NCJ Number
223297
Journal
Journal of Child Sexual Abuse Volume: 17 Issue: 2 Dated: 2008 Pages: 117-132
Date Published
2008
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This study examined two potential mediating variables: experiential avoidance and current stress in the explanation of the relationship between a history of sexual victimization and the development of health problems.
Abstract
The results support the hypothesis that current stress mediates the relationship between adult sexual assault and physical health complaints, while experiential avoidance partially mediates the relationship. It was also found that recent abuse experiences, such as adult rape were more predictive of greater physical distress than distal abuse events, such as child/adolescent sexual victimization. The relationship between sexual victimization and physical health outcomes is important for health care practitioners to consider. Over the past few decades, researchers have consistently found that interpersonal violence is a prevalent and serious problem in the United States which continues to be a threat for women from childhood through adulthood. As a result of interpersonal victimization, many victims of sexual assault develop serious psychological consequences, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and substance abuse. Understanding the link between victimization and medical complaints would increase the likelihood of identifying abuse victims when they present in medical settings and assist in developing effective treatments. The purpose of this study was to examine variables that might explain the relationship between victimization status and physical health, as assessed by self-reported physical complaints and health care utilization. Tables, figures, references