Mediators of the Long-Term Impact of Child Sexual Abuse: Perceived Stigma, Betrayal, Powerlessness, and Self- Blame

• NCJ Number: 161734
• Journal: Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 20 Issue: 5 Dated: (May 1996) Pages: 447- 455
• Author(s): P Coffey; H Leitenberg; K Henning; T Turner; R T Bennett
• Date Published: 1996
• Length: 9 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Data from 192 adult women who had been sexually abused during childhood were used to test the hypothesis that perceived stigma, betrayal, powerlessness, and self-blame influence the long-term effects of child sexual abuse.

Abstract

The Brief Symptom Inventory, which has 53 items, was used to measure current levels of psychological distress. These results were used to produce the Global Severity Index. Scales were also developed to measure stigma, betrayal, powerlessness, and self-blame. A path analysis revealed that the level of current psychological distress in these women was mediated by feelings of stigma and self- blame. Results provide partial support for Finkelhor and Browne's traumagenic dynamics model of child sexual abuse. Despite the limitations of the retrospective methodology, the large sample size and other factors add some confidence to the findings. Findings indicate the need for strategies to address the factors that mediate the impact of childhood sexual abuse. Further research needs to explore the possible target factors. Figure, tables, and 21 references. (Author abstract modified)