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A Scoping Review of Challenges in Adult Intimate Relationships After Childhood Sexual Abuse

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Childhood sexual abuse is a severe problem worldwide. Childhood sexual abuse can be detrimental to children and their abilities to cope with and communicate in their subsequent adult intimate relationships. The aim of this review was to generate and summarize knowledge about how childhood sexual abuse manifests in adult intimate relationships so healthcare professionals can incorporate this knowledge into treatment and care. A scoping review methodology was selected because it supports examination of the extent, range, and nature of research activity. A content analysis of the studies included in this review led to three thematic categories of challenges in adult intimate relationships after childhood sexual abuse: (a) relationship satisfaction, (b) sexual satisfaction, and (c) communication and trust.
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Journal of Child Sexual Abuse
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A Scoping Review of Challenges in Adult Intimate
Relationships After Childhood Sexual Abuse
Ben Farid Røjgaard Nielsen, Gitte Wind, Tine Tjørnhøj-Thomsen & Bente
Martinsen
To cite this article: Ben Farid Røjgaard Nielsen, Gitte Wind, Tine Tjørnhøj-Thomsen & Bente
Martinsen (2018): A Scoping Review of Challenges in Adult Intimate Relationships After Childhood
Sexual Abuse, Journal of Child Sexual Abuse
To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/10538712.2018.1491915
Published online: 24 Jul 2018.
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A Scoping Review of Challenges in Adult Intimate
Relationships After Childhood Sexual Abuse
Ben Farid Røjgaard Nielsen
a
, Gitte Wind
a
, Tine Tjørnhøj-Thomsen
b
,
and Bente Martinsen
c
a
Section of Nursing, University College Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark;
b
National Institute of
Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark;
c
Section for Nursing, Aarhus
University, Aarhus, Denmark
ABSTRACT
Childhood sexual abuse is a severe problem worldwide.
Childhood sexual abuse can be detrimental to children and
their abilities to cope with and communicate in their subse-
quent adult intimate relationships. The aim of this review was
to generate and summarize knowledge about how childhood
sexual abuse manifests in adult intimate relationships so
healthcare professionals can incorporate this knowledge into
treatment and care. A scoping review methodology was
selected because it supports examination of the extent,
range, and nature of research activity. A content analysis of
the studies included in this review led to three thematic cate-
gories of challenges in adult intimate relationships after child-
hood sexual abuse: (a) relationship satisfaction, (b) sexual
satisfaction, and (c) communication and trust.
ARTICLE HISTORY
Received 21 December 2017
Revised 7 May 2018
Accepted 14 June 2018
KEYWORDS
Child sexual abuse; self and
partner report; relationship
satisfaction; intimate
relationship; sexual
satisfaction
Introduction
Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a severe problem worldwide (Karstoft, Beck, &
Elklit, 2012; Pereda, Guilera, Forns, & Gomez-Benito, 2009). CSA can be detri-
mental to children and their abilities to cope with and communicate in subse-
quent adult intimate relationships (Perry, 2009). The noun intimaterefers to a
person with whom one has a particularly close relationship. This relationship is a
familiar and very close affective connection with another as a result of a bond
that is formed through knowledge and experience of the other. Healthcare
professionals may play an important role in the treatment and care of adults
who have experienced CSA (Walker, Sheffield, Larson, & Holman, 2011).
Assisting adults in gaining skills that will help them develop close relationships,
especially with intimate partners, is considered an important goal in helping
them overcome some of the long-term effects of CSA (Walker et al., 2011). A
positive intimate relationship may increase adultsfeelings of safety, helping
them gain positive interpersonal experiences (Walker et al., 2011).
CONTACT Ben Farid Røjgaard Nielsen bnni@phmetropol.dk Tagensvej 86. 2200 KBH N, Denmark
Color versions of one or more of the figures in the article can be found online at www.tandfonline.com/wcsa.
JOURNAL OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE
https://doi.org/10.1080/10538712.2018.1491915
© 2018 Taylor & Francis
CSA can affect adult relationships in negative ways (Unger & Luca, 2014),
including increased instability in relationships and a greater risk of sexual
problems and negativity toward partners (Isely, Isely, Freiburger, &
McMackin, 2008). In addition, a body of evidence demonstrates that rela-
tional issues in adults who have experienced CSA pertain to fear of intimate
contact and problems related to pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting
(Colman & Widom, 2004; Nguyen, Karney, & Bradbury, 2017; Roberts, O
́
Connor, Dunn, & Golding, 2004). Both adults exposed to CSA and their
intimate partners report higher levels of emotional intensity and greater
contempt and defensiveness in relationships (Walker et al., 2011).
Experiencing CSA is also a risk factor for later divorce and relationship
abandonment (Colman & Widom, 2004). Despite this emerging evidence,
knowledge about adult intimate relationships after CSA is sparse.
Aim
The aim of this review is to generate and summarize knowledge about how
CSA manifests in adult intimate relationships so healthcare professionals can
incorporate this knowledge into treatment and care. The review is relevant
for healthcare professionals caring for adults with a history of CSA. It is
critical to understand how CSA affects adult intimate relationships in order
to provide healthcare professionals with an evidence base for care and to
enhance global care and treatment for adults who have experienced CSA.
This knowledge can help healthcare professionals identify unique needs and
issues in adult intimate relationships and develop more systemic ways of
involving couples in their treatment and care.
Methods
A scoping review methodology was selected because it supports examination
of the breadth and nature of research activity (Arksey & OMalley, 2005).
This allows for the rapid identification of current methods and research gaps
within literature (Arksey & OMalley, 2005). By mapping existing research,
our scoping review will identify potential research gaps and future research
needs. We followed guidelines from Arksey and OMalley (2005) for con-
ducting a scoping review.
