Interpersonal factors influencing risk for revictimization in two samples of young adults

Abstract

This study examines the potential moderating role of interpersonal factors on revictimization risk in two demographically distinct samples. The two samples included undergraduates (N = 275) and women residing in a domestic violence (DV) shelter (N = 38), which resulted in a combined sample of N = 313. Participants reported on history of childhood and adulthood victimization, parent-child relationship quality, and perceived social support. DV shelter participants reported significantly greater victimization and lower parent-child relationship quality and social support than undergraduates. Childhood victimization significantly predicted adulthood victimization, even after accounting for statistically significant effects due to sample. However, none of the interpersonal factors examined (i.e., parent-child relationship quality and perceived social support) moderated the relationship between childhood and adulthood victimization. Results highlight the need to consider the limitations of interpersonal factors for mitigating risk for revictimization and to further investigate whether benefits offered by interpersonal factors may be specific to other outcomes such as psychological maladjustment.