Citation

Wilson LC, Kimbrel NA, Meyer EC, Young KA, Morissette SB. J. Clin. Psychol. (Hoboken) 2014; 71(4): 378-386.

Affiliation

Department of Veterans Affairs VISN 17 Center of Excellence for Research on Returning War Veterans; University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/jclp.22143

PMID

25534500

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The present research tested the hypothesis that maternal care moderates the relationship between childhood sexual abuse and subsequent military sexual trauma (MST).

METHOD: Measures of childhood sexual abuse, maternal care, and MST were administered to 197 Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans.

RESULTS: After accounting for gender, age, and the main effects of maternal care and childhood sexual abuse, the maternal care x childhood sexual abuse interaction was a significant predictor of MST (odds ratio =.28, β = -1.26, 95% confidence intervals of.10,.80). As hypothesized, rates of MST were higher among veterans who reported childhood sexual abuse and low levels of maternal care (43%) compared with veterans who reported childhood sexual abuse and high levels of maternal care (11%).

CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that high levels of maternal care may act as a protective factor against future revictimization among military service members. These findings have the potential to inform both prevention and intervention efforts.

Language: en