The role of emotion recognition skills in adult sexual revictimization.

Citation

Bell, K. M., & Naugle, A. E. (2008). The role of emotion recognition skills in adult sexual revictimization. The Journal of Behavior Analysis of Offender and Victim Treatment and Prevention, 1(4), 93-118.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/h0100459

Abstract

Although it is well established that interpersonal victimization can lead to emotion regulation problems, less is known about the extent to which childhood victimization impairs emotion recognition (ER) skills. Most studies exploring this relationship have focused on ER skills in physically abused and neglected children. The degree to which these ER problems extend into adulthood, are exacerbated by attempts to avoid aversive facial stimuli, and contribute to sexual revictimization is yet unknown. The current study examined the impact of childhood abuse and adult ER skills on adult sexual revictimization under a heightened arousal condition in 104 women. The relationship between childhood abuse, ER skills, avoidant responding to facial stimuli, and adult sexual revictimization was explored by examining participant responses to 32 slides depicting emotional expressions. Sequential logistic regression analyses were performed for each emotional cluster to examine the extent to which specific ER skills predicted adult sexual revictimization after controlling for the effects of childhood trauma and the potential influences of PTSD symptomatology and alexithymia. Results indicate that length of time to identify negative emotional expressions interacted with behavioral avoidance of these negative emotional expressions to uniquely predict adult sexual revictimization, even after controlling for the influences of childhood trauma, PTSD symptomatology, and alexithymia. ER skills associated with positive and neutral emotional expressions were not found to significantly predict adult sexual revictimization. In regression analyses examining ER skills associated with positive and neutral emotional expressions, only alexithymia uniquely predicted adult sexual revictimization after incorporating the effects of childhood trauma, ER skills, and PTSD symptomatology. Results suggest that childhood trauma may delay one's ability to identify negative emotional expressions and increase attempts to avoid these emotional expressions, which may increase risk for adult sexual revictimization. The study also provides further evidence of the significant impact alexithymia has on increasing risk for adult sexual revictimization. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

Unique Identifier

2014-55092-008

Title

The role of emotion recognition skills in adult sexual revictimization.

Publication Date

2008

Language

English

Author Identifier

Bell, Kathryn M.; Naugle, Amy E.

Email

Bell, Kathryn M.: kbell9@niu.edu

Naugle, Amy E.: amy.naugle@wmich.edu

Correspondence Address

Bell, Kathryn M.: Department of Psychology, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, US, 60115, kbell9@niu.edu

Affiliation

Bell, Kathryn M.: Department of Psychology, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, US

Naugle, Amy E.: Department of Psychology, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, US

Source

The Journal of Behavior Analysis of Offender and Victim Treatment and Prevention, Vol 1(4), 2008, 93-118.

ISSN

2155-8655(Electronic)

Publisher

US: Joseph D. Cautilli

Format Covered

Electronic

Publication Type

Journal; Peer Reviewed Journal

Document Type

Journal Article

Digital Object Identifier

http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/h0100459

Keywords

victimization; alexithymia; Emotion recognition; sexual assault; behavioral avoidance; childhood abuse; sexual revictimization

Index Terms

*Early Experience; *Facial Expressions; *Sexual Abuse; *Victimization; *Emotion Recognition; Avoidance; Child Neglect

PsycINFO Classification

3230 Behavior Disorders & Antisocial Behavior

Population Group

Human; Female

Age Group

Adulthood (18 yrs & older)

Location

US

Methodology

Empirical Study; Quantitative Study

Tests and Measures

Japanese and Caucasian Facial Expressions of Emotion and Neutral Faces

International Affective Picture System

Personal Data Survey

Modified PTSD Symptom Scale

Facial Expression Recognition Questionnaire

Childhood Trauma Questionnaire : http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/t02080-000

Toronto Alexithymia Scale : http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/t10642-000

Sexual Experiences Survey : http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/t02590-000

Childhood Maltreatment Interview Schedule : http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/t02078-000

Release Date

20141222 (PsycINFO); 20141222 (PsycARTICLES)

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