Childhood emotional abuse predicts late adolescent sexual aggression perpetration and victimization

Eileen L. Zurbriggen, Robyn L. Gobin, Jennifer J. Freyd

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Childhood physical and sexual abuse are known risk factors for adult sexual aggression perpetration and victimization, but less is known about the role played by childhood emotional abuse. College sophomores were surveyed regarding their childhood physical, sexual, and emotional abuse victimization and their late-adolescent experiences of sexual aggression victimization and perpetration. Controlling for social desirability and childhood physical and sexual abuse, childhood emotional abuse was the strongest predictor of adolescent sexual perpetration for women and the strongest predictor of adolescent sexual victimization for men. Emotional abuse was a marginally reliable predictor of adolescent sexual victimization in women. These results show the importance of childhood emotional abuse victimization as a risk factor for sexual victimization and perpetration in adolescent intimate relationships.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)204-223
Number of pages20
JournalJournal of Aggression, Maltreatment and Trauma
Volume19
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2010
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Adolescent dating violence
  • Cycle of violence
  • Emotional abuse
  • Physical abuse
  • Revictimization
  • Sexual abuse
  • Sexual aggression

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Health Professions (miscellaneous)
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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