Sexual Abuse and Relationship Stability and Satisfaction in Latino Participants Meagan Davette Sosa, Joanna C. Espinoza and Darrin L. Rogers The University of Texas-Pan American Sexual abuse (SA) may be a contributing factor toward instability and satisfaction in adult romantic relationships. Our results show that victims of SA have reduced relationship stability and satisfaction. We also found that Latino SA victims’ self-reported level of recovery correlates with stability and satisfaction in their romantic relationships. SA can lead to many long term negative effects for victims (Briere & Elliot, 2003), including reduced adult romantic relationship quality (Walker, Holman, & Busby, 2009). This association, however, is poorly understood in Hispanic populations, due to underrepresentation of Hispanic samples in SA research (Kenny & McEachern, 2000). As the Hispanic population in North America becomes more prominent, clarifying findings from SA research conducted in Latino-culture populations becomes increasingly important. Survivors of SA deal with more problematic life conditions than non SA victims, leading to communication, self-esteem, and affect regulation difficulties (Walker et al., 2009). Victims of maltreatment, including SA, report higher levels of couple interpersonal problems (Paradis & Boucher, 2010). Forming intimate adult relationships is often difficult for SA victims and, when relationships are formed, sexual and emotional fulfillment may be lacking (Colangelo & Keffe-Cooperman 2012). Secure attachment increases adults’ ability to form valuable and close relationships (Dimitrova, et al., 2009). Sexual abuse, especially early in development, may lead to insecure attachment. Victims report numerous difficulties in forming and maintaining satisfying intimate relationships (Paradis & Boucher, 2010). Previous studies have found that there is a relationship between a history of SA and lower relationship satisfaction and stability, though Latino populations are essentially absent from this literature. In a participant-driven sampling procedure, 25 undergraduate students administered 215 questionnaires about SA history and adult relationship quality to adult friends and family, to be returned anonymously by mail. The questionnaire included demographics and SA history questions, and the Adult Relationship Questionnaire (ARQ; Walker, Holman, & Busby, 2009; modified with two additional questions). Participants with a history of any SA were asked to rate their level of recovery on a scale from A total of 24 males and 29 females—and one person with unspecified sex— returned questionnaires (response rate: 25.1%). Participant age ranged from to years (mean 34.3, median 30.5). The sample was predominantly Hispanic (92.5%; 7.5% non-Hispanic white). A total of 16 participants (25.9%) reported a history of SA: four males and twelve females. In a participant-driven sampling procedure, 25 undergraduate students administered 215 questionnaires about SA history and adult relationship quality to adult friends and family, to be returned anonymously by mail. The questionnaire included demographics and SA history questions, and the Adult Relationship Questionnaire (ARQ; Walker, Holman, & Busby, 2009; modified with two additional questions). Participants with a history of any SA were asked to rate their level of recovery on a scale from A total of 24 males and 29 females—and one person with unspecified sex— returned questionnaires (response rate: 25.1%). Participant age ranged from to years (mean 34.3, median 30.5). The sample was predominantly Hispanic (92.5%; 7.5% non-Hispanic white). A total of 16 participants (25.9%) reported a history of SA: four males and twelve females. Our findings suggest that SA negatively affects Latinos’ intimate relationship stability and satisfaction. In addition, SA participants’ self-reported recovery was associated with their relationship quality. The former finding is consistent with previous research; the latter may be due to third-variable effects such as participant personality, mood state, supportive social networks, time since SA, acculturation, or environment variables. Previous research shows that SA victims’ resilience is related to their coping strategies. A strong support system paired with healthy coping strategies contributes to survivor resiliency (Colangelo & Keffe-Cooperman, 2012). Future research should investigate these effects with relationship quality as an outcome. Consistent quantitative research in needed to improve our understanding of the dynamics of SA, recovery, and relationship quality in Latino communities. Such research might expand on the current study with increased sample sizes and inclusion of variables allowing exploration of the causality of the associations between SA, relationship quality, and recovery. In the current study, this causality is unclear: recovery might influence stability, the reverse might be true, or, perhaps more likely, both of these might be true to some extent, with other factors (e.g., characteristics of victims’ environments) also affecting the relationship. The effects of SA on relationship functioning in the growing Latino communities of the US will be an important area of research, with implications in health, community, political, and economic spheres. Our findings suggest that SA negatively affects Latinos’ intimate relationship stability and satisfaction. In addition, SA participants’ self-reported recovery was associated with their relationship quality. The former finding is consistent with previous research; the latter may be due to third-variable effects such as participant personality, mood state, supportive social networks, time since SA, acculturation, or environment variables. Previous research shows that SA victims’ resilience is related to their coping strategies. A strong support system paired with healthy coping strategies contributes to survivor resiliency (Colangelo & Keffe-Cooperman, 2012). Future research should investigate these effects with relationship quality as an outcome. Consistent quantitative research in needed to improve our understanding of the dynamics of SA, recovery, and relationship quality in Latino communities. Such research might expand on the current study with increased sample sizes and inclusion of variables allowing exploration of the causality of the associations between SA, relationship quality, and recovery. In the current study, this causality is unclear: recovery might influence stability, the reverse might be true, or, perhaps more likely, both of these might be true to some extent, with other factors (e.g., characteristics of victims’ environments) also affecting the relationship. The effects of SA on relationship functioning in the growing Latino communities of the US will be an important area of research, with implications in health, community, political, and economic spheres. Hypothesis 1: Participants with a history of SA will report lower relationship satisfaction and stability that non-abused participants. Hypothesis 2: Among participants with a history of SA, relationship satisfaction and stability will be positively correlated with self-reported recovery level. Hypothesis 1 (supported): Sexually abused participants scored lower on the modified relationship ARQ (M=2.38, SD=1.21) than non-abused participants (M=2.92, SD=0.89), though this difference was only marginally statistically significant. ( t 52df = 1.83, p <.05). Hypothesis 2 (supported): Among sexually abused participants, the correlation between stability/satisfaction and self-reported level of recovery from SA was r =.90 (p<.001). Figure 1. Figure 2. Briere, J., Elliot, D.M. (2003). Prevalence and psychological sequelae of self-reported childhood physical abuse in a general population of men and women. Child Abuse & Neglect, 27 (10) Colangelo, J.J., and Keffe-Cooperman, K. (2012). Understanding the impact of childhood sexual abuse on women’s sexuality. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 34 (14-37). Retrieved February 9, 2012, from EbscoHost. Dimitrova, N., Pierrehumbert, B., Glatz, N., Torrisi, R., Heinrichs, M., Halfon, O., and Chouchena, O. (2009). Closeness in relationships as a mediator between sexual abuse in childhood or adolescence and psychopathological outcome in adulthood. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 17 ( ). Retrieved September 23, 2011, from EbscoHost. Kenny, M., and McEachern, A. (2000). Racial, ethnic, and cultural factors of childhood sexual abuse: a selected review of the literature. Clinical Psychology Review, 20 (7) Paradis, A., and Boucher, S. (2010). Child maltreatment and interpersonal problems in adult couple relationships. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 19 ( ). Retrieved February 9, 2012, from EbscoHost. Walker, E.C., Holman, T.B., and Busby, D.M. (2009). Childhood sexual abuse, other childhood factors, and pathways to survivors'’ adult relationship quality. Journal of Family and Violence, 24 ( ). Retrieved September 23, 2011, from EbscoHost.