Childhood abuse and sexual revictimization in a female navy recruit sample

Lex L. Merrill; Carol E. Newell; Cynthia J. Thomsen; Steven R. Gold; Joel S. Milner; Mary P. Koss; Sandra G. Rosswork

doi:10.1023/A:1024789723779

Childhood abuse and sexual revictimization in a female navy recruit sample

Lex L. Merrill, Carol E. Newell, Cynthia J. Thomsen, Steven R. Gold, Joel S. Milner, Mary P. Koss, Sandra G. Rosswork

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

165 Scopus citations

Abstract

To examine effects of childhood abuse on adult rape, 1,887 female Navy recruits were surveyed. Overall 35% of recruits had been raped and 57% had experienced childhood physical abuse (CPA) and/or childhood sexual abuse (CSA). Controlling for CPA, rape was significantly (4.8 times) more likely among women who had experienced CSA than among women who had not. In contrast, CPA (controlling for CSA) was unrelated to likelihood of adult rape. Alcohol problems and number of sex partners were examined as mediators. Although both variables predicted rape, their effects were independent of the effects of CSA. Finally, despite ethnic group differences in the prevalence of victimization, the predictors of rape did not differ significantly across ethnic groups.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	211-225
Number of pages	15
Journal	Journal of Traumatic Stress
Volume	12
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024789723779
State	Published - 1999

Keywords

Childhood abuse
Rape
Revictimization
Sexual assault

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Clinical Psychology
Psychiatry and Mental health

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10.1023/A:1024789723779

Cite this

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title = "Childhood abuse and sexual revictimization in a female navy recruit sample",

abstract = "To examine effects of childhood abuse on adult rape, 1,887 female Navy recruits were surveyed. Overall 35% of recruits had been raped and 57% had experienced childhood physical abuse (CPA) and/or childhood sexual abuse (CSA). Controlling for CPA, rape was significantly (4.8 times) more likely among women who had experienced CSA than among women who had not. In contrast, CPA (controlling for CSA) was unrelated to likelihood of adult rape. Alcohol problems and number of sex partners were examined as mediators. Although both variables predicted rape, their effects were independent of the effects of CSA. Finally, despite ethnic group differences in the prevalence of victimization, the predictors of rape did not differ significantly across ethnic groups.",

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AU - Merrill, Lex L.

AU - Newell, Carol E.

AU - Thomsen, Cynthia J.

AU - Gold, Steven R.

AU - Milner, Joel S.

AU - Koss, Mary P.

AU - Rosswork, Sandra G.

PY - 1999

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Childhood abuse and sexual revictimization in a female navy recruit sample

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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