U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

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

NCJ Number
233870
Journal
Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 21 Issue: 5 Dated: May 2006 Pages: 652-672
Author(s)
Henrietta H. Filipas; Sarah E. Ullman
Date Published
May 2006
Length
21 pages
Annotation
This study examined how Child Sexual Assault (CSA), posttraumatic stress (PTSD)and cognitive factors are associated with sexual revictimization in adulthood.
Abstract
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. (Published Abstract) Tables and references