Poster #3

Alexithymia as a mediator between intimate partner violence and post-traumatic stress symptoms in mothers of sexually abused children

By: Valéry Dubé, B.Sc., Amélie Tremblay-Perreault, Ph.D., Louise Cossette, Ph.D., and Martine Hébert Ph.D.

Abstract:

The unveiling of child sexual abuse (CSA) can elicit symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in parents. The impact of disclosure is stronger for mothers who have already experienced interpersonal trauma, such as sexual abuse during their childhood or intimate partner violence. Alexithymia, the inability to recognize and express emotions, often serves as a coping mechanism in the aftermath of a trauma as it creates a distance between oneself and distressing events. However, difficulties in recognizing and expressing emotions may, in the long term, prevent individuals from resolving their trauma. Alexithymia could then be a risk factor for the development of PTSD symptoms and compromise mothers’ capacity to provide support to their child. The current study aimed at examining whether alexithymia could mediate the relationship between two types of interpersonal violence often experienced by mothers of sexually abused children: intimate partner violence and sexual abuse during their childhood, and mothers’ PTSD symptoms following disclosure of their child’s abuse. A sample of 158 mothers of sexually abused children participated in the study. More than half of the mothers reported intimate partner violence. Results of a mediation model revealed that alexithymia significantly mediated the relationship between partner violence and PTSD symptoms, β = 0.07, SE = .03, 95% CI [.01, .12], p = .03. The mediation model on mothers’ CSA, reported by almost half of our sample, was not significant, but mothers’ CSA was associated with higher levels of PTSD following the disclosure of child abuse, β = 0.21, SE = 0.08, 95% CI [.06, .37], p = .012. Because mothers’ support is the most important predictor of recovery in sexually abused children, these findings highlight the importance of assessing mothers’ history of interpersonal trauma and ability to recognize and identify emotions and the need to offer support and specific intervention programs to mothers.

Valéry Dubé

Valéry Dubé is a doctoral candidate in psychology (Ph.D./D.Psy) at the Université du Québec à Montréal and a member of the Canada Research Chair on Interpersonal Trauma and Resilience. She is mainly interested in emotion competencies in school-aged children who have been sexually abused and who witnessed intimate partner violence.