Journal of Aggression Maltreatment & Trauma最新文献

Previous research has demonstrated a relationship between victimization and perpetration of sexual violence. Social norms approaches have been developed to prevent sexual violence, which focus on changing perceived peer support for sexual violence and related behaviors; however, their efficacy is limited. Interpersonal difficulties are a well-established consequence of sexual victimization much like impulsivity is a well-established risk factor for sexual perpetration, however, these risk factors are often considered in relation to one form of violence rather than both. The goals of this study were to 1) describe and assess the relationship between knowledge of peers' sexual violence experiences and 2) examine the afore-mentioned risk factors while considering victim-offender overlaps to inform prevention and restorative justice efforts. College men (n = 485) completed an anonymous online survey. 46.4% reported sexual violence exposure, specifically 10.5% victimization only, 6% perpetration only, and 29.9% both exposures. Many participants reported knowing a victim (43.9%) or perpetrator (32.4%), mostly consisting of friends and acquaintances. Violence-exposed groups demonstrated significantly more knowledge of victimization (Victimization Only 52.9%, Perpetration Only 62.1%, Both 61.4% > Control 30.4%) and perpetration (Perpetration only 55.2%, Both 49% > Control 20.8%) amongst their peers than nonviolence-exposed controls. Those with victimization only reported greater interpersonal difficulties than nonviolence-exposed controls (d = 0.613). When accounting for childhood sexual abuse (CSA), those with all three experiences had greater interpersonal difficulties (d = 0.766). Those with perpetration experiences demonstrated greater levels of impulsivity than nonviolence-exposed controls (d = 0.440). When accounting for CSA, those with both exposures (excluding CSA) had greater impulsivity (d = 0.488).

Lifetime exposures to violence and related psychosocial stressors can increase the risk of suicidal ideation among immigrant women. This study examined the impact of cumulative childhood and adulthood victimization, along with key psychosocial stressors, on suicidal ideation among 1265 immigrant women who experienced intimate partner violence (IPV). It also explored the mediating role of coping resources, specifically resilience and social support, in the relationship between lifetime violence exposure and suicidal ideation. Secondary data drawn from an intervention study involving immigrant survivors of IPV were analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis procedures. The findings revealed that women who experienced multiple forms of violence in childhood and adulthood were 157% more likely to report suicidal ideation, highlighting the profound, long-lasting psychological impact of such experiences. Additionally, those who faced financial stress were 74% more likely to experience suicidal ideation, underscoring the connection between financial hardship and suicidal ideation. Mediation analysis showed that resilience and social support partially mediated the relationship between violence and suicidal ideation. Higher levels of social support and resilience were associated with 3% and 40% lower likelihood of suicidal ideation, respectively. These results suggest that emotional and social resources and abilities to cope with adversity play a crucial role in mitigating the risks of suicidal ideation, even in the face of significant life stressors. These findings highlight the need for comprehensive, trauma-informed interventions that address psychosocial stressors, strengthen social support, and promote resilience to reduce the risk of suicidal ideation in immigrant women affected by lifetime violence exposures.

Asian Americans experience high rates of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) but are significantly underrepresented in ACEs research. Despite evidence indicating that ACEs contribute to increased psychological distress and substance use among minoritized emerging adults and that a strong sense of ethnic identity can mitigate these impacts, no study has exclusively examined these relationships among Asian Americans. This study investigated how (1) ACEs relate to symptoms of posttraumatic stress, depression, anxiety, and binge drinking; and explored (2) the strength of ethnic identity as a moderator in this sample. Second-generation and one-and-a-half generation Asian Americans (N=199, aged 18-29, 53% East Asian, 30% South Asian, 17% Southeast Asian) were recruited from Amazon Mechanical Turk and a northeastern university in the U.S. to complete an online survey. Multivariate linear and binary logistic regressions revealed that ACEs significantly predicted higher symptoms of posttraumatic stress (B=3.00, p<.001), depression (B= 2.36, p< .001), and anxiety (B=1.33, p=.002), and an increased odds of binge drinking (OR=1.30, 95% CI [1.07, 1.58]). The strength of ethnic identity did not significantly moderate outcomes; however, stronger ethnic identity was independently significantly associated with lower anxiety symptoms (B= -2.89, p=.01). Among Asian American emerging adults, ACEs are associated with psychological distress and binge drinking. However, unlike in other minoritized groups, ethnic identity did not protect against these outcomes, suggesting the need to identify alternative culturally-relevant protective factors in Asian Americans.

Individuals in the perinatal period (pregnancy and first 12-24 months postpartum) are particularly vulnerable to experience new traumatic events or exacerbation of pre-existing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. PTSD during the perinatal period is associated with the poorest mental and physical health outcomes for both the birthing person and their child. Treatment options for PTSD during the perinatal period remain underexplored, yet Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) may be particularly well-suited to reduce perinatal PTSD. The current study evaluates the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of a brief NET protocol for pregnant and postpartum participants. Participants (N = 16, mean age = 28.9, 75% White, 75% multiparous, 62.5% postpartum) completed a six-session virtual protocol. Participants completed self-report measures assessing acceptance and credibility of program, as well as depressive and PTSD symptoms at baseline, 1 week-, 1 month-, and 3 months-post-intervention. Participants endorsed that the program was acceptable and feasible; most eligible participants consented to participate (74%) and completed treatment (81%). There were statistically significantly lower levels of PTSD symptoms (M _pre = 37.70; M _post = 23.50, p = <.001, d = 1.74) and depressive symptoms (M _pre = 14.17; M _post = 9.42, p = .002, d = 1.14;) at 1-week post-intervention with gains maintained. Mean dissociation symptoms and dysfunctional posttraumatic cognitions also decreased. This study provides preliminary data that brief NET is a feasible, acceptable, and effective PTSD treatment for pregnant and postpartum individuals. Future research should utilize large clinical trials with more diverse samples to determine efficacy and generalizability across perinatal populations.

