Somatic Problems in Children Disclosing Sexual Abuse: The Mediating Role of Alexithymia and Dissociation.

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is linked to heightened levels of medically unexplained symptoms. Research indicates that victims of CSA display alexithymia and dissociation symptoms. Alexithymia and dissociation may potentially contribute to developing somatic complaints in CSA victims. They represent mechanisms through which psychological distress is avoided and could then manifest as physical symptoms like somatic problems (e.g. headaches, nausea, stomachache, etc.). This study aimed to investigate if alexithymia and dissociation are mechanisms explaining the link between CSA and somatic complaints. The sample included 245 children who had disclosed child sexual abuse and 100 non-abused children aged 6-12 years old. Results of a sequential mediation model revealed that the CSA-somatic complaints relationship was mediated by alexithymia and dissociation. This study suggests that intense negative emotion leads children to focus on external stimuli to reduce psychological suffering. To mitigate somatic problems in victims of CSA, treatment should target overregulation of affect, namely alexithymia, and dissociation. In the long term, this could prevent unnecessary diagnostic testing and delay in appropriate interventions.

Prevalence and Correlates of Intimate Partner Violence Among Women and Men in Mexico: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

This article presents the first systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence and correlates of different forms of intimate partner violence (IPV) among women and men in Mexico. To identify studies, a comprehensive search strategy was developed and executed across 11 databases (Academic Search Complete, APA PsycInfo, CINAHL, Cochrane CENTRAL, Embase, International Bibliography of the Social Sciences, LILACS, MEDLINE, SciELO, Sociological Abstracts, Web of Science). From the 1,746 studies screened, 155 full-text articles were reviewed, and this systematic review included 27 studies involving 249,557 participants to determine the prevalence of physical, psychological, sexual, threats, and other forms of IPV, according to gender and other sociodemographic characteristics. Overall IPV prevalence was 16.4%, with significant differences across pregnant and non-pregnant women. Physical IPV prevalence was 14.7%, revealing higher rates in men (29.5%) compared to women (14.2%). Psychological IPV prevalence was 27.3% and sexual IPV was at 6.6%, with differences across evaluation periods. Threats and other IPV forms showed a prevalence rate of 14.2% and 21.5%. Meta-regression analyses included gender, education, marital status, rural residency, pregnancy, age, and evaluation period. This study demonstrates that IPV is a critical public health concern in Mexico, impacting both women and men. It shows the vulnerability of rural residents, youth, and pregnant women. However, understanding IPV complexities in Mexico requires nuanced considerations of demographic and situational contexts. Urgent initiatives from municipal, state, and federal governments are needed to combat IPV, focusing on prevention and support for affected individuals.

Development and Preliminary Validation of the Dating Violence Prevention Self-Efficacy Scale for School Staff.

This article describes the development of an instrument used to evaluate the perceived self-efficacy of school staff in addressing dating violence (DV) among youth. The study employed a mixed exploratory sequential design. First, a series of items was elaborated upon based on the scientific literature on self-efficacy and material from 15 semi-structured interviews conducted with school staff. Then, a sample of 110 school staff members answered an online survey. An exploratory factor analysis revealed a two-factor structure reflecting dimensions of self-efficacy in addressing DV: communicating DV content to youth (α = .93) and the ability to intervene with youth who experience DV (α = .91). The scale could offer a means to assess the effectiveness of training offered to school counselors and teachers regarding DV prevention.

When sexual distress shares the bed: the role of sexual self-esteem in the relationship between dispositional mindfulness and sexual distress in sex therapy patients.

