Citation

Messing JT, La Flair L, Cavanaugh CE, Kanga MR, Campbell JC. J. Aggression Maltreat. Trauma 2012; 21(7): 792-811.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/10926771.2012.686963

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This study examined whether potential posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) mediated the relationships between different forms of childhood trauma (sexual abuse, physical abuse, violence between caregivers) and intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization (psychological, physical, sexual). Participants were 1,150 female nurses and nursing personnel. Path analytic findings revealed potential PTSD partially mediated the relationships between childhood sexual abuse and psychological IPV and childhood sexual abuse and sexual IPV. Potential PTSD did not mediate the relationship between other types of childhood trauma and IPV. This study adds to the literature indicating PTSD as a risk factor for revictimization in the form of adult IPV among women. Screening for and treatment of PTSD among female child sexual abuse survivors could prevent future IPV victimization.