The results reveal that current levels of posttraumatic and dissociative symptomatology were significantly higher in the group reporting sexual abuse by a perpetrator in a relationship of trust, guardianship, or authority. However, analysis also indicated that the more invasive the abuse, the more likely the perpetrator was to be in a relationship of trust, guardian ship, or authority with the victim. Trauma researchers and clinicians have reported that adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse appear to be particularly at risk for developing posttraumatic and dissociative symptomatology. Through quantitative and qualitative methods, this study explored the relationship of two variables (perpetrator relationship and perpetrator methodology) to posttraumatic and dissociative symptomatology. The quantitative sample consisted of a non-psychiatric group (n=39) of Australian adults reporting sexual abuse histories. Tables, figure, references