This review mapped the current state of knowledge about challenges in
adult intimate relationships in which at least one partner experienced CSA.
Our research question was: What knowledge does the existing literature offer
about how CSA manifests in adult intimate relationships?
A literature search was conducted for relevant articles published
between 2000 and 2017. The electronic databases PubMed, CINAHL,
and PsycINFO were selected because they index studies relevant to our
2B. F. R. NIELSEN ET AL.
research question, and the search strategy was tailored to the specifica-
tions of each database. The following search terms were used: intimate
partner, close partner, intimate partnership, close partnership, relationship
satisfaction, partnership satisfaction, childhood sexual, abuse, challenges,
interpersonal relations, and intimate relationships. The search terms were
used alone and in combinations using the Boolean operators AND
and OR.
The final search was carried out in September 2017 in consultation with a
health librarian. Quantitative and qualitative research studies using primary
and secondary sources, including systematic reviews, published in English
between 2000 and 2017 were included. We excluded studies addressing
substance abuse and interpersonal and other forms of violence in adult
relationships. Our initial searches yielded 71 possible articles, and two addi-
tional studies were added after reviewing article reference lists. After remov-
ing duplicates and studies that did not meet inclusion criteria, 16 articles
remained (Table 1).
We began the analysis by collecting general information from each article,
including author(s), title and year, aim and country, methods, and partner
perspective. We then performed a qualitative analysis of the manifest con-
tent, inspired by Graneheim and Lundman (2004). When reading the
included articles, constellations of sentences with the same core meaning
were condensed. These condensed meaning units were assigned codes
describing the contents. Each meaning unit primarily refers to a descriptive
level of content and contains a number of subcategories that can be under-
stood as an expression of the manifest content of the text (Figure 1). In the 16
included papers, we identified three categories and a number of subcate-
gories. One of the authors (B.F.R.N.) performed the first qualitative analysis.
To increase credibility, all authors discussed the categories and subcategories.
The process from condensing through discussion was iterative and repeated
as necessary.
Results
Of the 16 studies we identified, only two included the perspectives of
relationship partners of adults with a history of CSA. We identified three
thematic categories of challenges in adult intimate relationships after CSA
that addressed our research question: (a) relationship satisfaction, (b) sexual
satisfaction, and (c) communication and trust.
Relationship satisfaction
CSA is associated with negative intimate relationship outcomes, including
decreased satisfaction in intimate relationships.
JOURNAL OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE 3
Table 1. Included studies.
Authors (year) Friesen et al. (2010)
Country New Zealand
Aim (n) To examine the links between CSA exposure, life-course experiences through
adolescence and adulthood, and adult intimate relationship experiences in one
data set (900 adults)
Methods Quantitative method
Partner perspective No
Authors (year) Testa et al. (2005)
Country USA
Aim (n) To examine how CSA experiences and partner characteristics may influence
womens relationships (732 women)
Methods Quantitative method
Partner perspective No
Authors (year) Izdebska, Beisert, and Roszyk (2015)
Country Poland
Aim (n) To verify the hypothesis that there is a relationship between severity of child abuse
and intensity of collusion in partner relationship (94 women and 76 men)
Methods Quantitative method
Partner perspective No
Authors (year) Rellini, Vujanovic, Gilbert, and Zvolensky (2012)
Country USA
Aim (n) To examine relations among childhood maltreatment difficulties in emotion
regulation and sexual and relationship satisfaction among young women reporting
current involvement in committed romantic relationships (192 women)
Methods Quantitative method
Partner perspective No
Authors (year) MacIntosh and Johnson (2008)
Country Canada
Aim (n) To explore emotionally focused therapy for couples with CSA survivors and their
partner (10 couples)
Methods Quantitative method
Partner perspective Yes
Authors (year) Liang, Williams, and Siegel (2006)
Country USA
Aim (n) To examine the effects of CSA on the intimate and marital relationships of adult
survivors (136 women)
Methods Qualitative
Partner perspective No
Authors (year) Nguyen et al. (2017).
Country USA
Aim (n) To examine the effect of childhood abuse on newlywedsinitial levels of satisfaction
and on change in satisfaction over time (414 newlywed couples)
Methods Qualitative
Partner perspective Yes
Authors (year) Knapp, Knapp, Brown, and Larson (2017)
Country USA
Aim (n) To explore relational consequences affecting adult relationship. What are female
survivors of sexual abuse in childhood self-reports of their conflict resolution styles?
(457 heterosexual couples in which female partners experienced CSA)
Methods Quantitative
Partner perspective No
Authors (year) Lassri, Luyten, Fonagy, and Shahar (2018)
Country UK
Aim (n) To examine whether self-criticism and attachment avoidance mediate the impact of
CSA on prospective romantic relationship satisfaction among otherwise well-
functioning young women (59 women)
Methods Quantitative
(Continued )
4B. F. R. NIELSEN ET AL.
Gender differences
After CSA, men and women may experience different types of challenges in
adult intimate relationships. One study, including only men (Nelson, 2015),
did not report any issues related to relationship satisfaction and CSA.
However, Larson and Lamont (2005) reported that women with CSA may
wait an average of 1.5 years longer to marry due to expectations that
marriage will be difficult, unsatisfactory, and present a high level of conflict.
In another recent study (Nguyen et al., 2017), CSA significantly predicted the
initial relationship satisfaction of newlyweds. Spouses with a history of CSA
Table 1. (Continued).
