Resiliency Factors in the Relation Between Childhood Sexual Abuse and Adulthood Sexual Assault in College-Age Women

• NCJ Number: 217352
• Journal: Journal of Child Sexual Abuse Volume: 16 Issue: 1 Dated: 2007 Pages: 1-17
• Author(s): Kate Walsh; Margaret Blaustein; Wanda Grant Knight; Joseph Spinazzola; Bessel A. van der Kolk
• Date Published: 2007
• Length: 17 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined links between childhood sexual abuse (CSA), cognitive resiliency variables (self-efficacy, locus of control, and coping styles), and being sexually assaulted as an adult among 73 college-age women.

Abstract

As hypothesized, having been sexually abused as a child was related to subsequent sexual assault as an adult; 75 percent of the women who reported CSA (12 of the 16 women) also reported a nonconsensual sexual experience in adulthood. This finding supports previous research on revictimization and indicates the importance of identifying and treating CSA survivors in order to address their increased risk of sexual assault as an adult. Findings also supported the hypothesis that cognitive variables, such as coping styles, locus of control, and self-efficacy differed in women with and without adult sexual assault experiences. For women who experienced forced sexual assault, cognitive resiliency variables might not have made as great a difference in the link between CSA and revictimization that involved force; rather, coping strategies and feelings of control might be more important in attempting to resist coercive assaults (assaults that involve date rape and alcohol/drug intoxication). The ability to resist a coercive sexual assault apparently depends on the potential victim's ability to control a situation and use adaptive coping strategies. The 73 women completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire in order to determine their CSA experiences. Adult sexual experiences were measured with three yes-no questions that assessed consensual sexual behaviors and nonconsensual sexual behaviors obtained by some degree of force after they were 16 years old. Coping styles were assessed with the Ways of Coping (Revised). Locus of control was assessed with the IPC (Internality, Powerful Others, Chance) scale; and self-efficacy was assessed with the Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale. 5 tables and 51 references