Marsha Runtz

DIFFERENTIAL ADULT SYMPTOMATOLOGY ASSOCIATED WITH THREE TYPES OF CHILD ABUSE HISTORIES

Using scales specifically developed for this purpose, the present study examined university womens retrospective reports of childhood sexual, physical, and psychological abuse as they related to three types of current psychosocial dysfunction. Multivariate analysis revealed that, as hypothesized, history of psychological abuse was uniquely associated with low self-esteem, physical abuse was linked to aggression toward others, and sexual abuse was specifically related to maladaptive sexual behavior. This analysis also indicated that although there were unique effects of each type of abuse, physical and emotional abuse were often present together--a combination associated with generalized psychosocial problems.

Symptomatology associated with childhood sexual victimization in a nonclinical adult sample

The current study examined the incidence and long-term effects of sexual abuse in a nonclinical sample of adult women. Approximately 15% of 278 university women reported having had sexual contact with a significantly older person before age 15. On a modified version of the Hopkins Symptom Checklist, these women reported higher levels of dissociation, somatization, anxiety, and depression than did nonabused women. Abuse-related symptomatology was positively associated with the age of the abuser, the total number of abusers, use of force during victimization, parental incest, completed intercourse, and extended duration of time.

Post Sexual Abuse Trauma: Data and Implications for Clinical Practice

The incidence and long-term effects of childhood sexual abuse were studied in a clinical sample of 152 adult women. Approximately 44% of female clients presenting to a health center crisis service reported a childhood history of sexual victimization. Prior victimization was associated with increased dissociation, sleep disturbance, tension, sexual problems, and anger on a Crisis Symptom Checklist, as well as greater current use of psychoactive medications, and more frequent histories of suicide attempts, substance addiction, and revictimization. Long-term psychological effects of sexual abuse are interpreted within both a developmental context and in terms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Implications of the current data and related literature for mental health workers are briefly discussed.

Childhood Sexual Abuse Long-Term Sequelae and Implications for Psychological Assessment

This article examines the long-term sequelae of childhood sexual abuse in six areas: posttraumatic stress, cognitive distortions, altered emotionality, disturbed relatedness, avoidance, and impaired self-reference. It is concluded that childhood sexual abuse has a variety of long-term impacts and that the measurement strategies used to demonstrate these sequelae require further development.

The Trauma Symptom Checklist (TSC-33) Early Data on a New Scale

A 33-item Trauma Symptom Checklist (TSC-33) is presented, and the psychometric properties of this scale are summarized from four separate studies. Developed to assess the impact of childhood abuse on later (adult) functioning, the TSC-33 consists of five subscales (Dissociation, Anxiety, Depression, Post-Sexual Abuse Trauma-hypothesized [PSAT-h], and Sleep Disturbance) and a total scale score. Data suggest that the TSC-33 and its associated subscales are reasonably reliable measures that display some predictive and discriminative validity with regard to childhood sexual abuse. Other variables appear to elevate checklist scores as well, however, such as physical abuse history and mental health client status, although apparently not gender.

Social Support and Coping Strategies as Mediators of Adult Adjustment Following Childhood Maltreatment.

Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to examine whether coping efforts and social support mediate the long-term sequelae of child maltreatment. The hypothesized SEM fit the data well and indicated that the association between previous childhood sexual and physical maltreatment and current psychological adjustment appeared to be strongly mediated by social support and coping strategies. In this sample of 302 female and male university students, most of whom reported at least one episode of childhood maltreatment, perceived social support and ways of coping with earlier maltreatment appeared essential to an understanding of the relationship between childhood maltreatment and later adjustment.

Adult Attachment A Mediator Between Child Sexual Abuse and Later Psychological Adjustment

This study investigated the nature of the relationship between child sexual abuse, adult attachment style as measured by the Relationship Questionnaire, and psychological adjustment as measured by the Trauma Symptom Inventory. Participants were 307 female university students, including 85 women with a history of child sexual abuse. Results indicated that a history of child sexual abuse predicted both psychological adjustment and adult attachment style, and that adult attachment style predicted psychological adjustment. In addition, a mediational model in which attachment mediates between child sexual abuse and later psychological adjustment was supported. Results are discussed in terms of implications for conducting therapy with child sexual abuse survivors.

University males' sexual interest in children: predicting potential indices of "pedophilia" in a nonforensic sample.

A survey was administered to 193 male undergraduate students regarding their sexual interest in children, as well as their responses to a number of questions theoretically relevant to pedophilia. In total, 21% of subjects reported sexual attraction to some small children, 9% described sexual fantasies involving children, 5% admitted to having masturbated to such fantasies, and 7% indicated some likelihood of having sex with a child if they could avoid detection and punishment. These sexual interests were associated with negative early sexual experiences, masturbation to pornography, self-reported likelihood of raping a woman, frequent sex partners, sexual conflicts, and attitudes supportive of sexual dominance over women. The data did not, however, support clinical theories regarding sexual repression or impulse-control problems among potential pedophiles.

Sexual Revictimization: The Role of Sexual Self-Esteem and Dysfunctional Sexual Behaviors

Disproportionately high rates of sexual revictimization have been noted among former victims of child sexual abuse (CSA), yet researchers have yet to determine the source of this apparent vulnerability to reexperience sexual violence. This study explores this issue by examining sexual self-esteem, sexual concerns, and sexual behaviors among 402 university women. Compared to women without a history of CSA (n = 348), women with a history of CSA (n = 54) had lower sexual self-esteem, poorer sexual adjustment, and were 2 times more likely to have experienced sexual assault since the age of 14 years. Structural equation modeling indicated that the relationship between child abuse (i.e., CSA and child psychological maltreatment) and sexual revictimization was partially mediated by sexual self-esteem, sexual concerns, and high-risk sexual behaviors. This study emphasizes the need for further research on child maltreatment, revictimization, and women’s sexual adjustment.

Physical and psychological maltreatment in childhood and later health problems in women: An exploratory investigation of the roles of perceived stress and coping strategies

OBJECTIVE This retrospective, cross-sectional study investigated the association between childhood physical and psychological maltreatment and self-reported physical health concerns in adult women. The mediating roles of perceived stress and coping strategies were examined. METHODS Participants were 235 women (aged 18-59 years) recruited from the community. Semi-structured interviews and questionnaires were used to assess self-reported childhood maltreatment and current perceived stress, coping strategies, and health status. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. RESULTS After controlling for a history of child sexual abuse and relevant demographic variables, child physical and psychological maltreatment were significantly associated with greater physical health concerns. Support was found for models in which perceived stress and emotion-focused coping partially mediate the relation between maltreatment and health problems; problem-focused and avoidance coping did not operate as mediators. Multi-mediation model testing indicated that emotion-focused coping and perceived stress together better explain the relationship between child maltreatment and physical health than either variable alone. CONCLUSION Findings suggest that child maltreatment is an important risk factor for adverse health outcomes in later life and that current stress and coping strategies may influence this relationship. Implications for the physical health of maltreatment survivors are discussed. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS The management of perceived stress and the use of adaptive emotion-focused coping responses in the everyday lives of maltreated women may be particularly useful points of intervention in order to mitigate physical health concerns in adulthood.