Childhood trauma and risky sexual behaviors: Comparing positive and negative emotion-related processes

Childhood trauma (CT) is associated with a range of adverse outcomes in adulthood, including increased engagement in risky sexual behaviors (RSBs). Theoretically, individuals with a history of CT may experience difficulties with regulating emotions, resulting in maladaptive behavioral responses that occur during emotional experiences. However, it is unclear whether positive or negative emotions primarily drive these behaviors.

The present study sought to compare the mediating role of positive and negative emotion dysregulation in the relationship between CT and RSBs.

Participants (N = 804) recruited from CloudResearch Connect completed questionnaires assessing retrospective experiences of CT, difficulties in regulating positive and negative emotions, and frequency of engaging in RSBs.

In a parallel mediation model, positive emotion dysregulation (PED) emerged as a significantly stronger mediator relative to negative emotion dysregulation (NED) in the relationship between CT and RSBs (contrast = |NED| - |PED| = -0.07, BootSE = 0.02, 95 % CI [-0.10, -0.02]). An exploratory analysis comparing the mediating effects of the three dimensions of PED suggests that impulse is a stronger mediator linking CT and RSBs (a₃ × b₃ path = 0.06, BootSE = 0.02, 95 % CI [0.02, 0.11]).

These results suggest that the long-term effects of CT may involve difficulties in regulating positive emotions, which may contribute to sexual risk-taking in adulthood. Further, difficulty managing impulses during positive emotional experiences may be a particularly potent process driving the link between CT and RSBs. These insights can potentially guide the development of interventions aimed at improving adulthood outcomes for those with a history of CT.