Partner perspective No
Authors (year) Davis et al. (2001)
Country USA
Aim (n) To examine the relationship among interpersonal functioning, symptomatology,
and CSA (315 women)
Methods Quantitative
Partner perspective No
Authors (year) Nelson (2015)
Country USA
Aim (n) To evaluate the relationship between adult attachment and relationship satisfaction
among men abused during childhood (73 men)
Methods Quantitative
Partner perspective No
Authors (year) Bradbury and Shaffer (2012)
Country USA
Aim (n) To examine the mediating role of emotional dysregulation in relation between
retrospective reports of childhood emotional maltreatment and current satisfaction
in a romantic relationship 492 (135 men, 357 women)
Methods Quantitative
Partner perspective No
Authors (year) Aubin (2010)
Country USA
Aim (n) To explore how CSA affects adulthood relationship in women (18 women)
Methods Quantitative
Partner perspective No
Authors (year) Nelson and Wampler (2000)
Country USA
Aim (n) The focus of this study is on the association between reported childhood physical
and sexual abuse and current individual stress symptoms, relationship satisfaction,
and family adjustment. (96 couples)
Methods Quantitative
Partner perspective Yes
Authors (year) Larson and Lamont (2005)
Country USA
Aim (n) This study investigated the relationship of CSA to marital attitudes and perceived
readiness for marriage in single young adult women (622 women)
Methods Quantitative
Partner perspective Yes
Authors (year) McDonald and Tijerino (2013)
Country Canada
Aim (n) To examine the experiences of male CSA survivors (59 men)
Methods Qualitative
Partner perspective No
JOURNAL OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE 5
reported more symptoms of depression and, among husbands, displayed
more negative communication.
Spouses with a history of CSA were also less satisfied with their marriage,
even as newlyweds; wives with a history of CSA experienced a decline in
satisfaction over time, compared to women without a comparable history
(Nguyen et al., 2017). Husbands who had not experienced CSA but married
women who had were negatively impacted by their wiveshistory of abuse.
However, husbands who shared a history of CSA with their wives were not
negatively affected by their wiveschildhood abuse (Nguyen et al., 2017).
Relationships may be a powerful force in how individuals develop and
change, yet their impact varies with life stage. Abusive experiences at the
hands of others early in life are particularly formative, whereas relationships
later in life may do little to alter those experiences, for better or for worse
(Nguyen et al., 2017). When couples are involved in treatment and care in
which a history of CSA is openly acknowledged in interventions that are
designed to promote acceptance of the unique histories and experiences each
partner brings to the relationship, it appears to be more fruitful than treat-
ment that focuses solely on changing communication patterns in the rela-
tionship (Nguyen et al., 2017).
Acceptance may be particularly helpful when spouses adopt the view that
their own or their partners sensitivity or trust difficulties can fundamentally
change or that the non-abused partner can alleviate interpersonal difficulties
of the abused partner. However, positive expectations for the partner and
relationship that are not met are associated with steeper declines in relation-
ship satisfaction (Nguyen et al., 2017).
Childhood sexual
abuse is associated
with lower
relationship
satisfaction and
investment. The
studies support a
connection between
CSA and
functioning in adult
partnership,
including a great
fear of intimacy.
Genders also may
experience
challenges in
different ways
Meaning
unit
Relationship
satisfaction
Code
1. Gender
differences
2. Decreased
satisfaction
3. Great fear of
intimacy
Sub-
categories
Figure 1. Relationship between meaning units, codes, and subcategories.
6B. F. R. NIELSEN ET AL.
Increased self-criticism and attachment avoidance
Both self-criticism and attachment avoidance refer to the extent to which
individuals avoid closeness with others. CSA may give rise to increased self-
criticism in adulthood, suggesting a tendency to internalize a critical attitude
toward the self (Lassri, Luyten, Fonagy, & Shahar, 2018). Increased self-
criticism may be linked in turn to decreased satisfaction in intimate relation-
ships (Lassri et al., 2018). Relationship dissatisfaction might then further
increase attachment avoidance tendencies, leading to a continuing decrease
in relationship satisfaction over time (Lassri et al., 2018). CSA may lead to a
chronic vicious cycle related to intimate relationships, via an indirect effect
leading from self-criticism to unsatisfying intimate relationships.
Sexual satisfaction
Sexual dysfunction
Adults with CSA have a high level of sexual distress in their intimate adult
relationships (Rellini & Meston, 2007). One study investigating potential
differences between sexual dysfunction and sexual satisfaction among
women with CSA demonstrated that even though women were distressed
about their sexuality, they did not exhibit sexual dysfunction (Testa, VanZile-
Tamsen, & Livingston, 2005).
Sexual risk
Lower relationship satisfaction may also lead to a higher number of sexual
partners (Friesen, Woodward, Horwood, & Fergusson, 2010). Testa et al.
(2005) suggest that the higher sexual risk status of adults exposed to CSA,
including higher numbers of sexual partners and rates of sexually transmitted
infection (STI), can be at least partially explained by the quality of the
intimate relationships. A history of CSA is associated with having more
aggressive and more sexually risky partners. One consequence of the ten-
dency to affiliate with riskier partners is a high rate of STI resulting from a
current relationship.
Great fear of intimacy
CSA also affects the ability to develop and maintain a stable long-term
intimate relationship (McDonald & Tijerino, 2013). It is associated with a
great fear of intimacy in intimate adult relationships (Davis, Petretic-Jackson,
& Ling, 2001). Being touched can trigger flashbacks and negative emotions,
making it difficult to be physically close to others as an intimate partner
(McDonald & Tijerino, 2013). Adults with CSA mentioned different strate-
gies they used to become accustomed to being touched in a safe environ-
ment, such as massage therapy or through a counselors light touch on the
shoulder (McDonald & Tijerino, 2013).
