Do child abuse and maternal care interact to predict military sexual trauma?

Abstract

Objective: The present research tested the hypothesis that maternal care moderates the relationship between childhood sexual abuse and subsequent military sexual trauma (MST).

Method: Measures of childhood sexual abuse, maternal care, and MST were administered to 197 Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans.

Results: After accounting for gender, age, and the main effects of maternal care and childhood sexual abuse, the maternal care x childhood sexual abuse interaction was a significant predictor of MST (odds ratio = .28, β = -1.26, 95% confidence intervals of .10, .80). As hypothesized, rates of MST were higher among veterans who reported childhood sexual abuse and low levels of maternal care (43%) compared with veterans who reported childhood sexual abuse and high levels of maternal care (11%).

Conclusion: These findings suggest that high levels of maternal care may act as a protective factor against future revictimization among military service members. These findings have the potential to inform both prevention and intervention efforts.

Keywords: child sexual abuse; maternal care; military sexual trauma; parental bonding; revictimization.

© 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Figures

Figure 1

Rates of military sexual trauma by sexual abuse and maternal care status (N = 197).