Cumulative Childhood Trauma and Psychological Maladjustment of Sexually Abused Children in Korea: Mediating Effects of Emotion Regulation

• NCJ Number: 246699
• Journal: Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 38 Issue: 2 Dated: February 2014 Pages: 296-303
• Author(s): Ji Young Choi; Kyung Ja Oh
• Date Published: February 2014
• Length: 8 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical); Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined the mediating effects of emotion regulation on the association between cumulative childhood trauma and behavioral problems of sexually abused children in the Republic of Korea.

Abstract

The study findings indicate that emotion regulation is an important mechanism that explains the negative effects of cumulative childhood traumas. "Emotion regulation" has been conceptualized as "the ability to modulate emotional arousal in one's interaction with the environment" (Cicchetti et al.). As so defined, emotion regulation goes beyond the ability to restrain behaviors, it includes not only the ability to flexibly and voluntarily respond to environmental demands (i.e., to empathize or express emotions appropriately depending on the particular situation) but also the ability to regulate arousal, whether it is a negative or a positive emotion (Cole, Marin, and Dennis, 2004). The current analysis, which uses structural equation modeling, supports the full mediation model, which suggests that the effects of cumulative childhood trauma on internalizing/externalizing behavioral problems following sexual abuse are mediated by difficulties with emotion regulation. Given the findings of this study, the authors recommend that therapeutic interventions for those with a history of childhood sexual abuse should focus on emotional awareness, expression of emotions, anger management, and the ability to empathize with others. Such an approach will be more useful than treatments that focus only on the symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study collected data on 171 Korean children (ages 6-13) referred to a public counseling center for sexual abuse in Seoul. Cumulative childhood traumas were defined on the basis of the number, severity, and duration of traumas. Children were evaluated by their parents on emotion regulation, using the Emotion Regulation Checklist, and internalizing and externalizing behavioral problems using the Korean Child Behavior Checklist. 2 tables, 1 figure, and 40 references