JOURNAL OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE 7
Communication and trust
Poor communication and less trust were issues in intimate adult relation-
ships in which one partner had a history of CSA. Individuals who have
experienced abuse often report problems with emotional distance and isola-
tion (Nelson & Wampler, 2000).
Emotional flooding and numbing
Couples in which one partner had been exposed to CSA reported high levels of
emotional intensity in their communications (Nelson & Wampler, 2000)and
greater contempt and defensiveness in their relationships (Walker et al., 2011).
Individuals with CSA found it particularly challenging to regulate their response
when their partner was directed to reach out to them and ask them to help in
meeting a relational goal. They had difficulty controlling their emotions. On the
opposite side of the spectrum from emotional flooding, emotional numbing
emerged as a result of fearing emotional overwhelm and loss of control.
Emotional numbing and extreme control characterized the responses of many
adults with CSA to emotionally challenging situations. Adults exposed to CSA
experienced emotions in an all-or-nothing way, being either dysregulated and
flooded with affect or numbed out (MacIntosh & Johnson, 2008).
Discussion
The findings from this review provide an important initial exploration of
adult intimate relationships after CSA. The impact of CSA on adult intimate
relationships requires further research. However, this review contributes to
the understanding and knowledge of healthcare professionals caring for
adults with a history of CSA. The studies included in this review reveal
that they face challenges related to decreased relationship satisfaction,
decreased sexual satisfaction, and poor communication and low trust levels
in intimate relationships.
Some evidence indicates that involving both relationship partners in
treatment may be more fruitful than focusing only on the partner with a
history of CSA. Therefore, healthcare professionals should seek to involve
patients with CSA and their partners in treatment encounters. Efforts are
needed to strengthen future research in this area, but couple-oriented inter-
ventions appear promising.
Study limitations
The 16 studies we included were conducted in five different countries, and
only two were conducted in Europe. Thus, the generalizability of our findings
to adults with a history of CSA across the world is unknown. Only three
8B. F. R. NIELSEN ET AL.
studies employed qualitative methods, and only two included partners of
adults with a history of CSA in intimate relationships, rendering it difficult to
draw any conclusions about their perspectives.
More research is needed, particularly qualitative studies that allow a nuanced
understanding of the perspectives of both adults with a history of CSA and their
partners in intimate relationships. Given early evidence that including partners
may increase the effectiveness of treating adults with a history of CSA, enhan-
cing healthcare professionalsunderstanding of how intimate relationships
affect health with evidence-based knowledge is important. Establishing relation-
ships with both the adult exposed to CSA and the partner when the patient first
enters treatment may well be an essential part of high-quality care.
Compliance with Ethical Standards
All procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible
committee on human experimentation (institutional and national) and with the Helsinki
Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2000. Informed consent was obtained from all patients for
being included in the study.
Notes on contributors
Ben Farid Røjgaard Nielsen is a Senior Lecturer at University College Copenhagen,
Denmark. Section of Nursing in Copenhagen (Denmark).
Gitte Wind is a Senior Associate Lecturer at University College Copenhagen, Section of
Nursing in Copenhagen, (Denmark).
Tine Tjørnhøj-Thomsen is a professor at National Institute of Public Health, University of
Southern Denmark, Copenhagen (Denmark).
Bente Martinsen is an assistant professor at Section of Nursing, Department of Public Health,
Aarhus University, Aarhus (Denmark).
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JOURNAL OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE 11
... In the past, the CM literature has focused largely on the outcomes of CSA survivors, neglecting other forms of CM, even though they are also prominent and harmful and may have unique impacts on adjustment. There have been several recent reviews of the qualitative literature on the adult relationships of CSA survivors (e.g., Fatehi et al., 2021;Nielsen et al., 2018;Weetman et al., 2021) but, to our knowledge, there are no reviews focusing on the adult relationship experiences of individuals with nonsexual CM histories', despite the evidence demonstrating they have different implications. While CM subtypes often co-occur, understanding the unique contribution of nonsexual CM history to the social developmental consequences that individuals with CM histories experience will complement the existing literature on CSA and relationship quality and may inform assessment and intervention for individuals with differing CM profiles. ...
... Scoping reviews by Fatehi et al. (2021), Nielsen et al. (2018), and Weetman et al. (2021) highlight the challenges that CSA survivors have in their adult intimate relationships and with parenting. Specifically, Fatehi et al. (2021) translated the results of their scoping review of the qualitative and quantitative research on CSA history and parenting outcomes, and particularly the gaps in the literature, to build a theoretical framework of how a history of CSA influences parenting outcomes. ...
... They state that this relationship is mediated by parental mental health, and moderated by parent's age at the time of CSA, parent's gender and social roles/stereotypes, the quality of the relationship between parents, the child's gender and age, CSA severity, and relationship with the perpetrator. In Nielsen et al. (2018), the authors reviewed the quantitative and qualitative literature on the role that CSA experiences play in adult intimate relationships and highlighted three categories of challenges, notably decreased relationship satisfaction, decreased sexual satisfaction, and communication and trust. In Weetman et al. (2021), a qualitative scoping review on the experience of partner relationships for adult males with CSA history, themes emerged relating to difficulties with sexual and emotional intimacy, navigating agency and assertiveness in relationships, and healing from trauma. ...
