Childhood Sexual Abuse and Cognitive, Affective, and Behavioral Responses to Partner Touch

Objective: This dyadic study examined how childhood sexual abuse is associated with cognitive, affective, and behavioral responses anticipated in reaction to different types of hypothetical partner touch. Background: Trauma theories contend that childhood sexual abuse is associated with long-term relational challenges, including difficulties with intimacy and physical touch. Touch plays a central role in fostering connection and well-being in couples, but individuals with a history of childhood sexual abuse and their partner may react differently to touch from a romantic partner. Method: A convenience sample of 363 couples (n = 695 participants) mostly living in Canada completed self-report measures assessing perceptions of sexual intent, anticipated negative affect, and behavioral avoidance in response to hypothetical scenarios depicting affectionate, sexual, or no-touch. Actor-partner interdependence models examined the associations between a person's childhood sexual abuse and both partners' responses to touch. Results: Individuals with higher childhood sexual abuse frequency anticipated greater negative affect and behavioral avoidance in response to hypothetical sexual touch, but lower avoidance in response to hypothetical affectionate touch. In the hypothetical no-touch condition, individuals with higher CSA frequency anticipated higher negative affect and men perceived greater sexual intent. Moreover, partners of individuals with higher CSA frequency reported expecting greater negative affect and perceived greater sexual intent. Conclusion: Childhood sexual abuse may shape how partners interpret touch, suggesting that while sexual touch may be distressing, affectionate touch could play a role in rebuilding intimacy via lower avoidance.