Do Child Abuse and Maternal Care Interact to Predict Military Sexual Trauma?

Objective: The present research tested the hypothesis that maternal care moderates the relationship between childhood sexual abuse and subsequent military sexual trauma (MST). Method: Measures of childhood sexual abuse, maternal care, and MSTwere administered to 197 Iraq and Afghanistan war Veterans. Results: After accounting for gender, age, and the main effects of maternal care and childhood sexual abuse, thematernal care x childhood sexual abuse interaction was a significant predictor of MST (odds ratio = .28, ? = ?1.26, 95% confidence intervals of .10, .80). As hypothesized, rates of MST were higher among Veterans who reported childhood sexual abuse and low levels of maternal care (43%) compared with Veterans who reported childhood sexual abuse and high levels of maternal care (11%). Conclusion: These findings suggest that high levels of maternal care may act as a protective factor against future revictimization among military Service members. These findings have the potential to inform both prevention and intervention efforts.