A secondary data analysis of baseline data from a randomized controlled trial (NCT02279290) was conducted for this study. An ethnically diverse urban sample (N = 54) with a history of childhood interpersonal trauma were recruited. Childhood revictimization was measured via a weighted variable created using reported exposures to childhood victimization (defined as physical or sexual violations) from interview data. Instances of childhood victimization were coded 1 if the event occurred once and 2 if the event occurred more than once, the totals were then summed to create a cumulative score. Mood-related pathology was measured via a composite variable created from standardized and averaged scores on measures assessing PTSD (PCL-5) and depression, anxiety, and stress symptomatology (DASS-21) scores.

Zero order Pearson’s correlations were run to examine the bivariate relationships between revictimization, NPY, and DHEA, and mood-related pathology, and were then run again as partial correlations controlling for age, gender, socioeconomic status (SES), race, and ethnicity. No significant correlations were found between mood-related pathology and revictimization, nor NPY or DHEA with revictimization or mood-related pathology even after adjusting for covariates.

As 74% of the sample reported multiple childhood traumas, implications for research include accounting for the type of childhood abuse as each may differentially impact the development of mood-related pathology in adulthood. Further research on the relationship between resilience markers and mood-related pathology and revictimization are warranted.