Associations Between Self-Regulation, Experiences of Childhood Adversity, and Problematic Sexual and Aggressive Behaviors.

Problems with self-regulation are often theoretically and empirically linked to sexually abusive behavior, as is also true of experiences of early childhood abuse and maltreatment. Questions remain regarding how indicators of dysregulation and self-regulatory deficits interact and are associated with prior maltreatment. In the current study, a range of variables potentially indicative of emotional, cognitive, interpersonal, and behavioral dysregulation and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) were examined using the frame of the multimodal self-regulation theory among 156 adult men residing in secure forensic care who were receiving treatment for prior sexual offenses.

Pathways to delinquent and sex offending behavior: The role of childhood adversity and environmental context in a treatment sample of male adolescents.

Background: Exposure to greater Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) has been associated with increased likelihood of general and sex offending behaviors. However, few studies consider both the impact of varied ACE exposures and other early experiences on pathways to offending behaviors in adolescents who have engaged in sexually abusive behaviors.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of ACEs and sexual boundary problems within the home on the development of delinquent and sexually abusive behavior.