Abstract
Research has demonstrated a relationship between childhood physical abuse and subsequent victimization in dating relationships. However a prior history of abuse does not necessarily result in revictimization and knowledge regarding the mechanisms that increase vulnerability for victimization in the form of dating violence is limited. The current study examined the relationship between child physical abuse, dating violence, general distress, and experiential avoidance, in an undergraduate student sample of 314 women. Physical abuse in childhood was associated with significantly higher rates of victimization in dating relationships, and experiential avoidance mediated the relationship between child physical abuse and revictimization. Higher levels of general distress was associated with cumulative experiences of child physical abuse and dating violence, compared with child physical abuse without dating violence. The current findings suggest that revictimization in the form of dating violence may be linked to exacerbated distress in women who are physically abused as children and that prevention and treatment programs on college campuses may benefit from targeting experiential avoidance with survivors of interpersonal trauma.
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