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Resilience-Related Assets Moderate the Effects of Childhood Polyvictimization on Substance Use

Frank, Kelsey M. Resilience-Related Assets Moderate the Effects of Childhood Polyvictimization on Substance Use. 2020. Radford University, Thesis. Radford University Scholars' Repository.

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Abstract

Abstract This study examined the relationship between retrospective reports of childhood victimization, resilience, and substance use among a sample of college men and women. Specifically, this study focused on the role of childhood polyvictimization as a predictor of substance use outcomes and the role of resilience as a moderator, buffering the negative effects of polyvictimization. Polyvictims are individuals who have experienced multiple types of victimizations in their past (Elliott, Alexander, Pierce, Aspelmeier, & Richmond, 2009; Finkelhor, Ormrod, Turner, & Hamby, 2005). Previous work has demonstrated that retrospective reports of childhood polyvictimization predict psychological well-being, trauma symptoms, and college adjustment (Elliott et al., 2019; Richmond, Elliott, Pierce, Aspelmeier, & Alexander, 2009). However, no study to date has investigated the role of polyvictimization in predicting substance use in late adolescence/early adulthood. Further, no studies have investigated the role of resilience as a moderator of the relationship between polyvictimization and relevant outcomes, specifically, substance use. Moderation analyses revealed resilience did not significantly moderate the effect of polyvictimization on substance use, though the interaction between emotional reactivity and polyvictimization was marginally significant. However, the pattern of results observed for sense of mastery and emotional reactivity are consistent with buffering models wherein polyvictims who possess those resilience-related assets seemed to have reduced substance use. Overall, the present study provides implications for clinicians when considering clients who have been victimized in the past. Keywords: Substance Use, Polyvictimization, Resilience, Psychological Well-being

Item Type: Thesis
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Divisions: Radford University > College of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences > Department of Psychology
Date Deposited: 14 Sep 2021 17:00
Last Modified: 20 Apr 2023 14:28
URI: http://wagner.radford.edu/id/eprint/618

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