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Purpose Child maltreatment (CM) is a serious public health problem that can have severe repercussions, including negatively affecting the interpersonal functioning of those impacted. Throughout development, individuals with CM histories have been found to be at greater risk of difficulties in their relationships and having less social support than non-maltreated individuals. CM has also been found to show intergenerational continuity. The current scoping review aimed to synthesize the qualitative literature on the relationship experiences of individuals with nonsexual CM histories, to better understand their relationships with their partners, children, extended family and friends. Understanding these experiences may inform the contexts under which unhealthy social environments are formed, potentially leading to intergenerational continuity of CM. Method PsycINFO, MEDLINE, and Web of Science were searched. Peer-reviewed studies with qualitative results on the relationship experiences of adults with nonsexual CM histories were included. Studies with samples of CSA survivors only were excluded, as well as reviews, books/book chapters, or theses/dissertations, and studies written in a language other than English or French. Results A total of 42 articles were included and explored participants’ experiences in their relationships with their parents, partners, and children, their general relationship functioning, and their social support. Conclusions This literature summarizes the positive and negative adult relationship experiences of individuals with nonsexual CM histories with their immediate family and partners and highlights their lack of social support. Findings underscore the impacts of nonsexual CM on interpersonal functioning in adulthood and are discussed in light of attachment theory.
... . Studies investigating the psychological mechanism underlying the impact of CM on adult intimate relationships are relatively scarce and have primarily focused on negative psychological processes (Nielsen et al., 2018;Zamir, 2021). Identifying positive psychological mechanisms underlying the link between CM and relationship satisfaction (the extent to which romantic partners assess the goodness of their intimate relationship; Glenn, 1990) may be especially useful for developing interventions. ...
... For CM to be meaningfully addressed theoretically and practically via clinical interventions, it is critical to understand the mechanisms by which a history of CM may impact adult intimate relationships (Nolen-Hoeksema & Watkins, 2011). While most previous studies have focused on identifying potential risk factors as underlying mechanisms in the link between CM and the quality of intimate relationships (Nielsen et al., 2018;Zamir, 2021), relatively little research attention has been devoted to examining the role of positive psychological mechanisms as potential mediators between CM and quality of intimate relationships. ...
... Our study further confirmed CM as a consistent risk factor for difficulties in intimate relationships (for review: Nielsen et al., 2018;Zamir, 2021), here in the unique context of a large non-clinical sample which included mostly highly educated and healthy individuals, a relatively understudied population in the empirical literature of CM (e.g., Lassri et al., 2016Lassri et al., , 2018. The mediation effect of self-compassion in the relation between CM and relationship satisfaction remained significant even in the presence of psychopathology and while taking age, gender, and education into account. ...
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Objectives Although childhood maltreatment is negatively linked with the quality of adult intimate relationships, only relatively scant research has addressed the mechanisms underlying this link, focusing mainly on negative psychological processes. The role of positive processes in this link has been little explored, especially among non-clinical samples. The current study sought to examine the mediating role of self-compassion in the association between childhood maltreatment and relationship satisfaction. Method A convenience sample of 667 individuals drawn from a larger sample from an online survey in which they reported being in an intimate relationship answered self-report questionnaires. Results Childhood maltreatment was indeed indirectly negatively linked with satisfaction with intimate relationships through the (partial) mediation of self-compassion. Thus, childhood maltreatment was negatively linked with self-compassion, which in turn was positively linked to satisfaction with intimate relationships. Conclusions These findings provide a further example of the mediating role of self-compassion, an important transdiagnostic protective factor related to elevated satisfaction with intimate relationships. The findings highlight the potential contribution of mindfulness and compassion-based programs with survivors of childhood maltreatment who are presumably at risk for dissatisfaction with intimate relationships. Preregistration This study was not preregistered.
... Research has shown that individuals who have experienced childhood sexual abuse (CSA) may face challenges in developing and maintaining healthy intimate relationships (Barker, Volk, Hazel, & Reinhardt, 2022;Godbout, Briere, Sabourin, & Lussier, 2014;Testa, VanZile-Tamsen, & Livingston, 2005), with previous research showing that it is associated with various negative romantic relationship outcomes such as lower marital satisfaction and relationship quality (Zamir, 2021), more volatile conflict resolution style (Knapp, Knapp, Brown, & Larson, 2017), low marital adjustment (Godbout, Sabourin, & Lussier, 2009), and decreased satisfaction (Nielsen, Wind, Tjørnhøj-Thomsen, & Martinsen, 2018). The current study adds to this large body of work by aiming to better understand the association between CSA and relationship satisfaction. ...
... Childhood sexual abuse has long been known to be a risk factor for relationship problems and especially for low relationship quality (Zamir, 2021) and decreased relationship satisfaction (Nielsen et al., 2018). In the current study we sought to further examine this association by examining PTSD and sexual-related PTSS as possible moderators. ...
Article
Research on childhood sexual abuse (CSA) has consistently demonstrated the long-term effects of such abuse, not only on survivors' development, but also on the nature and quality of their adult relationships, particularly romantic ones. In this study we examined the moderating role of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and sexual-related posttraumatic stress symptoms (sexual-related PTSS) between CSA and relationship satisfaction. Survey data from 529 individuals who reported being currently in a romantic relationship were analyzed. In the first set of analyses, results demonstrated that participants with CSA reported significantly lower relationship satisfaction and significantly greater severity of PTSD and sexual-related PTSS than participants without CSA. Sexual-related PTSS but not PTSD moderated the association between CSA and participants' relationship satisfaction, with the model of sexual-related PTSS explaining 20.8% of the variance in relationship satisfaction and the model of PTSD explaining 11.3% of this variance. In the second set of analyses conducted among survivors of CSA only, higher sexual-related PTSS severity was linked with ongoing abuse and with abuse by a non-family member. This study points to the potential contribution made by sexual-related PTSS to relationship satisfaction among survivors of CSA.
