The Impact of Childhood Maltreatment on PTSD Symptoms Among Female Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence
Abstract
Objective: Intimate partner violence (IPV) survivors often report histories of childhood maltreatment, yet the unique contributions of childhood maltreatment on IPV survivors’ distinct posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms remain inadequately understood. Method: Using interview and self-report measures, we examined IPV as a potential mediator of the association between childhood maltreatment and severity of PTSD symptom clusters (reexperiencing, avoidance, numbing, and hyperarousal) among a sample of 425 women seeking help for recent IPV. Results: Structural equation modeling demonstrated that while both childhood maltreatment and IPV were both positively associated with PTSD symptom clusters, IPV did not mediate the association between childhood maltreatment and severity of PTSD symptom clusters among acute IPV survivors. Conclusions: Childhood maltreatment has persistent effects on the PTSD symptoms of IPV survivors, suggesting that child maltreatment may need to be addressed in addition to IPV during PTSD treatment.
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Childhood maltreatment may have an enduring effect on adult PTSD symptoms over and above the effects of recent IPV.
“Although childhood maltreatment may have an enduring effect on adult PTSD symptoms over and above the effects of recent IPV (Gobin et al., 2013)”
From Childhood Physical Abuse and Antisocial Traits: Mediating Role of Posttraumatic Stress Symptom Clusters (2022) · cites this paper as Gobin et al., 2013
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- Authors
- Gobin, R. L., Iverson, K. M., Mitchell, K., Vaughn, R., & Resick, P. A.
- Affiliations
- Boston University (US)
- VA Boston Healthcare System (US)
- Venue
- Violence and Victims
- Publisher
- Springer Publishing Company
- Published
- 2013
- Volume
- 28
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 984-999
- ISSN
- 0886-6708 (ISSN-L)
- 1945-7073
- OpenAlex
- W2016745527
- Cited by
- 27
- References
- 45
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 2 · 2014: 1
- FWCI
- 1.11
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Violence and Victims (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Mental Health (1R01 MH 55542, R01MH055542)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
- Social Sciences › Health › Intimate Partner and Family Violence
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
- Keywords
- child abuse, intimate partner violence, post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD symptom clusters, women survivors, mediation, re-experiencing, avoidance, hyperarousal, numbing, secondary victimization
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Child, Female, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Spouse Abuse, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Women's Health, Crime Victims, Adult Survivors of Child Abuse, Young Adult
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