to assess affect regulation and personality traits in CCT survivors. Psychosocial interventions should aim to increase self-soothing skills and decrease negative urgency to prevent psychological IPV.

Language: en

Keywords

adverse childhood experiences; childhood interpersonal trauma; intimate partner violence