Self-Injurious Behaviors, PTSD Arousal, and General Health Complaints Within a Treatment-Seeking Sample of Sexually Abused Women

• NCJ Number: 223175
• Journal: Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 19 Issue: 5 Dated: May 2004 Pages: 558-575
• Author(s): Terri L. Weaver; Kathleen M. Chard; Mindy B. Mechanic; Julie C. Etzel
• Date Published: May 2004
• Length: 18 pages
• Grant Number(s): R21 MH 56633 01; R03 MH 61661 01
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Mental Health
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined self-injurious behavior (SIB) and health complaints within a treatment-seeking sample of childhood sexual abuse survivors.

Abstract

Lifetime histories of self-injurious behavior (SIB) were very high, with 25 percent of the sample reporting that they had cut themselves, 41 percent reporting that they had hit themselves, and 7 percent reporting that they had burned themselves. These results appear comparable to previous research studies of these forms of SIB. Women sexually abused in childhood are at increased risk of chronic and severe health conditions in adulthood. Eighty-nine adult female survivors of childhood sexual abuse, presenting for psychological treatment, were assessed for self-reported rates of self-injurious behaviors, health complaints, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms of physiological arousal. It was hypothesized that (a) SIB would be significantly and positively associated with level of PTSD arousal, (b) SIB would be significantly and positively associated with SIB and health complaints, and (c) level of PTSD arousal would mediate the relationship between severity of child sexual abuse (CSA) and SIB. Tables, references