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Cited by 9Sexual Assault and Victimization StudiesChild Abuse and TraumaIntimate Partner and Family Violence

The occurrence and traumatic impact of sexual revictimization in newlywed couples.

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DiLillo, David, Jaffe, Anna E., Watkins, Laura E., Peugh, James, Kras, Amanda, Campbell, Christopher·2016·Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practice
DOI 10.1037/cfp0000067PMC PMC5383208
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Abstract

The present study examines whether individuals with a history of child sexual abuse are at risk of sexual revictimization in marriage and, if so, whether these experiences are associated with increased trauma symptomatology. Two hundred heterosexual newlywed couples were recruited from marriage license records and completed self-report assessments of past sexual victimization and sexual coercion within the marital dyad. Actor-Partner Interdependence Models revealed that, compared to non-victims, women with a history of child sexual abuse (CSA) experienced more acts of sexual coercion by their husbands during the past year. Moreover, there was a significant interaction between CSA and sexual coercion such that, among women who experienced CSA, the relationship between marital revictimization and trauma symptoms was stronger. Findings suggest that, for women but not men, sexual revictimization may occur in the context of a new marriage, and these experiences are associated with increased trauma symptoms. These findings have implications for understanding female survivors' perceptions of risk, and are particularly concerning given the high degree of personal and legal commitment involved in marriage.

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  • Men's CSA was related to their partner's maladaptive attempts to cope with negative affect (DiLillo et al., 2016).

    “men’s CSA was related to their partner’s maladaptive attempts to cope with negative affect (DiLillo et al., 2016)”

    From Partner Effects of Childhood Maltreatment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (2024) · cites this paper as DiLillo et al., 2016

    The Method > Measures section defines self-dysfunction symptoms as including maladaptive attempts to cope with negative affect. But Results > TSI Self-Dysfunction Symptoms reports that men’s CSA was associated with men’s own symptoms and that no significant partner effects were found; it does not report the claimed association with their partners’ symptoms. No page numbers are available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.89)

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  • Some dyadic studies show that partners of childhood maltreatment victims report lower relationship satisfaction, lower sexual satisfaction, higher IPV victimization and perpetration, and higher individual stress symptoms.

    “Some dyadic studies show that partners of CM victims report lower relationship satisfaction, lower sexual satisfaction, higher IPV victimization and perpetration, and higher individual stress symptoms (DiLillo et al., 2016; Maneta et al., 2012; Nelson & Wampler, 2000; Vaillancourt-Morel et al., 2021; Whisman, 2014).”

    From Partner Effects of Childhood Maltreatment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (2024) · cites this paper as DiLillo et al., 2016

    The Results sections on CSA and Sexual Victimization in Marriage and TSI Trauma Symptoms (pages unavailable) report that husbands of wives with childhood sexual abuse histories experienced more sexual coercion and had higher trauma symptoms. The paper does not establish lower relationship or sexual satisfaction in those partners, and its Future Directions section says other forms of partner violence require further study. Thus it supports only some outcomes in the cited sentence, for childhood sexual abuse rather than childhood maltreatment broadly. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Women's CSA was not related to their partner's maladaptive attempts to cope with negative affect (DiLillo et al., 2016).

    “women’s CSA was not related to their partner’s maladaptive attempts to cope with negative affect (DiLillo et al., 2016)”

    From Partner Effects of Childhood Maltreatment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (2024) · cites this paper as DiLillo et al., 2016

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Research works printed but not linked: 47

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Authors
DiLillo, D., Jaffe, A. E., Watkins, L. E., Peugh, J., Kras, A., & Campbell, C.
Affiliations
  • University of Nebraska–Lincoln (US)
  • Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (US)
  • Albany Stratton VA Medical Center Albany (US)
  • University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (US)
ORCID
Venue
Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practice
Publisher
American Psychological Association (APA)
Published
2016-12
Volume
5
Issue
4
Pages
212-225
ISSN
  • 2160-4096 (ISSN-L)
  • 2160-410X
DOI
10.1037/cfp0000067
PMC
PMC5383208
OpenAlex
W2530740491
Cited by
9
References
56
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2020: 1 · 2018: 3
FWCI
2.27
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Couple and Family Psychology Research and Practice (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (K01 MH066365)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Sexual Assault and Victimization Studies
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
  • Social Sciences › Health › Intimate Partner and Family Violence
Keywords
sexual revictimization, child sexual abuse, newlyweds, sexual coercion, marital sexual violence, trauma symptoms, actor-partner interdependence, gender differences, women survivors, risk perception

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