Self-Blame and Self-Destruction in Women Sexually Abused as Children

• NCJ Number: 177979
• Journal: Journal of Sexual Abuse Volume: 5 Issue: 4 Dated: 1996 Pages: 19-33
• Author(s): Debra K. Peters; Lillian M. Range
• Date Published: 1996
• Length: 15 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: American Psychological Assoc; Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Soc of America
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article reports on two studies that assessed the relationship between self-blame and self-destructive behavior in women sexually abused as children.

Abstract

The first study, which examined a clinical sample of women sexually abused as children, compared high self-blamers with low self-blamers on depression, self-destructive behavior and reasons for living. Women who had high self-blame were more depressed and suicidal, were more likely to have self-mutilated, and had weaker survival and coping beliefs than low self-blamers. In a college sample, women who had high self-blame were more depressed and suicidal, had weaker survival and coping beliefs, and had more fear of suicide and fear of social disapproval than low self-blamers. Depression, self-blame and reasons for living predicted a significant amount of the variance in suicidality. Together, these results suggest that self-blame is an important variable in understanding the self-destructive behavior in women sexually abused as children. Tables, references