Citation

Villalba K, Domenico LH, Cook RL, O'Connor J, Michael-Samaroo K, Espejo MJDP, Martin P, Dévieux JG. PLoS One 2023; 18(10): e0279325.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2023, Public Library of Science)

DOI

10.1371/journal.pone.0279325

PMID

37903096

PMCID

PMC10615312

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The relationship between lifetime abuse (i.e., childhood abuse, intimate partner violence) and risky behaviors is well established. One proposed mechanism is poor emotion regulation and executive functioning, as a potential mechanism that may explain the relationship between lifetime abuse and risky behaviors. However, research on executive functioning and emotion regulation as mediators of this relationship has been limited. In the present study, we examined this association. We hypothesized that lifetime abuse would be significantly associated with executive function and emotion regulation which in turn would be associated with greater alcohol use and risky sex.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 150 women with a history of lifetime abuse who were assessed for hazardous alcohol use using the AUDIT Score; emotion regulation was measured using the Difficulties with Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS); risky sex was measured using the question: "in the last 90 days, how many people did you have anal or vaginal sex without using a condom? Executive function was assessed using the NIH Toolbox.

RESULTS: The mediation model followed the self-regulation theory, which proposes executive function as the higher-order cognitive process.

RESULTS showed that executive function deficit and poor emotion regulation significantly mediated the relationship between lifetime abuse and hazardous alcohol use (indirect effect =.097, SE.031, 95% CI =.035 to.158).

CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest a higher-order cognitive process with executive function promoting emotion regulation as a potential mechanism for alcohol problems in women of color who experienced lifetime abuse.

Language: en

Keywords

Child; Humans; Female; Cross-Sectional Studies; Cognition; *Emotional Regulation; Mediation Analysis; Skin Pigmentation