Level of postassault sexual functioning in rape and incest victims

Abstract

In a systematic study, 372 sexual assault survivors and 99 women with no history of sexual assault were interviewed with regard to their sexual histories to determine the incidence and types of sexual dysfunctions in these two samples. The women also completed the Sexual Arousability Inventory. Of the sexual assault survivors, 58.6% of the women were experiencing sexual dysfunctions, with 71% of them reporting that their sexual assaults were related to their development of sexual problems. In contrast, only 17.2% of the nonassaulted women reported experiencing any sexual problems. Differences in the types of sexual problems experienced by the two samples are noted, as are treatment implications. The sensitivity of the Sexual Arousability Inventory to assault-related sexual dysfunctions was affected by the educational level of the sexual assault survivors.

Context counts: Long‐term sequelae of premarital intercourse or abstinence

“…Adult sexual assault also has been linked to poorer sexual functioning (e.g., Becker, Skinner, Abel, & Cichon, 1986;Becker, Skinner, Abel, & Treacy, 1982;Golding, 1996;Wyatt et al, 1993). Wyatt and colleagues (1993) argued that for some women, rape might alter their perceptions of their own sexuality as well as of sexual relationships.…”

Sexual consequences of non-sexual trauma

“…The extensive literature on the consequences of rape provides a wealth of evidence that the experience of rape often leads to frank sexual dysfunction in the victims (e.g. Becker, et al, 1986;Feldman-Summers, et al, 1979). Loss of libido, anorgasmia, and sexual aversions and phobias are common among these effects.…”

Self-Blame Among Sexual Assault Victims Prospectively Predicts Revictimization: A Perceived Sociolegal Context Model of Risk

“…Koss et al (1987) found that 54% of college women have histories of unwanted sexual contact, and 25% have been victims of rape or attempted rape. Psychological correlates of SA include victims' depression, fear and anxiety, anger, disrupted social and sexual functioning and satisfaction, and posttraumatic stress (e.g., Atkeson, Calhoun, Resick, & Ellis, 1982;Becker, Skinner, Abel, & Cichon, 1986;Ellis, Atkeson, & Calhoun, 1981;Kessler, Sonnega, Bromet, Hughes, & Nelson, 1995;Kilpatrick et al, 1985;Kilpatrick, Resick, & Veronen, 1981). Further, one in five women who are raped attempt suicide, a rate 8.7 times that of nonvictims (Kilpatrick et al, 1985).…”