Greg Brack

A model linking diverse women's child sexual abuse history with sexual risk taking

The purpose of our study was to examine the role that child sexual abuse may play in body surveillance and sexual risk behaviors among undergraduate women. First, a measured variable path analysis was conducted, which assessed the relations among a history of child sexual abuse, body surveillance, and sexual risk behaviors. Furthermore, body shame, sexual self-efficacy, and alexithymia were examined as intervening variables. Second, a multigroup path analysis was conducted comparing the hypothesized models applied to data from 556 ethnically diverse women. Within the overall model, results revealed that a history of child sexual abuse and body surveillance were not related to one another, but both variables were directly related to sexual risk behaviors. Moreover, body shame mediated the relationship between body surveillance and alexithymia, and alexithymia mediated the relationship between body shame and sexual self-efficacy. Child sexual abuse history was related directly with body shame and alexithymia. Results from the multigroup path analysis revealed that the model was invariant between African American and White women, although one difference emerged: body surveillance significantly predicted alexithymia in White, but not African American, women. Furthermore, White, Asian/Pacific Islander, and Hispanic/Latina women demonstrated more body shame than African American women, and White women endorsed higher levels of sexual self-efficacy than African American and Asian/Pacific Islander women. Counseling interventions that seek to decrease alexithymic symptoms, body surveillance, and body shame, while also increasing sexual self-efficacy, seem especially warranted.

Relationship of Cognitive Appraisals and Attachment to Emotional Events within the Family of Origin

Appraisal theorists believe that discrete emotional states are the result of specific cognitive appraisals. This theory has not been tested with familyrelated events, especially negative emotions and the potential influence of attachment towards significant others. This study found that individuals cognitively process family events much as predicted by appraisal theorists and that attachment does not appear to have a global influence on this process. This finding suggests that cognitivefamily therapists can directly link appraisals with negative affect.

An Adlerian Model for the Etiology of Aggression in Adjudicated Adolescents

This study investigated perceived parental rejection, family cohesion and adaptability, and levels of trait anger and anxiety and their relationship to the etiology of aggression in adolescents who have been adjudicated for assaultive crimes. An attempt was made to translate these psychological constructs into a theory-based model from the principles of individual psychology by Alfred Adler. This study supports Adler’s aggression theory, which established that aggression may begin with feelings of inferiority or anxiety within the family. When these feelings of anxiety increase, some adolescents may use anger as a safeguard to their selfesteem. Adler described this use of anger as the compensatory movement and suggested that anger used to overcome feelings of inferiority results in aggression. This intense anger appears to direct attention, interests, perceptions, and memory into paths of impulsive aggression.

Couples Counseling with Survivors of Child and Adolescent Abuse

This article provides information on working with couples in which one or both of the partners are survivors of emotional, physical, or sexual abuse in childhood or adolescence. It covers what to look for and do. It lists resources for clients and includes case examples to illustrate the points discussed.