... For instance, youth exposed to interpersonal trauma struggle with trusting others (Gobin & Freyd, 2014;Neil et al., 2022;Sellnow et al., 2021), which may be reflected in a lack of normative increase in the Trust facet (versus impacting the entire Agreeableness domain). The trajectory of the Trust facet could, in turn, have lasting negative impacts on adult relationships (Nielsen et al., 2018). Investigating the causes and consequences of individual differences in personality change from metatraits to domains to facets would provide important insights into functioning that would be impossible to glean from studying domain-level development alone. ...
... A recent review has identified 43 studies that supported the association between any type of childhood maltreatment (neglect, sexual, emotional, or physical abuse) and lower relationship quality among both men and women (Zamir, 2021). In addition, childhood abuse is also associated with increased fear of intimacy to avoid the possibility of being hurt again among those who have experienced either sexual abuse (Davis et al., 2001;Nielsen et al., 2018), physical abuse (Repic, 2007), or emotional abuse (Cao et al., 2020). ...
Article
To date, the majority of research examining the effect of childhood abuse on relational aspects in adulthood is almost exclusively based on intraindividual data. The current study explores a moderating-mediating model from a dyadic perspective, examining the mediating effect that perceived intimacy has on the associations between concern couple caregiving and relationship satisfaction. It further investigates whether these mediation paths are moderated by a history of childhood abuse (physical/emotional/sexual). A total of 143 nonclinical couples ( n = 286) in enduring relationships were recruited. A moderated mediation actor–partner interdependence model (moderated mediation actor-partner interdependence model (APIM)) comprised of three segments, was conducted. Results indicated that intimacy mediated the link between concern caregiving and relationship satisfaction on the actor’s level, with effects applying equally to both husbands and wives. A higher level of intimacy among husbands and wives alike is linked, in turn, with higher relationship satisfaction. The path between actors’ concern caregiving and their level of intimacy was moderated by the actors’ childhood emotional and physical abuse; specifically, concern caregiving exerts greater effect on intimacy among participants who experienced high levels of emotional abuse, or low levels of physical abuse. Our findings highlight how different types of childhood abuse affect adult romantic relationships differently.
... For instance, youth exposed to interpersonal trauma struggle with trusting others (Gobin & Freyd, 2014;Neil et al., 2022;Sellnow et al., 2021), which may be reflected in a lack of normative increase in the Trust facet (versus impacting the entire Agreeableness domain). The trajectory of the Trust facet could, in turn, have lasting negative impacts on adult relationships (Nielsen et al., 2018). Investigating the causes and consequences of individual differences in personality change from metatraits to domains to facets would provide important insights into functioning that would be impossible to glean from studying domain-level development alone. ...
Preprint
The time between adolescence and adulthood is a transformative period of development. During these years, youth are exploring work, relationships, and worldviews while gaining the capacities needed to take on adult roles. These social and psychological processes are reflected in how personality develops across this period. Most youth personality development research has focused on the Big Five domains, ignoring the hierarchical structure of personality and missing broader, higher-order processes and more specific, lower-order processes. Towards a more comprehensive account, this study examines how personality develops from adolescence into young adulthood at the metatrait (Stability, Plasticity), domain (Big Five), and facet levels. Data come from a longitudinal study of Mexican-origin youth (N=645) with few socioeconomic resources who were assessed five times from ages 14–23. We used latent growth curve models to investigate mean-level change, rank-order consistency, and the maintenance of trajectories for self-reported personality metatraits, domains, and facets. We found distinct developmental processes unfolding at each level of the hierarchy¬, including: (1) mean-level changes in the metatraits and domains indicating increases in exploratory tendencies (i.e., Plasticity) and maturity (i.e., increases in Agreeableness and Conscientiousness, decreases in Neuroticism), and divergent change patterns between facets within each domain indicating nuanced maturational processes; (2) comparable levels of rank-order consistency for metatraits, domains and facets; and (3) evidence that deviations from youth’s developmental trajectories did not persist over time. Our findings offer insights into personality development that would be impossible to glean from the domain-level alone and adds needed sociocultural diversity to the literature.
... Previous studies have reported that the experience of childhood interpersonal trauma is related to various aspects of sexuality in adulthood, including lower sexual satisfaction in women, men Vaillancourt-Morel et al., 2016), and in members of the gender diversity (Lindley et al., 2020). Yet, studies that have examined the role of childhood interpersonal trauma on adult sexuality, including sexual satisfaction, have mainly focused on childhood sexual abuse (e.g., Nielsen et al., 2018;Vaillancourt-Morel et al., 2016). Since sexual abuse rarely occurs in a context free from other forms of interpersonal victimization (Dugal et al., 2016), it is imperative to consider other types of abuse and neglect as well. ...
Article
Background: To better understand sexual satisfaction in emerging adults, previous research has emphasized the importance of considering the role of developmental experiences, such as cu- mulative childhood trauma (CCT; the number of different forms of abuse and neglect sustained during childhood). However, the mechanisms by which CCT and sexual satisfaction are related remain unknown. Sex motives are suggested as an explanatory mechanism given the previously found associations between sex motives and both sexual satisfaction and CCT. Objective: This study examined the direct associations between CCT and sexual satisfaction, as well as indirect associations through sex motives, in emerging adults. Participants and setting: A sample of 437 French Canadian emerging adults (76 % women, mean age of 2.3) were recruited. Methods: Participants completed online self-reported validated questionnaires assessing CCT, sex motives and sexual satisfaction. Results: Results from a path analysis revealed that CCT was associated with a higher endorsement of the self-affirmation sex motive (β = 0.25, p < .001) which was linked to lower sexual satis- faction (β = − 0.13, p < .001). CCT was also associated with a higher endorsement of the coping (β = 0.25, p < .001) and partner approval (β = 0.09, p < .05) sex motives. A higher endorsement of the intimacy (β = 0.28, p < .001) and pleasure (β = 0.24, p < .001) sex motives, and a lower endorsement of the partner approval sex motive (β = − 0.13, p < .001) were linked to greater sexual satisfaction. Conclusions: Results suggest education and intervention targets to improve emerging adults’ sexuality.
