Lifetime sexual violence and alexithymia: the meditating role of dissociation, thought suppression, and shame

Abstract

One in four women report experiences of lifetime sexual victimization (LSV), which includes unwanted sexual experiences in childhood, adolescence, and adulthood (Fisher, Cullen, & Turner, 2000). Furthermore, college-aged women are at increased risk for sexual victimization compared to other developmental periods (Sinozich & Langton, 2014). Multiple studies have demonstrated that child sexual abuse increases risk for developing alexithymia, an emotion regulation deficit characterized by difficulties identifying and describing emotions...