Catalina M. Arata

From child victim to adult victim: A model for predicting sexual revictimization

Women with histories of child sexual abuse (N = 221) participated in a study designed to test a model for predicting adult/adolescent sexual revictimization and post-assault functioning. Participants completed anonymous questionnaires regarding their sexual victimization history, post-sexual assault symptoms and attributions, and consensual sexual behavior. Repeated victimization was defined as having experienced child sexual abuse and a separate incident of adolescent/adult victimization. Repeated victimization was associated with having experienced child sexual abuse involving physical contact, including intercourse and/or penetration. Women with repeated victimization engaged in more self-blame, reported higher levels of post-traumatic symptoms, and reported more high-risk sexual behavior. A path model was developed that indicated that the relationship between revictimization and child sexual abuse was mediated by self-blame, post-traumatic symptoms, and consensual sexual activity. The results suggest the need for further research on revictimization as well as suggesting areas for intervention to prevent sexual revictimization.

To Tell or Not to Tell: Current Functioning of Child Sexual abuse Survivors who Disclosed their Victimization:

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of childhood disclosure on current mental health functioning of female survivors of child sexual abuse and to identify characteristics of abuse that were associated with disclosure. Two hundred and four women with a history of child sexual abuse completed questionnaires describing sexual victimization history, circumstances of childhood disclosures, and measures of current symptoms. Disclosure was not directly related to overall current functioning; however, disclosure was associated with fewer intrusive and avoidant symptoms. Disclosure tended to be less common with more severe levels of assault and when the assailant was related to the victim. The results suggest that disclosure may be beneficial in preventing the development of specific post-traumatic symptoms; however, disclosure was found to be least common for the types of assaults that produced the greatest psychological distress.

Coping with technological disaster : An application of the conservation of Resources model to the Exxon Valdez oil spill

One hundred twenty-five commercial fishers in Cordova, Alaska, completed a mailed survey regarding current mental health functioning 6 years after the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Economic and social impacts of the oil spill and coping and psychological functioning (modified Coping Strategies Scales, Symptom Checklist 90-R) were measured. Multiple regression was used to test the utility of the Conservation of Resources stress model for explaining observed psychological symptoms. Current symptoms of depression, anxiety, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder were associated with conditions resource loss and avoidant coping strategies. The Conservation of Resources model provided a framework for explaining psychological impacts of the oil spill. Future research is needed to identify factors related to recovery.

Single versus Multi-Type Maltreatment: An Examination of the Long-Term Effects of Child Abuse

Abstract The purpose of the present study was to identify the long-term impacts of different types of child abuse and to assess differential effects of single versus multi-type maltreatment. Three hundred and eighty-four college students completed measures of child abuse history (neglect, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse), depression, suicidality, self-esteem, sexual behavior, drug and alcohol use, and delinquent behavior. The results demonstrate the high rates of co-occurrence of different types of abuse, with few differential effects identified. Rather, all types of abuse were associated with symptoms. Experiencing multiple types of abuse was associated with greater symptoms than experiencing no abuse or a single type of abuse. The results highlight the importance of considering all types of abuse when studying child maltreatment.

Coping With Rape The Roles of Prior Sexual Abuse and Attributions of Blame

One-hundred-nineteen undergraduate females participated in a study examining the roles of child sexual assault, attributions, and coping on adjustment to rape. Participants completed anonymous questionnaires that assessed for child sexual abuse history, adult victimization history, attributions of blame for the adult assault, coping strategies for the adult rape, and trauma symptoms. Rape victims with a history of child sexual abuse were found to have higher levels of trauma symptoms, made greater use of nervous and cognitive coping strategies, and were more likely to make attributions of blame towards themselves or society. Current symptoms were related to types of coping and attributions of blame, with history of child sexual abuse having an indirect relationship to these variables. The results suggest the importance of attributional and coping variables, as well as child sexual abuse history, as mediators of postrape adjustment.

Sensitive research with adolescents: just how upsetting are self-report surveys anyway?

