Faculty Articles

Sexual Assault and Dyadic Relationship Satisfaction: Indirect Associations through Intimacy and Mental Health

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Violence Against Women

ISSN

1552-8448

Publication Date

6-1-2018

Abstract

Rates of child and adult sexual assault (SA) among women are staggering and place women at risk for intra- and interpersonal difficulties. However, the independent contributions of child and adult SA or the mechanisms of this risk are unknown. This study's goal was to examine the indirect effects of child and adult SA on women's own and partner's relationship functioning through their impact on women's mental health, emotional intimacy, and sexual intimacy. Results revealed that the association of women's child SA with both her own and her partner's relationship satisfaction operated through emotional intimacy. Considerations for the study of women with a history of SA in the context of couple functioning are discussed.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1177/1077801217727371

Volume

24

Issue

8

First Page

936

Last Page

951

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