Romantic Attachment and Intimate Partner Violence Perpetrated by Men: The Role of Affect Dysregulation and Gender Hostility

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a major public health problem, associated with considerable consequences for the victims. Among the risk factors associated with the perpetration of male IPV, attachment insecurities (avoidance, anxiety) and affect dysregulation (AD) have received strong empirical support. A few studies showed that hostility toward women (HTW) is a correlate of IPV perpetration, but none have explored hostility toward men (HTM). This study's aim was to test direct and indirect associations between romantic attachment insecurities and IPV perpetration (psychological, physical, and sexual coercion) through AD in men seeking help, and to examine the moderator role of HTW and HTM in theses links. A sample of 1,845 men aged between 18 and 88 years and from a diverse population (e.g., cultural background, education, and sexual orientation) were recruited through 18 community organizations providing IPV services in a Canadian province. As part of the systematic assessment protocol of each organization, participants answered a series of online questionnaires. Results from a path analysis model showed indirect associations between attachment insecurities (avoidance and anxiety) and IPV perpetration (psychological, physical, and sexual coercion) through AD. Beyond these links, attachment avoidance was also directly associated with psychological violence, attachment anxiety with sexual coercion, and HTM with sexual coercion. The results revealed two moderation effects: higher HTW amplified the link between AD and physical IPV, whereas higher HTM amplified the link between AD and sexual coercion. Results highlight the relevance of assessing attachment, AD, and gender hostility in IPV programs. They also highlight the relevance of targeting HTM as a risk marker for IPV perpetration in men.

Dissociation and Sexual Concerns in Male Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse: The Role of Identity Cohesion

Research on male survivors of childhood sexual abuse is notably deficient when it comes to addressing their sexual concerns, such as experiences of sexual distress, negative thoughts, and feelings related to their sexuality. Dissociation, a known consequence of childhood sexual abuse, could be associated with higher sexual concerns through identity cohesion. Precisely, dissociation can potentially be related to lower identity cohesion (e.g., not knowing what you want or need). In return, lower identity cohesion may be related to higher sexual concerns by impeding the capacity to know and accept oneself, which tends to promote a positive and healthy sexuality. This study aimed to examine the role of identity cohesion in the link between dissociation and sexual concerns in 105 men consulting for their history of childhood sexual abuse. Men completed questionnaires assessing dissociation, sexual concerns, and identity cohesion at admission in a community setting. Results of a path analysis revealed an indirect association between dissociation and higher sexual concerns through lower identity cohesion. The model explained 27.6% of the variance in sexual concerns. This study highlights the relevance of interventions targeting dissociative symptoms to improve identity cohesion and sexual health in male survivors of childhood sexual abuse.

A Hierarchical Cluster Analysis of Childhood Interpersonal Trauma and Dispositional Mindfulness: Heterogeneity of Sexual and Relational Outcomes in Adulthood

The current mixed-method study aimed to 1) identify different childhood interpersonal trauma (CIT) and dispositional mindfulness (DM) profiles in an adult sample; 2) illustrate these profiles with qualitative data documenting childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and CIT survivors' perceptions of their own DM; and 3) examine profile differences on sexual and relational outcomes. Participants were 292 adults who completed an online questionnaire. A subsample of participants having reported a history of CSA (n = 51) also completed semi-structured interviews. Hierarchical cluster, comparison, and content analyses were performed. Analyses yielded three profiles: 1) Lower victimization, high mindfulness; 2) Psychological victimization, low mindfulness; and 3) Multi-victimization, low mindfulness. Participants in profile 1 presented the lowest frequency of CIT experiences and the highest levels of DM and sexual and relational well-being. Profile 2 participants presented higher sexual and relational well-being (i.e., higher sexual satisfaction, lower sexual depression, and fewer interpersonal conflicts) than those in profile 3. By documenting distinct CIT and DM profiles and tying them to different levels of relational and sexual well-being, this study could guide practitioners in designing tailored interventions.

Cumulative childhood interpersonal trauma and parenting stress: The role of self-capacities disturbances among couples welcoming a newborn

BACKGROUND

The birth of a child is a life-defining event which tends to widen the gap between parents' resources and the demands they face, generating parenting stress. In this regard, individuals who experienced childhood trauma, particularly cumulative childhood interpersonal trauma (CCIT), appear more vulnerable, with higher rates of parenting stress. However, dyadic studies are lacking and the mechanisms explaining the association between CCIT and parenting stress remain unknown, limiting the promotion of resilience in parental couples.

OBJECTIVE

Based on the Self-Trauma Model and the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model, this study examined the role of self-capacities disturbances (i.e., affect dysregulation, identity impairment and interpersonal conflicts) in the association uniting CCIT and parenting stress.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTINGS

A randomly selected sample of 421 parental couples of an infant.

METHODS

Participants completed self-reported measures online.

RESULTS

Path analyses revealed that CCIT was associated to greater parenting stress through affect dysregulation and identity impairment, in both mothers and fathers (R² = 22.4%; 20.7%). APIM modeling revealed a dyadic association between mothers' proneness to interpersonal conflicts and fathers' parenting stress, in addition to indirect effects involving all three self-capacities in the associations between one parent's CCIT and their partner's parenting stress.

CONCLUSIONS

CCIT-exposed individuals may experience parenting stress through difficulties with self-capacities at the individual and dyadic level, highlighting these capacities as promising intervention targets during the postpartum period, and emphasizing the need to involve both parents since intricate dyadic patterns may be at play.

French translation and validation of the International Trauma Questionnaire in a Canadian community sample

BACKGROUND

The diagnosis of complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) was recently included into the 11th edition of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). Recognizing the need for a brief and specific measure CPTSD symptoms as defined by the ICD-11, Cloitre and her team (2018) developed the original English version of the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ). The ITQ is composed of two scales-'post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)' and 'disturbances in self-organization' (DSO), respectively subdivided into three subscales. It was found to be psychometrically valid but has yet to be available in French.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to provide a French version of the ITQ and to examine its factorial validity, internal consistency, and convergent validity in a French-speaking Canadian sample.

PARTICIPANTS

The sample included 335 French-Canadian adults from the community.

METHODS

The ITQ was translated in French, back translated into English, and deemed equivalent by the original ITQ's author. Participants answered the French version of the ITQ, as well as measures of convergent validity, via phone interview.

RESULTS

Confirmatory factorial analyses revealed that the French ITQ presented the same factor structure as the original ITQ. Composite reliability scores revealed good internal consistency for both scales, and all but one subscale. Pearson's correlation and Steiger's Z test revealed good convergent validity.

CONCLUSION

This study supports the factorial validity, internal consistency, and convergent validity of the French version of the ITQ, suggesting that it is a psychometrically sound measure of CPTSD.