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SYSTEMIC EFFECTS OF TRAUMA IN CLINIC COUPLES: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY OF SECONDARY TRAUMA RESULTING FROM CHILDHOOD ABUSE
Author(s) -
Nelson Briana S.,
Wampler Karen S.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of marital and family therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.868
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1752-0606
pISSN - 0194-472X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1752-0606.2000.tb00287.x
Subject(s) - sexual abuse , clinical psychology , physical abuse , psychological abuse , childhood abuse , distress , child abuse , history of childhood , psychology , intrapersonal communication , interpersonal communication , psychiatry , domestic violence , victimology , medicine , poison control , suicide prevention , medical emergency , social psychology
Clinical literature suggests that those close to a trauma survivor may experience intrapersonal and interpersonal distress because of indirect or secondary effects of the trauma. The focus of this study is on the association between reported childhood physical and sexual abuse and current individual stress symptoms, relationship satisfaction, and family adjustment. The participants included 96 clinic couples who reported a history of childhood physical or sexual abuse in one or both partners and 65 clinic couples in which neither partner reported such abuse. Couples in which one or both partners reported childhood abuse reported significantly lower marital satisfaction, higher individual stress symptoms, and lower family cohesion than couples with no abuse history. No significant differences were found between individuals who reported a history of abuse and their partners who reported no history of childhood abuse, suggesting support for secondary trauma theory. Clinical and future research implications are discussed.