NCJ Number
216035
Journal
Child Maltreatment Volume: 11 Issue: 2 Dated: May 2006 Pages: 131-145
Date Published
May 2006
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This study explored the relationships between experiences of child maltreatment and later sexual assault among young adult university women with associations among sexual self-esteem, sexual concerns, and dysfunctional and uncommitted sexual behaviors evaluated to determine their contributions to the potential link between child maltreatment and later sexual assault.
Abstract
The study substantiates previous findings determining that an association exists between experiences of child sexual assault (CSA) and later sexual assault in women. The study demonstrates that child psychological maltreatment (CPM) is also associated with the severity of sexual assault experiences in adolescence and early adulthood. The finding that women with a history of CSA are two times more likely to be sexually revictimized, when compared to women without a history of CSA, supports and extends prior research in this area. Sexual revictimization refers to the recurrence of sexual assault across different developmental periods of the lifespan. Disproportionately high rates of sexual revictimization have been noted among former victims of child sexual abuse. However, the source of this vulnerability has not yet been determined. To explore this issue, this study examined sexual self-esteem, sexual concerns, and sexual behaviors among a sample of 402 university women. Tables, figures, references