Lifetime Poly-Victimization and its Association to Transdiagnostic Mental Health Symptoms

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Abstract

Poly-victimization, defined as experiencing two or more victimization types, has long been identified as a predictor for psychiatric disorders and poor health outcomes. However, many studies have focused solely on childhood poly-victimization, ignoring the impact of poly-victimization in adulthood or throughout one’s lifespan. Thus, limited studies have identified the effects of poly-victimization across the lifespan on transdiagnostic mental health symptoms. The present study aims to examine the associations between lifetime poly-victimization and emotional dysregulation, dissociation, and social anxiety in a sample of college students. Participants (N=981, 88.1% White, 76.8% Female, Mage=19.39, SDage=1.6) were recruited at a southeastern university through a larger cross-sectional study. Linear regressions revealed positive associations between the number of victimization types experienced in childhood and/or adulthood and emotional dysregulation (F(1,983)=110.7, p<.001, R2=.10), dissociation (F(1,458)=72.8, p<.001, R2=.14), and social anxiety (F(1, 981)=16.2, p<.001, R2=.02). The results point to the use of a lifespan perspective as a promising future direction for poly-victimization research. Additionally, it highlights the dose-response relationship that exists between lifetime poly-victimization and transdiagnostic symptoms, in addition to psychiatric disorders and poor health outcomes. College counseling centers may benefit from the selection of screening measures that assess lifetime poly-victimization to better understand students’ current transdiagnostic concerns.

Authors

• Hailie R. Suarez-Rivas, Auburn University

• Hannah Bess Sawyer, Auburn University

• Emily J. Lubin, Auburn University

• Janice E. Clifford, Auburn University

• Emma Lathan, Auburn University