Empathic understanding and attachment processes in adult female survivors of childhood sexual abuse and their partners

Research documenting both the initial and long-term effects of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is extensive. Although not all survivors of CSA report disturbances in well-being, it has been well established that this form of abuse is associated with numerous and often long-lasting detrimental effects. Not surprisingly, difficulties in interpersonal functioning, including problems with trust, emotional intimacy, and sexual intimacy, are especially likely to follow this interpersonal trauma. However, studies that specifically and systematically address the effects of CSA on survivors' intimate relationships with partners are surprisingly scarce. Thus, there is a need for more in-depth investigation of the specific difficulties facing these couples if we are to develop effective, empirically-informed treatments for this sizeable population. This study was designed to advance the current knowledge of the effects of CSA on adult female survivors' relationships by investigating the possible contribution of empathic accuracy, PTSD, and attachment systems to disturbances in these couples. Participants were 32 female survivors of CSA and their partners, and a control group of 29 non-sexually abused females and their partners. It was hypothesized that CSA history would be associated with lower levels of empathic accuracy, defined as the ability to infer what one's partner is thinking and feeling, in both survivors and partners. In addition, it was predicted that PTSD symptomatology and insecure attachment systems would be associated with poorer empathic accuracy. With a few exceptions, results did not offer clear support for these central hypotheses. However, there is some preliminary evidence for a relationship between attachment and empathic accuracy, for differential attachment style distributions among CSA couples, and for the role of emotional numbing in empathic accuracy. Findings also substantiate previous research establishing important differences between partners of survivors and partners of non-sexually abused women. Results are discussed in terms of long-term CSA outcome, mechanisms of emotional intimacy in relationships and the important role of attachment pairings, and directions for future research.