Experiential avoidance as a mediator of the effects of adolescent sexual victimization on negative adult outcomes
Abstract
The study examined experiential avoidance as a mediator between sexual victimization and negative adult outcomes. Baron and Kenny's (1986) regression analyses were performed on a sample of 304 undergraduate women to assess direct and indirect effects of sexual victimization on depressive, psychological distress, and alcohol abuse symptoms. Experiential avoidance accounted for statistically significant, but modest effects of victimization on depressive and distress symptoms. Child sexual abuse was not directly associated with experiential avoidance or negative outcomes, but increased vulnerability for adolescent sexual victimization. Adolescent sexual victimization contributed to increased experiential avoidance, which was associated with greater negative outcomes. These results uniquely contribute to the existing literature linking experiential avoidance to psychological problems.
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EA was found to mediate the relationship between childhood trauma exposure and later psychological symptoms in adulthood in several samples.
“To illustrate, EA was found to mediate the relationship between childhood trauma exposure and later psychological symptoms in adulthood in several samples [20,21].”
From Measuring Experiential Avoidance: Evidence toward Multidimensional Predictors of Trauma Sequelae (2017) · cites this paper as [20]
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“Experiential avoidance, defined as the deliberate avoidance of unpleasant thoughts, emotions, or sensations, has been associated with worse psychological symptoms in survivors of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) (Batten et al., 2001; Polusny et al., 2004; Rosenthal et al., 2005; Sigmon et al., 1996).”
Background
- Authors
- Polusny, M. A., Rosenthal, M. Z., Aban, I., & Follette, V. M.
- Affiliations
- University of Minnesota (US)
- University of Nevada, Reno (US)
- Venue
- Violence and Victims
- Publisher
- Springer Publishing Company
- Published
- 2004-02
- Volume
- 19
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 109-120
- ISSN
- 0886-6708 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2036722293
- Cited by
- 104
- References
- 47
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 12.33
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Violence and Victims (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health (1f31aa005456-01)
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (1 F31 AA05456-01)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Sexual Assault and Victimization Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
- Keywords
- experiential avoidance, adolescent sexual victimization, child sexual abuse, depression, psychological distress, women, mediation
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Adolescent, Adult, Alcoholism, Anxiety, Avoidance Learning, Child Abuse, Sexual, Depression, Female, Humans, Models, Psychological, Psychometrics, Regression Analysis, Self Concept, Stress, Psychological, Students, Universities, Midwestern United States, Crime Victims
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