BACKGROUND: Sexual distress (eg, feeling distressed, unhappy, frustrated, stressed, dissatisfied, or bothered about their sexuality) is a central concern reported by patients seeking sex therapy, and might be related to sexual self-esteem and mindfulness disposition, yet research is needed to examine the links among those variables within the specific population of patients seeking therapy. AIM: This study aimed to examine the indirect role of sexual self-esteem in the relationship between dispositional mindfulness and sexual distress. METHODS: The study was conducted among 696 patients undergoing sexual therapy (mean age 34.19 ± 11.21 years, age range 18-78 years). Participants identified as women (57.3%), men (38.5%), or nonbinary (4.2%). They completed self-report questionnaires assessing dispositional mindfulness (Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire), sexual self-esteem (Multidimensional Sexuality Questionnaire), and sexual distress (Sexual Distress Scale-Revised), during their first few sessions (ie, first to third sessions [the assessment phase]). OUTCOMES: Sexual distress was the main outcome, as measured with the Sexual Distress Scale-Revised. RESULTS: Results indicated that 54% (n = 376) of patients reported elevated sexual distress based on the questionnaire threshold score. Path analyses indicated an indirect effect in which higher dispositional mindfulness was associated with higher levels of sexual self-esteem, which in turn was associated with lower sexual distress. Results also highlighted that specific facets of mindfulness were related to higher sexual self-esteem (ie, describing, and nonreacting) and lower sexual distress (ie, nonjudgment and acting with awareness). The integrative model explained 23% of the variance of sexual distress scores. CLINICAL IMPLICATION: Findings suggest that addressing specifically sexual self-esteem and mindfulness may represent relevant clinical avenues to reduce sexual distress among sex therapy patients. STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS: Strengths of this study include the novel examination of the role of sexual self-esteem in the link between mindfulness disposition and sexual distress in a large clinical sample of patients seeking sex therapy. Limitations includes reliance on patient self-report and a cross-sectional design that limit conclusion regarding causality. CONCLUSION: This study makes a valuable contribution to the existing body of research highlighting the pivotal roles of sexual self-esteem in the link between dispositional mindfulness and reduced sexual distress among adults undergoing sex therapy, allowing us to identify potential targets of intervention.

Sexual Victimization and Sexually Transmitted Infections Among a Nationally Representative Sample of Adolescents and Young Adults in Haiti.

Sexual assault victims are at major risk of being infected by sexually transmitted infections (STI). This article aims to examine and compare the prevalence of eight STIs (e.g., chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis B, HIV/AIDS, human papillomavirus) among victims and non-victims of sexual abuse. A national cross-sectional study was conducted in Haiti, using a multistage sampling frame, stratified by geographical department, urban or rural setting, gender, and age groups (15-19 and 20-24 years). The final sample included 3586 household participants (47.6% female). A weighted sample of 3945 individuals was obtained and used in the following analyses. Overall, 21.75% (95% CI 19.91-23.59) of participants reported having been diagnosed with at least one STI in their lifetime, with a higher prevalence among men (25.70%; 95% CI 22.89-28.52), compared to women (18.11%; 95% CI 15.73-20.49), χ2 = 16.43; p < 0.001). Sexual abuse victims were more likely to report STIs (31.27%; 95% CI 29.21-33.34), compared to non-victims (18.40%; 95% CI 16.68-20.13), χ2 = 27.89; p < .001. Sexual abuse was associated to an increased risk of contracting at least one STI (OR = 1.74; 95% CI 1.35, 2.24). The results demonstrate that sexual abuse is associated with a general increase of reporting STIs. They indicate the need for national sexual abuse prevention programs at early ages. These programs should be implemented in schools and churches, focusing on the role of families in sexuality education. Finally, programs must be developed to eradicate community violence-especially in the cities-as increased political and social violence has always been associated with increased sexual abuse in Haiti.

Intimate partner violence and symptoms of psychological distress and depression in adolescents and young adults in Haiti.

BACKGROUND: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is prevalent in low and middle-income countries, such as Haiti. However, there is little research on its association with mental health problems such as psychological distress and depression. Although there is evidence that men may experience IPV, few studies have investigated mental health difficulties among Haitian men and women. The present study aims to 1) assess the prevalence of depressive symptoms and psychological distress in this population and 2) examine the association between IPV, psychological distress, and depression while considering potential risk and protective factors. METHOD: A representative sample of 3,586 adolescents and young adults aged 15 to 24 living in Haiti was recruited. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the association between IPV, depressive symptoms, and psychological distress. RESULTS: Almost half of the sample reported depressive symptoms and psychological distress, with high rates among both genders. IPV was found to be an independent predictor of both depressive symptoms and psychological distress after accounting for risk and protective factors. LIMITATION: This study is the first step in understanding the interplay between IPV victimization, risk and protective factors, and psychological difficulties in this population. However, because of the cross-sectional design, causality should not be inferred. Furthermore, this study did not measure community violence, which could have affected participants' mental health. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the importance of considering the occurrence of IPV victimization when evaluating depression and psychological distress among adolescents and young adults.

Intimate partner violence and posttraumatic stress disorder among adolescents and young adults in Haiti.

