NCJ Number
177039
Journal
Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 14 Issue: 2 Dated: February 1999 Pages: 184-207
Date Published
1999
Length
24 pages
Annotation
This article reports on a study of the relationship between child sexual abuse, adult attachment style and psychological adjustment.
Abstract
In the study, adult attachment style was measured by the Relationship Questionnaire and psychological adjustment was measured by the Trauma Symptom Inventory. Participants were 307 female university students, including 85 women with a history of child sexual abuse. 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. The discovery, understanding and use of factors that mediate the development or maintenance of psychological symptoms in adult survivors of sexual abuse may be essential for the further refinement of intervention efforts to help women overcome the interpersonal difficulties and problems in psychological adjustment often associated with child sexual abuse. Figures, tables, appendix, notes, references