Relationships between Early Life Victimization, Antisocial Traits, and Sexual Violence: Executive Functioning As a Mediator

The relationship between victimization and executive functioning has been explored among youth in both the general population and the juvenile justice system (Augusti & Melinder, 2013; Davis et al., 2015; Nikulina & Spatz Widom, 2013). Research suggests that trauma incidents can adversely impact neurological zones responsible for higher order thinking or executive function (Perry et al., 1995; Steinberg, 2008), which can contribute to a host of psychological and behavioral deficits (Jaffee & Maikovich-Fong, 2014). Yet, there are few research studies that explore how the relationship between trauma and executive functioning can influence sexual offending behaviors among adolescents. The current study tests an adapted theory of sexual violence that includes executive functioning (Knight & Sims-Knight, 2004) to propose three distinctive hypotheses: H1: There will be direct relationships between physical abuse, sexual abuse, and domestic traumatic events and executive function deficits. H2: There will be associations between early victimization and sexual violence, early victimization; and callousness, and executive function deficits and sexual violence. H3: Executive functioning deficits and callousness will mediate the relationship between early victimization and sexual violence.

Youth (N = 200) placed in residential care were given validated measurement tools and asked to retrospectively report on their early victimization experiences, meta-cognition features of executive functioning, antisocial characteristics, type of criminal behavior, and caregivers’ attachment characteristics. The measures included the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (Bernstein et al., 1994), Domestic Trauma Experiences (Burton et al., 2011), Behavior Rating Index of Executive Function (Guy et al., 2004), and the Inventory of Callous and Unemotional Traits (Kimonis et al., 2008). This study employed a multiple mediated structural equation model (SEM) by first determining model fit using a confirmatory factor analysis to solidify the latent factors’ structures, and then conducted a path analysis between the factors.

Results revealed good model fit in all models. The standardized path analyses revealed we could partially accept H₁; there were statistically significant direct pathways between experiences of sexual abuse and features of executive function including difficulties with working memory (ϒ = .307 (.13), p < .05), task completion (ϒ = .318 (.15), p < .05), organization of materials (ϒ = .397 (.14), p < .01), and planning and organizing (ϒ = .341 (.14), p < .05). However, physical abuse and domestic trauma experiences were not significant. We could partially support H₂: there were bivariate associations between variables of interest indicating potential mediation. This was verified in H₃: for each domain of executive function, there were either 1) linear associations between sexual abuse, executive function, callousness, and sexual violence or 2) a multi-mediated effect of executive function, and callousness in the relation between sexual abuse and sexual violence.

This study’s findings demonstrate that executive functioning was indicated as a significant mediator in the relationship between sexual abuse and sexual violence perpetration. Implications for practice include: utilizing universal screenings or differential forms of abuse and among youth who exhibit symptomatology mirroring features of executive functioning impairments and conventional treatment programs can be adapted to include a neurological trauma-based component.