TY - JOUR
T1 - Conflict Resolution Styles as Mediators of Female Child Sexual Abuse Experience and Heterosexual Couple Relationship Satisfaction and Stability in Adulthood
AU - Knapp, Ashlee E.
AU - Knapp, Darin J.
AU - Brown, Cameron C.
AU - Larson, Jeffry H.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 Taylor & Francis.
Copyright:
Copyright 2017 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2017/1/2
Y1 - 2017/1/2
N2 - Trauma from female incestuous child sexual abuse may result in negative psychological consequences affecting adult relationships. This study explored relational consequences of incestuous child sexual abuse, focusing on conflict resolution styles, relationship satisfaction, and relationship stability. Using the RELATionship Evaluation dataset, 457 heterosexual couples in which female partners experienced incestuous child sexual abuse were compared to a group of 1,827 couples with no sexual abuse history. Analyses tested differences in the frequencies of reported conflict resolution styles for incestuous child sexual abuse and non–incestuous child sexual abuse groups, the mediating effects of conflict resolution styles on the relationship between incestuous child sexual abuse, and self- and partner-reported relationship satisfaction and stability. Significant differences in the reports of types of conflict resolution styles were found for incestuous child sexual abuse versus non–incestuous child sexual abuse groups. Incestuous child sexual abuse and conflict resolution styles were negatively related to relationship satisfaction and stability and there was a significant indirect effect between female incestuous child sexual abuse, female volatility, and relationship instability. Clinical applications for couple relationships are discussed.
AB - Trauma from female incestuous child sexual abuse may result in negative psychological consequences affecting adult relationships. This study explored relational consequences of incestuous child sexual abuse, focusing on conflict resolution styles, relationship satisfaction, and relationship stability. Using the RELATionship Evaluation dataset, 457 heterosexual couples in which female partners experienced incestuous child sexual abuse were compared to a group of 1,827 couples with no sexual abuse history. Analyses tested differences in the frequencies of reported conflict resolution styles for incestuous child sexual abuse and non–incestuous child sexual abuse groups, the mediating effects of conflict resolution styles on the relationship between incestuous child sexual abuse, and self- and partner-reported relationship satisfaction and stability. Significant differences in the reports of types of conflict resolution styles were found for incestuous child sexual abuse versus non–incestuous child sexual abuse groups. Incestuous child sexual abuse and conflict resolution styles were negatively related to relationship satisfaction and stability and there was a significant indirect effect between female incestuous child sexual abuse, female volatility, and relationship instability. Clinical applications for couple relationships are discussed.
KW - conflict resolution styles
KW - female childhood sexual abuse
KW - incest
KW - relationship satisfaction
KW - relationship stability
KW - self and partner report
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85013175459&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/10538712.2016.1262931
DO - 10.1080/10538712.2016.1262931
M3 - Article
C2 - 28212063
AN - SCOPUS:85013175459
VL - 26
SP - 58
EP - 77
JO - Journal of Child Sexual Abuse
JF - Journal of Child Sexual Abuse
SN - 1053-8712
IS - 1
ER -