Examining the effect of emotional dysregulation and disclosure concerns on the risk of revictimization in individuals with childhood traumatic life experience

Trauma is defined as human-caused or naturally occurring life events and situations that exceed the coping capacity of an individual and affect the individual emotionally, behaviorally, and physically. Exposure to traumatic life experiences, especially in childhood, leaves more abrasive and long-term effects on the individual and It is seen that it sustained its influence in later life periods. The aim of this study was to examine the role of disclosure concerns and cognitive emotion regulation strategies in the relationship between childhood traumatic life experiences and relational revictimization in adulthood. The study was conducted cross-sectionally with 244 young adult participants. The data obtained using self-report forms were analyzed using simple moderator analysis. According to the findings of the study, it was found that self-disclosure concerns had a positive moderating effect, and positive cognitive emotion regulation strategies had a negative moderating effect on the relationship between childhood maltreatment and revictimization. As disclosure concerns enhance, the risk of individuals experiencing revictimization in the future increases. As positive cognitive emotion regulation skills increase, the risk of revictimization reduces. Therefore, after the first trauma experience, clinical practices aimed at increasing the use of positive cognitive emotion regulation strategies and reducing concerns about self-disclosure may be effective in preventing revictimization in adulthood.