Emotion Regulation Difficulties, Low Social Support, and Interpersonal Violence Mediate the Link Between Childhood Abuse and Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms

We examined how difficulties with emotion regulation, social support, and interpersonal violence in adult relationships mediated the relationship between childhood abuse and post traumatic symptoms (PTS) in adults. We fit a multiple mediation model to data from 139 socio-economically disadvantaged women (85% African American) of whom 44% endorsed moderate to severe levels of childhood physical, sexual, or emotional abuse and 12% screened positive for probable posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The model accounted for 63% of the variance in adult PTS symptoms. Child abuse exerted a direct effect on PTS symptoms and indirect effects through difficulties with emotion regulation, lower social support, and greater exposure to adult interpersonal violence. Implications of findings for the treatment of individuals at high risk of having experienced childhood abuse and PTS are discussed.

► We examined factors mediating the link between childhood abuse and PTS symptoms.
► The rates of childhood abuse and probable PTSD in the sample were 44% and 12%.
► Childhood abuse exerted both direct and indirect effects on PTS symptoms.
► Difficulties with emotion regulation mediated the link between abuse and PTS.
► Social support and interpersonal violence mediated the link between abuse and PTS.