Although the high prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) in Haiti is well-documented, its association with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among adolescents and young adults remains unexplored. Using a representative sample of adolescents and young adults from rural and urban areas across the 10 geographical regions of Haiti, this study investigates the association between IPV and PTSD symptoms. It explores the role of social support, emotion regulation, other traumatic events, and sociodemographic factors. The sample consisted of 3,586 participants, of whom 43.21 % (1,538) reported being in a dating relationship in the past year (56.04 % women). Overall, 25.53 % of the participants were categorized as having probable PTSD. Results showed that participants who experienced at least one episode of IPV victimization presented a higher prevalence of PTSD (32.28 %) compared to those who did not have any experience (16.29 %), χ2 (1) = 44.83, p < .001. The logistic regression model showed that emotional IPV, sexual IPV, traumatic life events, emotional dysregulation, and social support were associated with PTSD symptoms. This study highlights a strong association between IPV and PTSD symptoms, as well as factors that can contribute to the development and implementation of prevention and intervention programs among adolescents and young adults in Haiti.

A Rapid Review on Complaint Mechanisms for Interpersonal Violence: Integrating Research-Based Recommendations from Multiple Sectors to Inform Sport Settings.

Past studies have highlighted the lack of independent formal complaint mechanisms as one of the most significant barriers to reporting interpersonal violence (IV) in sport. Some countries have since implemented complaint mechanisms specific to sport settings. Evaluations of similar mechanisms in other sectors could inform the development and implementation of complaint mechanisms for IV in sport. This rapid review included studies inside and outside the sport context to document the characteristics of complaint mechanisms of IV, barriers or limitations related to such mechanisms, and recommendations resulting from their evaluation. Following the Cochrane Rapid Reviews Interim Guidance, six databases were searched for peer-reviewed references in English or French, published between 2012 and 2022, and pertaining to the evaluation of formal reporting mechanisms of IV. The 35 references covered mechanisms mainly targeting IV in general (any type) or sexual violence specifically. Complaint mechanisms varied in scope and as a function of their setting, including work, university, military, and medical. We identified barriers and limitations concerning fear of consequences, lack of knowledge, lack of efficiency, lack of trust, and unsupportive culture. Finally, we documented 18 recommendations to improve complaint mechanisms of IV, spanning four categories: (a) organizational accountability, (b) awareness and accessibility, (c) adapted process, and (d) ongoing evaluation. This rapid review draws recommendations from various research disciplines and types of mechanisms to offer a comprehensive portrait of best practices. The findings show that numerous aspects of complaint mechanisms at multiple levels should be considered when developing and implementing complaint mechanisms of IV.

Executive functioning in child victims of sexual abuse: A multi-informant comparative study.

BACKGROUND: Research examining the association between child sexual abuse and executive functions is limited. Yet, exposure to traumatic situations at a young age has been associated with changes in the prefrontal cortex, which hosts executive functions (Wesarg et al., 2020). These functions are crucial for social adaptation, as they make it possible to inhibit maladaptive behavior and respond flexibly to the demands of the environment. As middle childhood is a sensitive period for the development of self-regulatory abilities, exploring executive functioning in school-age children could provide potential intervention targets (Dajani & Uddin, 2015). OBJECTIVE: Using multiple informants, this study compared executive functioning of sexually abused children to that of non-sexually victimized children and examined whether the differences were moderated by sex. METHODS: The sample consisted of 225, 6-to-12 years old children with a history of child sexual abuse (CSA) and 97 children without a history of CSA. Children completed two executive functioning tasks measuring cognitive flexibility and inhibition. Parents and teachers completed questionnaires evaluating children's executive functioning. RESULTS: In comparison to non-abused children, children with a history of CSA displayed greater executive functioning difficulties as assessed by both informant-reported questionnaires and self-completed tasks. Significant interaction effects were found, such as CSA predicting lower inhibition and executive functions at school in boys but not in girls. CONCLUSION: This study is a first step in understanding the association between CSA and executive functioning and offers a clearer picture of the differential impact of sexual trauma according to children's sex.

Alexithymia as a mediator of the associations between child maltreatment and internalizing and externalizing behaviors in adolescence.

Child maltreatment is a global concern that profoundly affects individuals throughout their lives. This study investigated the relationships between various forms of child maltreatment and behavior problems involving internalization and externalization during adolescence. Data obtained from a diverse sample of 1802 Canadians aged 14-18 years was used to examine the mediating role of alexithymia-a difficulty in recognizing and expressing emotions-in these associations. Results indicated that adolescents who experienced sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) in their childhood exhibited higher levels of alexithymia, which was correlated with elevated levels of both internalizing and externalizing problems. Physical abuse and parental neglect were only associated with externalizing problems. Gender differences also emerged, with gender-diverse adolescents reporting a higher prevalence of maltreatment, alexithymia, and behavior problems compared with their peers. However, alexithymia's mediating role was consistent across genders. Overall, this study highlights the intricate relationships between child maltreatment, alexithymia, and adolescent behavior problems. The findings of this study how different forms of child maltreatment significantly shape behavioral outcomes and indicate the importance of interventions in enhancing emotional awareness and expression in adolescents with a childhood history of maltreatment.