Distress related to answering personal survey questions about drug use, suicidal behavior, and physical and sexual abuse were examined in multiple convenience samples of adolescents. Samples varied in consent procedures utilized (active vs. passive parental consent), data collection setting (school vs. juvenile justice), developmental level (middle school vs. high school). Participation rates differed across consent procedures (e.g., 93% with passive vs. 62% with active parental consent). Results indicated that small percentages of adolescents in every sample reported frequently feeling upset while completing the survey (range 2.5% to 7.6%). Age, race, gender, and data collection strategy did not emerge as significant predictors of feeling upset. Instead, as hypothesized, adolescents reporting a history of suicidal ideation or attempt, illicit drug use, or experiences of physical or sexual victimization endorsed more frequent feelings of upset while completing the survey than peers without these experiences. Taken together, however, these sensitive event experiences explained only 6.6% of the variance in adolescents’ upset ratings. The scientific and ethical implications of these findings are discussed with regard to adolescent participation in survey research about sensitive topics.

Marriage, Child Abuse, and Sexual Revictimization

The purpose of this study was to identify childhood history and personality variables that may serve as vulnerability factors for sexual revictimization. Three hundred forty-one undergraduate females completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Family of Origin Scale, Silencing the Self Scale, Sexual Experiences Survey, and a dating behaviors inventory. Different rates of revictimization were found for women who were currently or had ever been married, even when controlling for age differences. Multiple regression was used to examine the relationship between revictimization, demographics, child maltreatment, personality, and behavioral variables. For the whole sample, child physical abuse, child sexual abuse, dating behaviors, marital status (ever married) and age (younger) were related to revictimization. When separate models were developed for single versus ever-married participants, different variables emerged as predictors for ever-married versus single women. The results have implications for research, treatment, and prevention of sexual revictimization.

Concurrent validity of a Crime-Related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Scale for women within the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised

Using a structured interview to obtain a lifetime history of criminal victimization, a community sample of 266 adult women who had experienced at least one incident of victimization was identified. These women were administered the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised, the Impact of Event Scale, and a structured clinical interview was used to identify Crime-Related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CR-PTSD). A recently derived scale based on responses to items on the SCL-90-R was compared to the IES for predicting current diagnosis of Crime-Related Post-Traumatic Disorder. Both the scale and the IES were found to improve prediction of CR-PTSD above base rates and to perform in a similar manner. The utility of each of these scales as a screening measure is discussed.

Coping Appraisals and Adjustment to Nonstranger Sexual Assault

A sample of 299 female victims of nonstranger sexual assault was used to examine the relationship between appraisals of blame, coping strategies, and current symptomatology. Subjects completed a revised version of the Sexual Experiences Survey, the Coping Strategies Scales, the Symptom Checklist 90-Revised, and an attributional questionnaire designed by Meyer and Taylor (1986) to assess attributions of blame. Participants reporting clinically significant levels of current symptomatology were compared to those reporting nonsignificant levels of symptoms. Symptomatic victims were more likely to engage in characterological and behavioral self-blame. They also made greater use of active coping strategies involving emotional expressiveness, social support seeking, cognitive restructuring, and coping behaviors. Victims of rape were somewhat more likely to blame themselves than were victims of noncoital sexual assaults. Overall, the findings suggest the importance of examining cognitive appraisals and coping strategies in research and intervention with sexual assault victims.

Social Learning, Self-Control, Gender, and Variety of Violent Delinquency

ABSTRACT This study tested the role of social learning and self-control theories in the variety of violent delinquent behaviors engaged in by male and female adolescents (N = 833). Results of Tobit analyses indicated that neither theory was able to account for the gender gap. Low self-control was significantly associated with an increase in the variety of violent delinquency among females. Among male respondents, those who were more susceptible to peer pressure engaged in fewer types of violent delinquency. We conclude that theories must actively recognize the role of gender to better account for the differences in violent delinquent behavior.