A Model Linking Diverse Women’s Child Sexual Abuse History With Sexual Risk Taking

Abstract

The purpose of our study was to examine the role that child sexual abuse may play in body surveillance and sexual risk behaviors among undergraduate women. First, a measured variable path analysis was conducted, which assessed the relations among a history of child sexual abuse, body surveillance, and sexual risk behaviors. Furthermore, body shame, sexual selfefficacy, and alexithymia were examined as intervening variables. Second, a multigroup path analysis was conducted comparing the hypothesized models applied to data from 556 ethnically diverse women. Within the overall model, results revealed that a history of child sexual abuse and body surveillance were not related to one another, but both variables were directly related to sexual risk behaviors. Moreover, body shame mediated the relationship between body surveillance and alexithymia, and alexithymia mediated the relationship between body shame and sexual self-efficacy. Child sexual abuse history was related directly with body shame and alexithymia. Results from the multigroup path analysis revealed that the model was invariant between African American and White women, although one difference emerged: body surveillance significantly predicted alexithymia in White, but not African American, women. Furthermore, White, Asian/Pacific Islander, and Hispanic/Latina women demonstrated more body shame than African American women, and White women endorsed higher levels of sexual self-efficacy than African American and Asian/Pacific Islander women. Counseling interventions that seek to decrease alexithymic symptoms, body surveillance, and body shame, while also increasing sexual self-efficacy, seem especially warranted.

Predicting Risky Sexual Behavior in Emerging Adulthood: Examination of a Moderated Mediation Model Among Child Sexual Abuse and Adult Sexual Assault Victims

“…Prior research supports the test-retest reliability (r 5 .67) and internal consistency of the measure (a s 5 .84-.90; Radloff, 1977). In addition, scores have been found to correlate moderately to strongly with other depression measures (self-report and clinician-administered) and to be sensitive to changes in symptomology following treatment (Weissman, Sholomskas, Pottenger, Prusoff, & Locke, 1977). In this study, Cronbach's alpha was .90.…”

A scoping review of adult survivors’ experiences of shame following sexual abuse in childhood

“…Collectively the studies provide evidence that shame can hinder psychological adjustment following CSA. The quantitative studies demonstrate the centrality of shame, finding the presence of shame mediated a range of psychological outcomes, including the effectiveness of group psychotherapy on reducing PTSD symptoms (Ginzburg et al, ), sexual revictimisation in adulthood (Kessler & Bieschke, ) and body surveillance and alexithymia (Watson, Matheny, Gagné, Brack, & Ancis, ). Additionally, associations, were found between: shame and suicidal ideation (Kealy, Spidel, & Ogrodniczuk, ; Milligan & Andrews, ; You, Talbot, He, & Conner, ), self‐harming behaviours (Milligan & Andrews, ), dissociation (Talbot, Talbot, & Tu, ), body related trauma (Dyer, Feldman, & Borgmann, ), poor mental health (Rahm, Renck, & Ringsberg, ) and anxiety and depressive symptoms (Willie et al, ).…”

Self-objectification, body shame, and disordered eating: Testing a core mediational model of objectification theory among White, Black, and Hispanic women

“…Research examining objectification theory among Black women presents a similarly complex picture. Although a number of cross-sectional studies suggest lower levels of self-surveillance (e.g., Breitkopft et al, 2007; Moradi & Huang, 2008) and body shame (e.g., Higgins, Lin, Alvarez, & Bardone-Cone, 2015) among Black women compared with White women, some studies suggest equivalent levels of self-surveillance (e.g., Fitzsimmons & Bardone-Cone, 2011; Watson, Matheny, Gagné, Brack, & Ancis, 2013) and body shame (e.g., Breitkopft et al, 2007) among these groups. Studies examining the pathways proposed by objectification theory have demonstrated support for the hypothesized connection between body surveillance and body shame (e.g., Buchanan, Fischer, Tokar, & Yoder, 2008; Watson et al, 2012) and between body shame and disordered eating symptoms (e.g., Higgins et al, 2015), though some research suggests that the connection between self-surveillance and disordered eating may not be supported in Black women (e.g., Fitzsimmons & Bardone-Cone, 2011).…”