Investigating the role of alexithymia in the association between cumulative childhood maltreatment and teen dating violence victimization.

BACKGROUND: Childhood maltreatment is increasingly recognized as an important risk factor for teen dating violence (TDV) victimization. However, far too little research has studied the mechanisms that could explain this higher risk of revictimization. The present study investigated the role of alexithymia in the association between cumulative childhood maltreatment, TDV victimization occurrence and chronicity, and TDV-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. METHODS: A total of 2780 adolescents, aged 13 to 19, completed measures of childhood maltreatment and alexithymia at Time 1 and TDV victimization and TDV-related PTSD symptoms at Time 2 (6 months later). Two mediational models were tested to examine the role of alexithymia as a risk factor for revictimization. One model assessed TDV occurrence as an outcome, while the other explored TDV chronicity and TDV-related PTSD symptoms as outcomes. RESULTS: Findings suggest that cumulative childhood maltreatment is associated with an increased probability of TDV occurrence through alexithymia. Cumulative childhood maltreatment and alexithymia are also associated with TDV chronicity and TDV-related PTSD symptoms. Notably, cumulative childhood maltreatment is associated with higher levels of alexithymia among adolescent victims of TDV, which, in turn, predicts higher TDV chronicity and TDV-related PTSD symptoms. LIMITATIONS: This study relied on abbreviated measures and did not include all forms of child maltreatment (e.g., emotional and physical neglect). CONCLUSIONS: Promoting emotional awareness and identification among youth victims of child maltreatment could reduce the risk of TDV occurrence, TDV chronicity, and TDV-related PTSD symptoms.

The investigation of sleep patterns in relation to interpersonal violence victimization and mental health in adolescent girls.

Empirical studies reveal that interpersonal violence victimization is a highly prevalent phenomena in youth and is associated with a host of difficulties, including mental, physical, and behavioral issues. Sleep, a developmentally fundamental process, is implicated in these unfavorable effects. Despite this, little is known about the interplay between interpersonal violence victimization, sleep, and mental health in adolescent girls, who are at greater risk of victimization, sleep problems, and mental health difficulties than boys. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the current study was to identify distinct patterns of sleep problems to understand how they are associated with interpersonal violence victimization and key mental health outcomes, namely dissociation and emotional dysregulation. METHOD: Latent class analyses were conducted on a sample of 706 adolescent girls aged 14-18 (88% of Canadian descent), who completed an online survey. RESULTS: Three classes of sleep were identified: poor-, moderate-, and high-quality sleep. Controlling for posttraumatic stress disorder, classes were found to differ regarding childhood sexual abuse, community violence, and emotional abuse. In addition, exposure to community violence was associated with dissociation only among girls in the poor-quality sleep class, indicating a moderation effect of sleep. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study, while awaiting replication with a more diverse sample, highlight the continued need to understand the interplay between interpersonal violence and sleep quality, which can help to inform trauma-focused clinical interventions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

A latent class analysis of adolescent dating violence: Associations with daily conflict management.

BACKGROUND: Adolescent dating violence (ADV) is a major public health concern experienced by more than half of adolescents. Previous studies have found considerable diversity in patterns of ADV and suggest that its various forms often occur concurrently and reciprocally within adolescent dating relationships. While multiple robust distal correlates of ADV have already been established, research on situational factors, such as conflict-related variables, is still sparse. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify patterns of ADV based on the co-occurrence of different types of ADV victimization and perpetration. Multiple correlates of these ADV patterns were examined, including daily conflict-related factors (e.g., occurrence, resolution). METHODS: A sample of 216 adolescents (M = 17.03 years; SD = 1.49) who were currently involved in a dating relationship completed a baseline assessment followed by 14 consecutive daily diaries. RESULTS: Latent class analysis revealed five classes, including Low violence (21.8 %), Emotional violence (50.9 %), Emotional and sexual violence (13 %), Psychological violence and control (7.9 %), and Multiple violence (6.5 %). Demographic, relationship, distal, and daily conflict-related indicators differentiated the classes. Findings indicated that youth in the Psychological violence and control and Multiple violence classes were involved in longer-lasting relationships and displayed higher externalized problems and emotion dysregulation, more frequent experiences of childhood traumas, and, notably, more difficulties in managing daily conflicts. CONCLUSION: Adolescence is a crucial time to reduce the onset, persistence, and adverse consequences of ADV. By identifying situational conflict-related factors associated with ADV victimization and perpetration, this study can inform important prevention efforts.

