In a survey of parents, professionals, and college students in Northern Virginia, 123 adults indicated they had experienced child sexual abuse. Their responses were examined in an effort to identify characteristics of child sexual abuse which might be related to long term negative effects. The variables examined include (a) incestuous verses non-family abuse, (b) victim's reported feelings of responsibility about the sexual abuse, (c) victim's reported feelings of guilt about the sexual abuse, (d) the duration of the sexual abuse, (e) the age of the victim at time of the sexual abuse, and (f) whether or not the sexual abuse was kept secret. Only one of the six variables was found to be significantly related to long term negative effects. The research found evidence that keeping the child sexual abuse experience/s secret may be positively related to long term negative effects of child sexual abuse. Of the 83 participants who reported that the sexual abuse had remained a secret, 58 also reported long term negative effects. The importance of creating a safe and secure atmosphere in which children are able to disclose incidents of child sexual abuse is emphasized by the findings of this research. / Master of Science

This research focuses on the personal stories surrounding men who were sexually abused in childhood. The aim of this study is to shed light on the experiences of these men, and attempt to lift the veil of secrecy and stigma attached to male childhood sexual abuse. Three participants were selected for this qualitative study using the selection procedure of purposive sampling. Each participant was introduced with the use of a semi-structured interview format, and the information that was obtained from each participant was explored using a hermeneutic analysis approach. The results suggest that society’s naivety and ignorance of issues pertaining to sexually abused men are prominent. Both differences and similarities, in relation to the experiences of these men, are evident. With particular reference to the three participants whom partook in this study, the differing experiences that appear significant are suicidal ideation; low self-esteem; flashbacks; fear of men in general; and mind-body separation. The similar experiences that are evident within the participants’ stories are their desire for secrecy; fear of what society may think of them; desperate attempts to cope and subsequently escape the memories of their pasts; long-lasting effects, such as a lack of trust and an absence of intimacy; and determination to move forward and prevail. / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

Although researchers and clinicians have been aware of male victims of childhood sexual abuse, the literature still lacks sufficient data on the long-term effects for adult males sexually abused during childhood. The current study examined the long-term psychological impacts of childhood sexual abuse for adult males. A standardized measurement, SCL-90-R, was used to assess current psychological functioning such as somatization, obsessivecompulsive, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, hostility, phobic anxiety, paranoid ideation, and psychoticism. A questionnaire consisting of demographic data and childhood experiences was also administered to collect background information. Seventy-four undergraduate male students enrolled in counseling psychology courses were recruited. The abused group consisted of twelve subjects who reported histories of child sexual abuse. The rest of the sample (62) consisted of the nonabused group. Due to the small sample size, the results must be interpreted with extreme caution. Results of multiple t-tests suggested that there is no significant difference between the abused and nonabused group on subscales of the SCL-90-R. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

This research focuses on the personal stories surrounding men who were sexually abused in childhood. The aim of this study is to shed light on the experiences of these men, and attempt to lift the veil of secrecy and stigma attached to male childhood sexual abuse. Three participants were selected for this qualitative study using the selection procedure of purposive sampling. Each participant was introduced with the use of a semi-structured interview format, and the information that was obtained from each participant was explored using a hermeneutic analysis approach. The results suggest that society’s naivety and ignorance of issues pertaining to sexually abused men are prominent. Both differences and similarities, in relation to the experiences of these men, are evident. With particular reference to the three participants whom partook in this study, the differing experiences that appear significant are suicidal ideation; low self-esteem; flashbacks; fear of men in general; and mind-body separation. The similar experiences that are evident within the participants’ stories are their desire for secrecy; fear of what society may think of them; desperate attempts to cope and subsequently escape the memories of their pasts; long-lasting effects, such as a lack of trust and an absence of intimacy; and determination to move forward and prevail. / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

published_or_final_version / SPACE / Master / Master of Arts

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) has been linked to a number of adult psychological maladies. The MMPI-2 has shown specific patterns such as an inverted V in the validity scales, a floating profile, and a 4-5-6 configuration to be present more often in adults who have experienced childhood trauma. Both children and adults who have experienced trauma have shown a number of neurophysiological differences when compared to non-traumatized individuals. However, little research has looked at differences in quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) patterns in these individuals. The purpose of this study is to determine differences seen in the MMPI-2 and the QEEG when comparing adults who report CSA to adults who deny any history of childhood abuse. Differences between the two groups in MMPI-2 basic scales and supplementary scales PK and PS were determined. This study also examined the ability to correctly classify individuals into the two groups using three patterns seen in the MMPI-2 basic scale profiles (inverted V, floating profile, and 4-5-6 configuration). In addition, this research included exploratory analyses to develop predictor models for CSA group membership. Predictors in the models were derived from MMPI-2 scales, alpha relative power at each of the 19 sites in the International 10/20 electrode placement system, as well as alpha/delta, alpha/theta, and alpha/beta ratios at each of the 19 sites. A total of 46 participants were included in this study, 24 from archived files and 22 newly recruited individuals. Each participant received a MMPI-2 and a QEEG. Significant differences were found between the MMPI-2 scores of the two groups, but MMPI-2 patterns were unable to correctly classify individuals. Models were found which were clinically relevant and statistically significant. The models were based on depression and social maladjustment. The depression models included scales F and 2 of the MMPI-2 and alpha relative power at left frontal sites. The social maladjustment models included scales 4 and 8 of the MMPI-2 and alpha relative power at temporal sites. These findings support previous research showing higher levels of pathology in MMPI-2 profiles and evidence for temporal and left-frontal differences in adults who report CSA.

