Childhood Sexual Abuse, Adolescent-Adult Sexual Assault, and Revictimization: Do Emotion Regulation and Mindfulness Buffer Associations with Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms?

Abstract

Women with a history of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and/or adolescent-adult sexual assault (ASA) can have different trauma-related symptom presentations in early adulthood, but the role of coping resources in mitigating victimization-related distress is understudied. Thus, the present study examined women with sexual victimization histories by developmental period (CSA-only, ASA-only, or CSA + ASA) and the role that mindfulness and emotion regulation play as coping resources that may buffer against post-traumatic stress. Participants were 247 cisgender community women aged 21-30 recruited for a larger study on high-risk drinking and sexual behaviors. Negative binomial regression models revealed significant differences in PTSS severity by victimization pattern: CSA + ASA was associated with the greatest PTSS severity, followed by ASA-only, and CSA-only reporting the lowest severity. Though no buffering effects were found, emotion regulation and mindfulness were directly associated with lower PTSS severity across all victimization patterns. Results indicate the need for targeted interventions for those who have experienced both CSA and ASA. Findings also suggest that improving mindfulness and emotion regulation may be beneficial, though not sufficient, for recovery following sexual victimization regardless of victimization pattern. Future interventions could prioritize increasing coping resources to reduce distress for victim-survivors of sexual victimization.