Citation

Caron A, Lafontaine MF, Bureau JF. J. Aggression Maltreat. Trauma 2018; 27(7): 759-776.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/10926771.2017.1410746

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Child maltreatment is considered a significant risk factor for young adult self-injury; however, the mechanisms that underlie this relationship are not yet understood. To elucidate this association, the mediating role of intimate partner violence victimization in the relationship between child maltreatment and self-injurious thoughts and behaviors was investigated. The sample consisted of 406 young adults (346 females; Mage = 19.87 years; SD = 1.72) involved in a couple relationship.

RESULTS of bootstrapping procedures demonstrated that intimate partner violence victimization mediated the relationship between child maltreatment and self-injurious behaviors but did not mediate the association between child maltreatment and self-injurious thoughts.

RESULTS suggest that young adults with a history of child maltreatment may be more likely to be exposed to IPV victimization, which, in turn, is associated with the use of self-injurious behaviors, but not the use of self-injurious thoughts.

FINDINGS highlight the utility of examining models that incorporate distal and proximal factors contributing to self-injury, and provide direction toward better understanding the relationship experiences of self-injuring young adults.

Language: en

Keywords

Child maltreatment; coping strategies; couple relationships; emotion regulation; intimate partner violence victimization; NSSI behaviors; NSSI thoughts; young adults