Mistrust of others as a mediator of the relationship between PTE exposure and IPA use. The c path represents PTE exposure’s prediction of IPA use, the a path represents PTE exposure’s prediction of mistrust, the b path represents mistrust’s prediction of IPA use controlling for PTE exposure, the c′ path represents PTE exposure’s prediction of IPA use controlling for mistrust, and a×b represents the indirect effect of PTE exposure on IPA use through mistrust.
Abbreviations: PTE, Potentially Traumatic Event; IPA, Intimate Partner Aggression.