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

• 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
• ISSN: 0886-2605; 1552-6518
• DOI: 10.1177/0886260506286879

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.