Lassri, D; Gewirtz-Meydan, A; (2024) From trauma to intimacy: Examining the link between childhood maltreatment and adult sexual functioning – The mediating role of self-criticism. Child Abuse & Neglect , 149 , Article 106663. 10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.106663.

Text Lassri & Gewirtz-Meydan, 2024 Child maltreatment, self-criticism, adult sexual functioning - accepted version.pdf - Accepted Version Access restricted to UCL open access staff until 13 February 2026. Download (471kB)

Abstract

Background: Childhood maltreatment has been linked to negative sexual functioning, but the underlying mechanisms for this association are poorly understood. Objective: Addressing this gap, this study investigates the mediating role of self-criticism in the association between childhood maltreatment and adult sexual functioning. Participants and setting: Two independent studies were conducted, each utilizing a distinct dataset to enhance the robustness and generalizability of the findings. The sample in Study 1 included 914 participants, while the sample in Study 2 consisted of 451 women. Both samples completed self-report online questionnaires; however, in Study 2, we purposefully oversampled for child sexual abuse survivors. Methods: This study employed a mediation model using PROCESS. Results: Study 1 confirmed the negative association between childhood maltreatment and sexual functioning, as well as the positive association between childhood maltreatment and self-criticism. Self-criticism was also negatively associated with sexual functioning. The mediation analysis revealed that self-criticism significantly mediated the association between childhood maltreatment and sexual functioning. Study 2 built upon these findings by oversampling childhood sexual abuse survivors and incorporating comprehensive measures of sexual functioning. The results in Study 2 replicated the findings of Study 1, providing a more representative understanding of the link between childhood maltreatment and sexual functioning. Conclusions: The findings highlight the importance of self-criticism as a potential mechanism underlying the negative impact of childhood maltreatment on sexual functioning in adulthood. This knowledge can inform interventions and therapeutic approaches aimed at addressing self-criticism and improving sexual well-being in individuals with a history of childhood maltreatment.

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