Citation

Ullman SE, Najdowski CJ, Filipas HH. J. Child Sex. Abus. 2009; 18(4): 367-385.

Affiliation

Department of Criminology, Law, & Justice, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1007 West Harrison Street, Chicago, IL 60607-7140, USA. seullman@uic.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

19842535

Abstract

This study examined the unique effects of child sexual abuse simultaneously with post-traumatic stress disorder symptom clusters, problem drinking, and illicit drug use in relation to sexual revictimization in a community sample of female adult sexual assault victims. Participants (N=555) completed two surveys a year apart. Child sexual abuse predicted more post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms in adult sexual assault victims. Posttraumatic stress disorder numbing symptoms directly predicted revictimization, whereas other post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms (reexperiencing, avoidance, and arousal) were related to problem drinking, which in turn predicted revictimization. Thus, numbing symptoms and problem drinking may be independent risk factors for sexual revictimization in adult sexual assault victims, particularly for women with a history of childhood sexual abuse.

Language: en