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THE STRESS TOLERANCE MODERATES THE LINK BETWEEN CSA AND THE ABILITY TO RELATE TO OTHERS

Abstract

Childhood Sexual Abuse (CSA) is associated with difficulties developing intimate connections. Indeed, individuals with CSA histories are more likely to express feelings of isolation than individuals without CSA histories. CSA can also hinder the development of distress tolerance (DT) skills, which help individuals withstand negative emotional experiences. It was found that high distress tolerance was linked to a greater likelihood of having their psychological needs met in romantic relationships. Thus, we examined whether DT moderated the association between having a CSA history and one’s ability to relate to others. We hypothesized an overall positive association between CSA and the ability to relate to others in those with higher DT. As part of a larger study, heavy drinking women with sexual victimization histories (N=216) completed an online background questionnaire that included the Computer Assisted Maltreatment Inventory (CAMI) to assess a history of CSA prior to age 14, the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) which includes the Relating to Others subscale, and the Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS). A linear regression was conducted that included main effects of CSA history (0=no, 1=yes) and DTS as well as their interaction predicting the PTGI subscale Relating to Others. There was a significant interaction between CSA and DTS, F(3,191) = 2.88, p=.02, R^2=.04. Simple slopes analyses revealed no significant association between DTS and PTGI Relating to Others scale for those with no CSA history (b=.22, p=.70); however, there was a positive association between DTS and PTGI Relating to others scale for those with a CSA history (b=3.1, p=.01). Consistent with our hypothesis, high DT is associated with a higher capability of relating to others in people with a CSA history. Results suggest that improved DT skills may help individuals struggling to build interpersonal relationships, particularly if they have a CSA history.

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