... Problematic pornography use can be seen as impersonal sex, enabling the reduction of sexual urges without the risk of engaging in intimacy and relationships (Långström & Hanson, 2006). Avoiding closeness and intimacy is common among survivors of CSA, many of whom suffer from difficulties with trust (Nielsen et al., 2018) and attachment trauma (Gewirtz-Meydan & Lahav, 2020). ...
Article
Background: Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a significant risk factor for sexual difficulties in adulthood. Objective: In the current study we aimed to expand the understanding of the association between CSA and sexual difficulties by examining the moderating role of traumatic sexuality in the association between CSA and sexual difficulties among a sample of CSA survivors. Participants and setting: The hypothesized moderation model was examined among a sample of 393 CSA survivors. Methods: Significant interactions were probed using simple slopes tests using the interactions R package. Results: The results indicated main effects of traumatic sexuality on survivors' sexual difficulties: Greater severity of dissociation during sex was linked with greater sexual dysfunction and higher compulsive sexual behavior disorder (CSBD), and greater intrusiveness during sex and pleasing the other during sex were linked with higher CSBD. Experiencing higher sex-related guilt and/or shame and hypervigilance with regard to sex were associated with greater sexual dysfunction. As for the moderations, intrusiveness during sex and pleasing the other during sex moderated the association between CSA and sexual dysfunction. Intrusiveness during sex and sex-related guilt and/or shame moderated the association between CSA and CSBD. Intrusiveness during sex, pleasing the other during sex, and/or hypervigilance with regard to sex moderated the association between CSA and problematic pornography use. Conclusion: This study points to the potential contribution of traumatic sexuality symptoms to sexual difficulties among survivors of CSA and lends support to the idea of offering trauma-focused therapy when treating the sexual difficulties of CSA survivors.
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Background: Studies have consistently demonstrated the negative impact of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) on intimate relationships. The majority of studies have focused on revictimization in at-risk or clinical samples, with very few addressing the impact of CSA on otherwise well-functioning adults and even fewer investigating the psychological mechanisms involved. To fill this gap, this study focuses on the effect of CSA on "normative" (nonviolent) romantic relationships in otherwise well-functioning young women, and the mediating role of personality dimension self-criticism and attachment in this regard. Specifically, we investigate whether self-criticism and attachment avoidance mediate the relationship between CSA and romantic relationship satisfaction, while also examining the potential reciprocal associations between these variables. Method: The hypothesized mediation model was examined in a 2-wave, 6-month, cross-lagged longitudinal design, using structural equation modeling. Participants were 59 well-functioning (psychologically, socially, occupationally) young women drawn from an earlier study that purposefully oversampled for CSA survivors. For the purpose of the current study, data from women who had been either sexually abused by a familiar perpetrator (n = 30) or had no history of sexual trauma (n = 29) were included. Results: Consistent with expectations, self-criticism mediated the association between CSA and romantic relationship satisfaction over time. In addition, a scarring effect of romantic relationship satisfaction on attachment avoidance was demonstrated. Conclusion: Findings suggest that CSA may lead to elevated levels of self-criticism, which in turn may be linked with reduced satisfaction in romantic relationships, setting in motion a vicious cycle involving relationship satisfaction and attachment avoidance. (PsycINFO Database Record
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Objectives The aim of the present research was verification of the hypothesis for the influence of negative sexual experiences in sexual development on the quality of partner relationships in the adult life. Special attention was given to the influence exercised by the level of erotization in the environment of the family of origin and to the experience of child sexual abuse. The quality of partner relationships was recognized using Jurg Willi’s concept through the analysis of intensity of dysfunctions (collusions) in those relationships. Methods The study was conducted on a population of 170 adults in partnerships. The surveyed group filled in the Questionnaire on Models of Sexual Upbringing in Families, the Couples Collusion Questionnaire and the Questionnaire on Sexual Abuse of Children. Results Positive interrelation has been confirmed between the level of erotization in the family of origin and the oral, anal and oedipal partner collusion in the procreative relationships of individuals. Such link has not been confirmed for narcissistic collusion. The interrelation between the sexually abusive experiences and the partner collusion has only been confirmed in masculine group within the oral collusion and the anal collusion. Conclusions The findings largely support the assumption that there is a connection between the character of sexual experiences in childhood and functioning in adult partnership.
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Although people with a history of child abuse are known to be at elevated risk for later difficulties in relationships, there is debate over whether these effects are enduring and relatively immutable or are moderated by characteristics and behaviors of the partner. To reconcile these competing perspectives, we conducted a longitudinal study of 414 newlywed couples living in low-income neighborhoods, testing whether the association between abuse history and relationship satisfaction is dependent on the partners' aggression, depression, substance abuse, observed communication, and other demographic risk factors. Spouses who had been abused as children (25% of husbands, 31% of wives) reported more symptoms of depression and substance abuse and, among husbands, displayed more negative communication. Spouses with a history of child abuse were also less satisfied with their marriage, even as newlyweds; abused wives also declined in satisfaction over time compared to those without this history. However, interactions between abuse history and all of the proposed moderators were not significant, indicating that partner and relationship characteristics failed to strengthen or weaken the association between abuse history and relationship satisfaction. Childhood experiences of abuse appear to have lasting and broad effects on individual and relational outcomes, and these effects are neither heightened nor mitigated by the partner's characteristics or behaviors. (PsycINFO Database Record
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This study examined the mediating role of emotion dysregulation in the relation between retrospective reports of childhood emotional maltreatment and current satisfaction in a romantic relationship. Participants included 492 (135 male, 357 female) young adults in current romantic relationships. Results indicated that total emotion regulation difficulties mediated the relation between childhood emotional maltreatment and romantic relationship satisfaction. Multiple mediator analyses indicated that nonacceptance of emotional responses, impulse control difficulties, and lack of emotional clarity uniquely mediated this relation when controlling for other emotion regulation difficulties. These findings contribute to increasing research examining the interpersonal relationships among maltreated individuals, and guide future research by elucidating the factors that increase the risk for future maladaptation.