Implementing a sexual violence prevention program in two Canadian Indigenous communities: Challenges and lessons learned.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of child sexual violence remains overwhelming, particularly among Indigenous populations, despite increased awareness. Therefore, implementing efficient initiatives is crucial in preventing and reducing sexual violence rates among these groups. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the processes involved in the implementation of a sexual violence prevention program in two Indigenous communities in Canada and assess application of culturally safe practices. METHOD: Eight Indigenous and non-Indigenous project managers underwent semi-structured interviews before the program's implementation; five of them also participated in the follow-up interviews. Moreover, thirteen Indigenous service providers from the two communities answered open-ended questions when the included training ended. RESULTS: Thematic analysis revealed the importance of following an ongoing process (not only before implementing a program) to assess the needs of community members and involving them in decision-making. Administrative injunctions were also identified as a significant challenge during implementation. Results showed that participants reported the taboo of sexual violence as a challenge but that constant discussions about the prevention of sexual violence helped defuse the discomfort and foster trust between Indigenous and non-Indigenous professionals. Finally, participants provided recommendations to improve research and intervention practices. CONCLUSIONS: Several takeaways were discussed to improve research practices with, by, and for Indigenous peoples, such as using collaborative communication, developing common understanding relative to work agendas, and increasing cultural competencies to build trust within the partnership.

A Dyadic Analysis of Sexual Assertiveness and Sexual Outcomes in Adolescent Romantic Relationships.

Amid adolescence, youth are developing the relational skills necessary to form and maintain positive intimate relationships. Sexual assertiveness is a key skill that could be related to couples' sexual outcomes (i.e. sexual satisfaction, sexual concerns, and sexual function). However, dyadic studies are lacking, and associations between sexual assertiveness and adolescents' sexual health and well-being remain underexplored. This cross-sectional dyadic study examined associations between dimensions of sexual assertiveness and sexual outcomes in adolescent romantic relationships. The Actor-Partner Interdependence Model guided analyses of self-reported questionnaires from 110 romantic dyads (aged 14-19 years; M = 16.51). Participants' gender was considered in the models, and gender differences emerged in the associations between study variables. Path analyses revealed that sexual needs and desires communication, refusal of unwanted sex, sexual intimacy initiation, and comfort talking about sex have significant actor and partner effects on adolescents' sexual outcomes in mixed-gender dyads. These findings suggest that authentically expressing one's own sexual needs, desires, and limits in adolescence may influence not only one's own sexual satisfaction, sexual concerns, and sexual function, but also their partner's. The aforementioned dimensions of sexual assertiveness could be important targets for research-based interventions to promote sexual health and well-being in adolescent romantic relationships.

Do You See What I See? Emotion Recognition Competencies in Sexually Abused School-Aged Children and Non-Abused Children.

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a worldwide phenomenon that has been linked to deleterious consequences. Adverse life events, such as sexual abuse, can compromise the development of emotional competencies, an important dimension of children's psychosocial development. This study aimed at evaluating emotion recognition competencies in sexually abused and non-abused children. The sample consisted of 97 sexually abused children (65 girls) and 78 non-abused children (56 girls) aged between 6 and 12 years. They were recruited in specialized intervention centers and elementary schools from the Montreal area. Recognition of joy, anger, fear, sadness, and neutral expressions was assessed using the Developmental Emotional Faces Stimulus Set (DEFSS; Meuwissen et al., 2017). Results of an ANCOVA revealed that the total scores of emotion recognition were significantly lower for victims of SA (M = 18.12, SE = 0.33) relative to non-abused children (M = 19.36, SE = 0.37), F(1,170) = 5.70, p < .05. Analyses performed on specific expressions yielded lower scores for the recognition of anger, F(1, 170) = 6.12, p = .014, partial η2 = .03, and joy, F(1, 170) = 8.04, p =.005, partial η2 = .04. Our findings highlight the importance of assessing emotion recognition competencies to improve intervention programs provided to sexually abused children and prevent the development of severe psychosocial problems.

