NCJ Number
230102
Journal
Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma Volume: 18 Issue: 8 Dated: December 2009 Pages: 859-871
Date Published
December 2009
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This study examined whether family functioning is associated with the generation of specific autobiographical memories in adults who were sexually abused as children.
Abstract
The main goal of this study was to investigate if adults sexually abused as children who were raised in a functional family are more able to generate specific autobiographical memories and suffer fewer depressive symptoms than sexually abused adults who were raised in a dysfunctional family. It was found that abused males retrieved fewer specific memories than nonabused males, abused females, and nonabused females. The three latter groups did not differ from each other. Further, childhood sexual abuse did not predict depression among males and females. After accounting for family functioning, there were no group differences regarding memory specificity. Functional families appear to have beneficial effects on the adjustment of male victims of childhood sexual abuse. Tables and references (Published Abstract)