Association of Sexual Revictimization With Sexuality and Psychological Function

• NCJ Number: 233215
• Journal: Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 21 Issue: 4 Dated: April 2006 Pages: 503-524
• Author(s): Michael H. Miner; Jill M. Klotz Flitter; Beatrice E. Robinson
• Date Published: April 2006
• Length: 22 pages
• Grant Number(s): U62-CCU513219-01
• Sponsoring Agency: Ctr's for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study explored the associations between sexual revictimization and indications of the psychological and sexual health of a sample of African-American women who were low-income.

Abstract

This study explores the associations of sexual revictimization (experiencing sexual abuse in childhood and adulthood) in a sample of 230 African-American women who are low-income. Data indicate that women who experience sexual revictimization are more at risk for emotional stress and psychological pathology than women with no history of abuse. In addition, women who are revictimized appear to be at greater risk for emotional problems than women sexually abused only as a child or sexually assaulted only as adults. Revictimization also appears to be associated with an increased probability of engaging in prostitution, even higher than women with childhood- or adult-only victimization, who showed increased probability when compared to women never abused. Finally, women who are revictimized showed increased HIV risk, in that they were 4 times less likely than other women to consistently use condoms, but no more likely to be in monogamous relationships or less likely to have multiple partners. (Published Abstract) Figure, tables, and references