TY - JOUR
T1 - Alexithymia, Prior Trauma, Alcohol Use, and Sexual Aggression Perpetration
T2 - A Cross-Cultural Comparison of a Moderated Mediation Model
AU - Hawkins, Lindsey G.
AU - Mullet, Natira
AU - Tuliao, Antover P.
AU - Gudenrath, Travis
AU - Holyoak, Derek
AU - Landoy, Bernice Vania N.
AU - Klanecky, Alicia K.
AU - McChargue, Dennis E.
PY - 2020
Y1 - 2020
N2 - In this study, we examined the relationships between prior trauma, alexithymia, and sexual aggression perpetration among 610 U.S. college students and 107 college students from the Philippines utilizing a cross-sectional retrospective design. We tested a moderated mediation model with alexithymia as the mediator between prior trauma and sexual aggression perpetration, and alcohol use as a moderator of the alexithymia–sexual aggression link. Moreover, given that cultural norms may influence these relationships, we also examined the structural invariance of the proposed moderated mediation model. Path analyses and multiple group analysis were used to examine the moderated mediation model, and examine model differences between samples. We did not find evidence for alexithymia as a mediator, but there was a significant interaction between alcohol use severity and alexithymia on sexual aggression perpetration across both samples. Alexithymia is a key variable in understanding the alcohol use–sexual aggression perpetration relationship. Clinical implications and recommendations for future research are also discussed.
AB - In this study, we examined the relationships between prior trauma, alexithymia, and sexual aggression perpetration among 610 U.S. college students and 107 college students from the Philippines utilizing a cross-sectional retrospective design. We tested a moderated mediation model with alexithymia as the mediator between prior trauma and sexual aggression perpetration, and alcohol use as a moderator of the alexithymia–sexual aggression link. Moreover, given that cultural norms may influence these relationships, we also examined the structural invariance of the proposed moderated mediation model. Path analyses and multiple group analysis were used to examine the moderated mediation model, and examine model differences between samples. We did not find evidence for alexithymia as a mediator, but there was a significant interaction between alcohol use severity and alexithymia on sexual aggression perpetration across both samples. Alexithymia is a key variable in understanding the alcohol use–sexual aggression perpetration relationship. Clinical implications and recommendations for future research are also discussed.
KW - alcohol consumption
KW - alexithymia
KW - cross-cultural study
KW - perpetration
KW - trauma
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85082972908&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85082972908&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/1079063220912451
DO - 10.1177/1079063220912451
M3 - Article
C2 - 32248750
AN - SCOPUS:85082972908
JO - Sexual Abuse: Journal of Research and Treatment
JF - Sexual Abuse: Journal of Research and Treatment
SN - 1079-0632
ER -