Childhood Sexual Abuse Moderates the Association Between Sexual Functioning and Sexual Distress in Women

• NCJ Number: 238317
• Journal: Child Abuse & Neglect Volume: 36 Issue: 2 Dated: February 2012 Pages: 180-189
• Author(s): Kyle R. Stephenson; Corey P. Hughan; Cindy M. Meston
• Date Published: February 2012
• Length: 10 pages
• Grant Number(s): R01 HD51676-3
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study investigated whether a woman's history of childhood sexual abuse affected the association between her sexual functioning and sexual distress later in life.

Abstract

The study found that for women with a history of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) the relationship between sexual functioning and sexual distress was weak compared to women who reported no sexual abuse (NSA). For women who reported no sexual abuse, the degree of sexual functioning was strongly related to the presence and degree of sexual distress. This study investigated whether a woman's history of CSA affected the association between her sexual functioning and the presence and level of sexual distress. Data for the study were obtained from a sample of women with a history of CSA (n=105) and without a history of CSA (n=71) who completed the Sexual Satisfaction Scale for Women, the Female Sexual Function Index, and the Trauma History Questionnaire. Regression analyses performed on the data indicate that the strength of the relationship between sexual functioning and sexual distress is mediated by the presence of a history of CSA. A number of theories are discussed on why sexual functioning and sexual distress are weakly correlated in women with a history of CSA. Study limitations and implications for future research are also discussed. Tables, figures, and references