M.A. / Adults who have experienced sexual abuse as a child may encounter long-term effects on their functioning that could be regarded as problematic to the adult (Corby, 2006). Child sexual abuse has been a problem for many years, although it took societies exceptionally long to realise the actual implications of child sexual abuse on the adult (Spies, 2006). Long-term effects of childhood sexual abuse can be observed well into adulthood and effects such as depression and a low self-esteem have been confirmed by studies. The female victim of childhood sexual abuse often finds herself in the role of mother within her own family. The goal of this study is to explore the self-description of the female adult victim of childhood sexual abuse in terms of her role as mother in her family. This study seeks to explore the self-description of the female adult victim of childhood sexual abuse in terms of her role as mother in her family. The literature review gives an overview regarding the definition of childhood sexual abuse. Literature exists on the different long-term effects of childhood sexual abuse that may impact the adult victim and this has been discussed. Quantitative studies in terms of children that have been sexually abused and the long-term effects thereof indicate that childhood sexual abuse has an impact on the adult development. Minimal research has been conducted with regards to the female adult victim of childhood sexual abuse and her self-description of her role as mother in her family. The systems theory was used as a basic framework for the study. The systems theory focuses on the reciprocal interaction, interdependence, boundaries, roles and homeostasis. Assumptions from the literature review suggest that the mother cannot fulfil her role successfully because of the prevalence of negative behavioural symptoms such as fluctuating self-esteem and feelings of powerlessness and worthlessness. The counter argument included that the mother because of this experience may discover an inner power that may contribute to positive emotions from which she can successfully fulfil her role as mother (Bannister, 1998).

The primary purpose of the present study was to investigate factors associated with childhood sexual abuse which mediate long-term effects. Of particular interest were the mediators of disclosure and its perceived impact, as well as variables related to the severity of the abuse. Also of interest were impact areas related to a history of molestation which have received little attention in the literature. Five hundred and seventy-five female undergraduates completed an extensive questionnaire with measures of family background, childhood and adult sexual experiences, health status, and psychological variables. Of these subjects, 286 reported at least one incident of child sexual abuse. It was hypothesized that those females with histories of sexual abuse who received a positive response to their disclosure of abuse would demonstrate more adaptive adult functioning as compared to those victims receiving a negative response, or those who never disclosed. Significant differences were not detected among the three groups on the outcome measures. A number of reasons were explored for why these differences may not have been detected in the present investigation. Although differences were not detected for disclosure status, significant differences were detected between females reporting a history of child sexual abuse and those reporting no abuse on all of the outcome measures. Specifically, sexual abuse victims were more likely than nonvictims to be sexually revictimized in adulthood. Potential explanations for this finding were explored in a discriminant function analysis predicting revictimization status. Further, abused females had significantly higher levels of depression, dissociation, and perceptual disturbances when compared to their nonabused peers. Sexual abuse victims also reported more health symptoms across various bodily systems and had more negative attributions about their physical health status. Differences between the abused and nonabused groups on levels of perceptual disturbance and perceived physical health status are particularly noteworthy since previous research has detected these symptoms only through clinical samples.

Previous research indicates that survivors of sexual assault often blame themselves for the assault. Research has also shown that people blame the perpetrator in some situations and the survivor in other situations involving sexual assault. The purpose of this study was to discover if survivors of sexual assault who blame themselves tend to blame other survivors (survivor blame) in situations different from their own. Another purpose was to assess whether or not sexual assault survivors who do not blame themselves for their attack tend to blame other survivors. The participants' attributional style was also assessed in order to understand the relations between self-blame and survivor blame in situations involving sexual assault. Findings indicated that certain types of attributional style are related to self-blame in sexual assault survivors and blame toward sexual assault survivors depicted in vignettes. This indicates that attributional style may have important implications in the clinical setting to aid sexual assault survivors who experience self-blame, as well in educating society about sexual assault and the ultimate responsibility of perpetrators.

In reviewing the literature on adult survivors of child sexual abuse/incest, it became apparent that one area has remained in its infancy: a systematic method of symptom assessment. Symptoms, both short and long term, have become clinically well documented. An index, the Sexual Abuse Survivors Symptom Index (evaluating absence/presence, frequency, severity, and impact of symptoms upon the survivor), was developed rationally from the literature was administered. A background questionnaire, simplified from one already in use, was also administered to provide information regarding variables that could confound the research.Approximately 130 female adult clinical subjects were approached to determine whether they would participate in the study. Thirty-three subjects agreed to participate. Due to the small sample size, results of the factor analysis cannot be considered reliable. The principal component factor analysis did produce eight factors, which did not converge in the varimax rotation, however, three factors did emerge. The three factors represented an affective component (almost one half of the symptoms), a somatic/sexual component, and an acting out component.The background questionnaire provided some basic support to the variables the literature reported as affecting symptom severity or likelihood for abuse to occur. Areas endorsed as most severe or correlated strongly and moderately to individual symptoms were ones that were directly connected to the abuse(i.e., age of first inappropriate sexual experience, duration of the abuse, multiple abusers, frequency of the abuse, fear of being hurt by the abusers, and overt/contact type of abuse). The variables that influenced the likelihood for abuse to occur, (i.e., substance abuse, strictness, rigid religious traditions, and physical discipline) were endorsed by slightly less than one half of the subjects, but may have had severe impact individually upon each survivor of abuse. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services