Childhood Maltreatment and Revictimization in Young Adulthood: Is Problematic Substance Use a Mediator? A Linked...

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Public Health
• Criminology

Background:

• Childhood maltreatment is a significant risk factor for later life revictimization.
• The mechanisms linking maltreatment to revictimization are not fully understood.
• Problematic substance use is a potential maladaptive coping strategy increasing revictimization risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of problematic substance use in the association between childhood maltreatment and violent revictimization.
• To examine explanatory mechanisms in the maltreatment-revictimization pathway.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal analysis of linked survey-register data from Norwegian senior high school graduates (n=3,156).
• Follow-up until ages 32-33 (2021).
• Linear regressions and mediation analyses were employed.

Main Results:

• Childhood maltreatment was associated with both problematic substance use and violent revictimization.
• Problematic substance use was linked to an increased risk of violent revictimization.
• Mediation analyses indicated that problematic substance use accounted for 12.0% of the association between childhood maltreatment and violent revictimization.

Conclusions:

• Reducing problematic substance use may mitigate violent revictimization risk in childhood maltreatment victims.
• Early detection and treatment of substance use are crucial for preventing revictimization.
• Other mechanisms beyond substance use likely contribute to the maltreatment-revictimization pathway.