NCJ Number
223173
Journal
Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 19 Issue: 5 Dated: May 2004 Pages: 521-540
Date Published
May 2004
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This retrospective study examined the association between the perpetrator-victim relationship, the perpetrator’s methodology, and long-term posttraumatic and dissociative symptomatology through a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods.
Abstract
The results reveal that current levels of posttraumatic and dissociative symptomatology were significantly higher in the group reporting sexual abuse by a perpetrator in a relationship of trust, guardianship, or authority. However, analysis also indicated that the more invasive the abuse, the more likely the perpetrator was to be in a relationship of trust, guardian ship, or authority with the victim. Trauma researchers and clinicians have reported that adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse appear to be particularly at risk for developing posttraumatic and dissociative symptomatology. Through quantitative and qualitative methods, this study explored the relationship of two variables (perpetrator relationship and perpetrator methodology) to posttraumatic and dissociative symptomatology. The quantitative sample consisted of a non-psychiatric group (n=39) of Australian adults reporting sexual abuse histories. Tables, figure, references