Teen dating violence (TDV) is a public health problem in the United States (U.S.) with little investigation among Asian American adolescents. Using the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System biennial national school-based survey of U.S. high school students, we designed a four-stage cluster sample study, using data from 2015-2021 to secure a weighted nationally representative restricted sample of n=891 Asian American adolescents. Bivariate analyses were conducted to assess the association of sexual or physical dating violence (representing TDV) with age, sex, school violence, substance use, depressive symptoms, and sexual behavior. We conducted logistic regression analysis to predict odds ratios (OR) of physical and sexual dating violence among Asian American adolescents. Around one in 10 Asian American adolescents in the sample experienced TDV in the past 12 months. Asian American adolescent females were at greater risk of experiencing sexual dating violence than Asian American adolescent males. School violence, substance use, bullying victimization, depressive symptoms, and sexual behavior were associated with experiencing TDV; school violence and bullying victimization were associated with increased odds of TDV among Asian American adolescents. Asian American adolescents need to be screened for dating violence and provided culturally sensitive information on relationships and sexual health.

The present cross-sectional study was aimed at investigating the mediating role of self-esteem on the relation between daily hassles and depressive symptoms among traumatized women. The sample, which was drawn from a large public, inner city healthcare system, consisted of 154 low-income African American women with a mean age of 36.66 (SD = 11.43) with a recent history of both one or more suicide attempt(s) and exposure to interpersonal violence in the form of intimate partner violence (IPV). A series of scales were administered to the women including the Survey of Recent Life Events (SRLE), Beck Self-Esteem Scales (BSES), and Beck Depression Inventory - II (BDI-II). Mplus v8.8 was used to estimate the total, direct, and indirect effects simultaneously for other type of self-esteem (views of self [self-esteem: self], perceptions of others' views of them [self-esteem: other]). As predicted, daily hassles were associated positively and significantly with depressive symptoms and negatively and significantly with both forms of self-esteem. In addition, lower levels of self-esteem: self, but not self-esteem: other, was associated positively and significantly with depressive symptoms. Partial support was obtained for the mediational hypothesis; self-esteem according to one's self-evaluation (self-esteem: self), but not projected evaluations of others (self-esteem: other), mediated the daily hassles-depressive symptoms link. Thus, depressive symptoms in African American female suicide attempters exposed to IPV appear to vary based on how these women appraise their own self-worth in the context of managing daily stressors and hassles.

Aggression and victimization increase negative outcomes for legal system involved girls. While aggression is often enacted against multiple targets (e.g., peers, dating partners), most interventions only target one violence type (e.g., teen dating violence [TDV]). However, TDV shares risk factors with other violence forms; therefore, TDV-specific interventions may reduce other types of violence (e.g., general aggression). The current study explored the effects of a TDV intervention, Date SMART, on general physical and verbal aggression (i.e., aggression not tied to dating) in legal system involved girls (N = 239, Mage = 15.57) and how victimization history (including sexual abuse) moderated treatment effects compared to a Knowledge Only (KO) group. Hierarchical restricted maximum likelihood linear mixed effect models evaluated differences in aggression from baseline to post-intervention and 3-, 6-, and 9-month follow-ups. Findings indicated that from baseline to post-intervention, verbal and physical aggression initially increased in Date SMART relative to KO, but then decreased at a greater rate in the Date SMART group than the KO group throughout follow-ups. Exploratory analyses indicated that victimization history moderated response to Date SMART and KO. Findings suggest that rates of multiple forms of violence can be reduced by Date SMART but may benefit from tailoring for peer relationships and victimization histories.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, persons with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders tended to be particularly poorly equipped to cope with social distancing and stay-at-home orders and were less likely to have the resources to manage interpersonal difficulties. Therefore, in the present investigation, the link between social contact frequency and intimate partner violence (IPV) among patients with comorbid substance use and mental health disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic was examined. A total of 89 patients (61 women and 28 men) receiving outpatient care for comorbid substance use and mental health disorders completed questionnaires assessing their contact frequency with friends and family prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as physical and psychological aggression perpetration and victimization during the enactment of COVID-19 public health orders. Results indicated that a decrease in contact with friends and family during versus prior to the pandemic was negatively associated with both physical aggression perpetration and victimization, and not related to psychological aggression perpetration or victimization. Overall, the present results suggest that patients with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders are particularly vulnerable to experiencing bi-directional physical IPV during public health emergencies or national disasters. These findings underscore the importance of providers routinely assessing for violence in their patients' relationships, even in individual therapy, and provide resources and support to patients to help improve their social skills, reconnect with loved ones, or expand their social support networks to mitigate these risks.