Cited by 158Child Abuse and TraumaChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional DevelopmentPsychopathy, Forensic Psychiatry, Sexual Offending

Cumulative childhood trauma, emotion regulation, dissociation, and behavior problems in school-aged sexual abuse victims

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Hébert, Martine, Langevin, Rachel, Oussaïd, Essaïd·2018·Journal of Affective Disorders

Abstract

Background Child sexual abuse is associated with a plethora of devastating repercussions. A significant number of sexually abused children are likely to experience other forms of maltreatment that can seriously affect their emotion regulation abilities and impede on their development. The aim of the study was to test emotion regulation and dissociation as mediators in the association between cumulative childhood trauma and internalized and externalized behavior problems in child victims of sexual abuse.Methods Participants were 309 sexually abused children (203 girls and 106 boys; Mean age = 9.07) and their non-offending parent. Medical and clinical files were coded for cumulative childhood trauma. At initial evaluation (T1), parents completed measures assessing children's emotion regulation abilities and dissociation. At Time 2 (T2), parents completed a measure assessing children's behavior problems. Mediation analyses were conducted with emotion regulation and dissociation as sequential mediators using Mplus software.Results Findings revealed that cumulative childhood trauma affects both internalized and externalized behavior problems through three mediation paths: emotion regulation alone, dissociation alone, and through a path combining emotion regulation and dissociation.Limitations Both emotion regulation and dissociation were assessed at T1 and thus the temporal sequencing of mediators remains to be ascertained through a longitudinal design. All measures were completed by the parents.Conclusions Clinicians should routinely screen for other childhood trauma in vulnerable clienteles. In order to tackle behavior problems, clinical interventions for sexually abused youth need to address emotion regulation competencies and dissociation.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.jad.2017.08.044

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Authors
Hébert, M., Langevin, R., & Oussaïd, E.
Affiliations
Université du Québec à Montréal (CA)
Corresponding author
Hébert, Martine
Venue
Journal of Affective Disorders
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2018-01
Volume
225
Pages
306-312
ISSN
0165-0327 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2749509201
Cited by
158
References
47
Citations by year
2026: 11 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 30 · 2022: 22 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 29 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 4
FWCI
13.87
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Affective Disorders (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (235509)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychopathy, Forensic Psychiatry, Sexual Offending
Keywords
child sexual abuse, emotion regulation, dissociation, internalizing problems, externalizing problems, school-aged children, maltreatment, mediation, parent-reported behavior problems
MeSH terms
Emotional Adjustment, Problem Behavior, Affective Symptoms, Child, Child Abuse, Sexual, Child Behavior Disorders, Dissociative Disorders, Female, Humans, Male, Schools

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