Interpersonal rejection sensitivity in childhood sexual abuse survivors

This study investigated whether interpersonal rejection sensitivity serves a mediating role between childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and three long-term psychological correlates of CSA in adult female survivors: depressive symptoms, anger suppression, and attenuated emotional expression. Interpersonal r...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of interpersonal violence 2004-01, Vol.19 (1), p.90
Main Authors: Luterek, Jane A, Harb, Gerlinde C, Heimberg, Richard G, Marx, Brian P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Children & youth
Interpersonal communication
Sensitivity
Sex crimes
Victims of crime
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:This study investigated whether interpersonal rejection sensitivity serves a mediating role between childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and three long-term psychological correlates of CSA in adult female survivors: depressive symptoms, anger suppression, and attenuated emotional expression. Interpersonal rejection sensitivity has been shown to be a risk factor for the development of depression and is elevated in CSA survivors. Similarly, attenuated emotional expression, particularly anger, has been related to adjustment difficulties in CSA survivors. Participants in this study were 355 female undergraduates, 34 ofwhomreported a history of CSA. Results demonstrated that interpersonal rejection sensitivity mediates the relationship between CSA and later depressive symptoms. Interpersonal rejection sensitivity partially mediated the relationship between CSA and anger suppression; however, it did not mediate the relationship between CSA and attenuated emotional expression. These results are examined within the context of the current literature on adult CSA survivors and their implications are discussed.
ISSN:0886-2605
1552-6518