Comparison of the Effects of Various Childhood Traumas on Women's Images of God and the Helpfulness of Addressing Spirituality in Counseling

• NCJ Number: 199209
• Journal: Family Violence & Sexual Assault Bulletin Volume: 18 Issue: 4 Dated: Winter 2002 Pages: 19-26
• Author(s): Sharon E. Cheston; Diana Shoup; N. J. Scheers; John R. Compton
• Date Published: 2002
• Length: 8 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This survey examined the effects of childhood trauma and abuse (sexual and other) on adult women's image of God.

Abstract

The researcher recruited acquaintances from various educational, community, and religious organizations who were willing to distribute packets to potential participants. They were instructed to seek female, volunteer participants who were at least 30 years old and who would be willing to complete the instruments in the packet. A total of 193 usable packets were returned. In addition to a demographic questionnaire, the packet contained the Impact of Event Scale, which asked the respondent to rate the degree and symptoms of psychological distress experienced within the last 7 days as a result of a traumatic childhood event; and the Adjective Check List, which has been used extensively in research that has examined self-reflective images. The childhood sexual abuse group (n=29) self-identified by answering "yes" to a relevant question. Participants in the "childhood other trauma" group (n=104) self-identified by responding to a request to list any event that they experienced to be traumatic. In regression analysis, the primary independent variables were sexual abuse trauma, other trauma, and no trauma, and the dependent variable was image of God. The analysis found no significant differences among the comparison groups on any of the five image-of-God scales; however, women with bachelors and graduate degrees reported God images as significantly more nurturing, nurturing parent, masculine, and feminine than did women with less than a bachelors degree. Sexual abuse survivors who reported high levels of trauma sought counseling at a significantly higher rate than women in the other groups. Those in the sexual abuse group who sought treatment reported that addressing spiritual issues in counseling was helpful. Recommendations are offered for additional research. 3 tables and 24 references