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This article provides the theoretical rationale and overview of a neurodevelopmentally-informed approach to therapeutic work with maltreated and traumatized children and youth. Rather than focusing on any specific therapeutic technique, the Neurosequen-tial Model of Therapeutics (NMT) allows identification of the key systems and areas in the brain which have been impacted by adverse developmental experiences and helps target the selection and sequence of therapeutic, enrichment, and educational activ-ities. In the preliminary applications of this approach in a variety of clinical settings, the outcomes have been positive. More in depth evaluation of this approach is warranted, and is underway. Over the last 30 years, key findings in developmental neurobiology have informed and influenced practice in several clinical disciplines, includ-ing pediatrics, psychology, social work, and psychiatry. Despite this influ-ence, the capacity of these large clinical fields to incorporate and translate key neurobiological principles into practice, program, and policy has been inefficient and inconsistent. The purpose of this article is to present prelimin-ary efforts to integrate core concepts of neurodevelopment into a practical clinical approach with maltreated children. This neurosequential model of therapeutics (NMT) has been utilized in a variety of clinical settings such as therapeutic preschools, outpatient mental health clinics, and residential treatment centers with promising results (Perry, 2006; Barfield et al., 2009).
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Trauma from female incestuous child sexual abuse may result in negative psychological consequences affecting adult relationships. This study explored relational consequences of incestuous child sexual abuse, focusing on conflict resolution styles, relationship satisfaction, and relationship stability. Using the RELATionship Evaluation dataset, 457 heterosexual couples in which female partners experienced incestuous child sexual abuse were compared to a group of 1,827 couples with no sexual abuse history. Analyses tested differences in the frequencies of reported conflict resolution styles for incestuous child sexual abuse and non–incestuous child sexual abuse groups, the mediating effects of conflict resolution styles on the relationship between incestuous child sexual abuse, and self- and partner-reported relationship satisfaction and stability. Significant differences in the reports of types of conflict resolution styles were found for incestuous child sexual abuse versus non–incestuous child sexual abuse groups. Incestuous child sexual abuse and conflict resolution styles were negatively related to relationship satisfaction and stability and there was a significant indirect effect between female incestuous child sexual abuse, female volatility, and relationship instability. Clinical applications for couple relationships are discussed.
Article
Aim. The aim of the present research was verification of the hypothesis for the influence of negative sexual experiences in sexual development on the quality of partner relationships in the adult life. Special attention was given to the influence exercised by the level of erotisation in the environment of the family of origin and to the experience of child sexual abuse. The quality of partner relationships was recognized using Jurg Willi's concept through the analysis of intensity of disfunctions (collusions) in those relationships. Methods. The study was conducted on a population of 170 adults in partnerships. The surveyed group filled in the Questionnaire on Models of Sexual Upbringing in Families, the Couples Collusion Questionnaire and the Questionnaire on Sexual Abuse of Children. Results. Positive interrelation has been confirmed between the level of erotisation in the family of origin and the oral, anal and oedipal partner collusion in the procreative relationships of individuals. Such link has not been confirmed for narcissistic collusion. The interrelation between the sexually abusive experiences and the partner collusion has only been confirmed in masculine group within the oral collusion and the anal collusion. Conclusions. The findings largely support the assumption that there is a connection between the character of sexual experiences in childhood and functioning in adult partnership.
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The purpose of the study was to identify the insecure adult attachment style associated with childhood physical abuse. Five hundred fifty-two female and 294 male university students completed questionnaires on their child abuse history, adult attachment style, and other variables. Regression analyses were completed. A history of physical abuse was associated with attachment avoidance while controlling for other forms of childhood abuse. Some support was also found for an association between physical abuse and attachment anxiety. Social support, as a control variable, was found to be an important predictor of attachment avoidance and attachment anxiety. A history of childhood physical abuse has important and specific impacts on intimate adult relationships with social support acting as a possible protective factor.
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This study investigated the relationship of childhood sexual abuse to marital attitudes and perceived readiness for marriage in single young adult women. A total of 622 women from three universities in the United States completed questionnaires on sexual abuse, attitudes and feelings about marriage, and readiness for marriage. After controlling for age, childhood sexual abuse was found to be related to more negative attitudes about marriage, more negative feelings about marriage, less readiness for marriage, and a longer perceived waiting period before marriage. Implications for premarital counseling and education for victims of childhood sexual abuse are discussed.
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This paper focuses on scoping studies, an approach to reviewing the literature which to date has received little attention in the research methods literature. We distinguish between different types of scoping studies and indicate where these stand in relation to full systematic reviews. We outline a framework for conducting a scoping study based on our recent experiences of reviewing the literature on services for carers for people with mental health problems. Where appropriate, our approach to scoping the field is contrasted with the procedures followed in systematic reviews. We emphasize how including a consultation exercise in this sort of study may enhance the results, making them more useful to policy makers, practitioners and service users. Finally, we consider the advantages and limitations of the approach and suggest that a wider debate is called for about the role of the scoping study in relation to other types of literature reviews.