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Emotion regulation in the context of protective and adverse childhood experiences : a comparative study of perpetrators of sex crimes and a community sample

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Resumo:Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can have an impact on emotional development, affecting the ability to regulate emotions effectively. Positive childhood experiences (PCEs) can also occur, enhancing the ability to cope with stressful situations and improving emotional regulation skills. Objective: Analyze the relationship between the ACEs, PCEs, and emotional regulation difficulties (ERD); compare a sample of the community with a sample of perpetrators of sex crimes in terms of these variables, and analyze the predictors of ERD. Participants: The sample comprised 764 males (537 from the community sample and 209 serving time for sex crimes). Method: A sociodemographic questionnaire, the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire, the Benevolent Childhood Experiences Scale, and the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale. Results: Positive correlations were verified between ACEs and ERD, and negative ones between PCEs and ACEs, and between PCEs and ERD. Perpetrators of sex crimes have more ACEs and fewer PCEs and ERD compared to the community sample. Age, education level, sexual abuse, emotional neglect, parental divorce, family mental illness or suicide, and PCEs are predictors of ERD. Conclusion: This study increases the understanding of the relationship between ACEs, PCEs, and their impact on ERD in adulthood, as well as the differences between the community sample and perpetrators of sex crimes in some of the variables studied. Furthermore, it also highlights the importance of intervening with families to increase PCEs, mitigate the effects of ACEs on ERD, and prevent crime.
Autores principais:Nunes, Sofia Faísca
Outros Autores:Albuquerque, Bárbara Mestre; Almeida, Telma Catarina
Assunto:Childhood experiences Emotional regulation Community Perpetrators of sex crimes
Ano:2026
País:Portugal
Tipo de documento:contribuição para revista
Tipo de acesso:acesso aberto
Instituição associada:Egas Moniz - Cooperativa de Ensino Superior, CRL
Idioma:inglês
Origem:Egas Moniz - Cooperativa de Ensino Superior, CRL
Descrição
Resumo:Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can have an impact on emotional development, affecting the ability to regulate emotions effectively. Positive childhood experiences (PCEs) can also occur, enhancing the ability to cope with stressful situations and improving emotional regulation skills. Objective: Analyze the relationship between the ACEs, PCEs, and emotional regulation difficulties (ERD); compare a sample of the community with a sample of perpetrators of sex crimes in terms of these variables, and analyze the predictors of ERD. Participants: The sample comprised 764 males (537 from the community sample and 209 serving time for sex crimes). Method: A sociodemographic questionnaire, the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire, the Benevolent Childhood Experiences Scale, and the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale. Results: Positive correlations were verified between ACEs and ERD, and negative ones between PCEs and ACEs, and between PCEs and ERD. Perpetrators of sex crimes have more ACEs and fewer PCEs and ERD compared to the community sample. Age, education level, sexual abuse, emotional neglect, parental divorce, family mental illness or suicide, and PCEs are predictors of ERD. Conclusion: This study increases the understanding of the relationship between ACEs, PCEs, and their impact on ERD in adulthood, as well as the differences between the community sample and perpetrators of sex crimes in some of the variables studied. Furthermore, it also highlights the importance of intervening with families to increase PCEs, mitigate the effects of ACEs on ERD, and prevent crime.