Child Sexual Abuse, Coping Responses, Self-Blame, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, and Adult Sexual Revictimization

The present study examined the psychological sequelae of child sexual abuse (CSA) and the factors that contributed to revictimization in the form of adult sexual assault (ASA) using a survey of 577 female college students. CSA characteristics, maladaptive coping in response to CSA, degree of self-bl...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of interpersonal violence 2006-05, Vol.21 (5), p.652-672
Main Authors: Filipas, Henrietta H., Ullman, Sarah E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptation, Psychological
Adult
Adults
Battered Women - psychology
Behavior
Child
Child Abuse
Child Abuse, Sexual - psychology
Child sexual abuse
Children & youth
College Students
Coping
Female
Females
Guilt
Humans
Internal-External Control
Interpersonal Relations
Post traumatic stress disorder
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Psychological aspects
Rape - psychology
Self Concept
Selfblame
Sex crimes
Sex Offenses - psychology
Sexual Abuse
Social Adjustment
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - psychology
Stress, Psychological
Surveys
Surveys and Questionnaires
Symptoms (Individual Disorders)
Undergraduate students
United States
Victims of Crime
Women
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Summary:The present study examined the psychological sequelae of child sexual abuse (CSA) and the factors that contributed to revictimization in the form of adult sexual assault (ASA) using a survey of 577 female college students. CSA characteristics, maladaptive coping in response to CSA, degree of self-blame at the time of the abuse and currently, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms were examined as predictors of revictimization. Results indicated that individuals who reported both CSA and ASA had more PTSD symptoms, were more likely to use drugs or alcohol to cope, act out sexually, withdraw from people, and seek therapy services. In addition, the revictimized group reported more self-blame at the time of the abuse and currently. The only factor that predicted revictimization in this study was the number of maladaptive coping strategies used. Implications of these findings are discussed.
ISSN:0886-2605
1552-6518
DOI:10.1177/0886260506286879