Access Type

Open Access Dissertation

Date of Award

January 2016

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Emily R. Grekin

Abstract

Past investigations examining the relationships between child maltreatment, alcohol use and physical revictimization have been limited by their use of cross-sectional designs and their focus on childhood sexual abuse and sexual revictimization. In addition, there is a paucity of epidemiological studies examining child maltreatment, alcohol use, and physical revictimization. The present study sought to address these limitations by examining relationships between child maltreatment, problem alcohol use, and physical revictimization in a nationally representative sample. Data were analyzed from the public-use data set of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add health; Harris & Udry, 2014), waves I-IV. Results of the present study add to a growing body of literature demonstrating that child maltreatment engenders numerous risks, years after the abuse has occurred. Indeed, in a nationally representative sample, we found that child maltreatment was associated with a higher risk of physical revictimization across four waves of data. Further, results also suggest that the relationship between early child maltreatment and problem alcohol use is complex, with differences based on (1) developmental stage and (2) sex. Finally, results underscore the importance of continuing to identify mechanisms of the child maltreatment/physical revictimization pathway.

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