"I Just Want to Feel Good Without Making You Feel Bad": Sexual Assertiveness Negotiation in Adolescent Romantic Relationships.

Sexual assertiveness is often conceptualized as an individual's ability to express one's own sexual needs, desires, and limits. Given that sexual assertiveness is embedded in interactions and can affect not only both partners' sexual well-being but also relationship satisfaction, dyadic approaches are needed to investigate sexual assertiveness negotiation within adolescent romantic relationships. This qualitative study aimed to document adolescents' ability to negotiate their sexual needs, desires, and limits with their partners during interactions where they discussed their sexual concerns. A directed content analysis, based on the life positions of the transactional analysis theory, was conducted on the interactions of 40 adolescent romantic dyads aged 14-19 years (M = 16.65; SD = 1.49). The results revealed four categories of strategies: (1) mutual assertiveness: negotiation of one's own sexual needs, desires, and limits with those of the partner; (2) singular passiveness: repression of one's own sexual needs, desires, and limits to privilege those of the partner; (3) singular aggressiveness: prioritization of one's own sexual needs, desires, and limits over those of the partner; and (4) mutual lack of negotiation skills: neglecting both partners' sexual needs, desires, and limits. Among other things, adolescents' ability to be sexually assertive was hindered by anticipations, including assumptions leading to disregarding one's own sexual needs, desires, and limits or fearing to ignore the partner's. To promote mutually rewarding sexual activities and prevent sexual violence, sexual education initiatives should support adolescents' ability to assertively negotiate their sexuality with their partner and avoid passiveness, aggressiveness, and lack of negotiation.

The association between child sexual abuse and self-reported sleep in adolescent girls.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Child sexual abuse is associated with negative consequences on both physical and mental health. It has been found to influence child and adolescent sleep, which is an important developmental factor, which also influences mental and physical health. However, the literature examining this topic is plagued by methodological limitations, such as small sample sizes and unvalidated measures. METHODS: Using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the present study examined 7 self-reported sleep dimensions, including sleep latency, efficiency, duration, disturbances, subjective sleep quality, daytime dysfunction, and use of sleep medication, in a sample of 707 adolescent girls aged 14-18 years old. RESULTS: Statistical analyses revealed that child sexual abuse had a significant moderate association with the total PSQI score. Sexually abused adolescent girls, compared with their nonabused counterparts, reported more sleep difficulties. Significant differences also emerged on all sleep dimensions, with abused girls reporting increased difficulties. However, the magnitude of these associations differed from one dimension to another. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support the continued study of sleep in adolescent girls who experienced sexual abuse. They also support the use of a fine-grained perspective when assessing various dimensions of sleep health in girls with a history of child sexual abuse for improved tertiary prevention and intervention. CITATION: Langevin R, Pennestri M-H, Hershon M, Pirro T, Hébert M. The association between child sexual abuse and self-reported sleep in adolescent girls. J Clin Sleep Med. 2023;19(11):1933-1939.

An Analysis of Risk and Protective Factors Associated with Cyber-Dating Violence Victimization of Adolescent Girls: An Ecological Perspective.

Cyber-dating violence (cyber-DV) is a prevalent issue among adolescent girls that can have negative consequences including post-traumatic stress symptoms and suicidal ideations and attempts. In the aim to reduce its prevalence and impacts, researchers are increasingly relying on the identification of risk and protective factors associated with cyber-DV across multiple ecological contexts. The current study aimed to examine the influence of individual (e.g., dissociation), interpersonal (e.g., offline forms of dating violence) and community level (e.g., community support) factors associated with the cyber-DV victimization of adolescent girls. A sample of 456 adolescent girls (M = 16.17 years old, SD = 1.28) was recruited online to complete a survey. At the individual level, emotion dysregulation, dissociative symptoms, post-traumatic stress symptoms and resilience were measured. Offline forms of DV and a history of child sexual abuse were assessed at the interpersonal level. Finally, at the community level, community support, community resilience, neighborhood material and social disadvantage were evaluated. Results from a hierarchical logistic regression indicated that exposure to offline DV namely verbal-emotional DV, sexual DV, threats, as well as living in neighborhoods with lower levels of social disadvantage were significantly associated with an increased risk of cyber-DV victimization. Cyber-DV preventative intervention efforts should focus on incorporating cyber-DV specific modules and activities into offline DV prevention and intervention programs as to reduce the likelihood of adolescents suffering both forms of DV and their associated repercussions.