The effects of child sexual abuse, perceived family social support, and risky behaviors on subsequent sexual victimization in adolescence and early college

Author

Alana Curewitz, Southern Illinois University CarbondaleFollow

Date of Award

12-1-2013

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Cashel, Mary Louise

Abstract

This study attempted to determine whether a history of child sexual abuse (CSA) and certain risk factors, family social support and risky behavior involvement, predicted subsequent sexual victimization in adolescence and early college. Participants were 245 female undergraduates who completed a series of questionnaires assessing CSA, perceived social support from family, risky behavior involvement, and further sexual victimization in adolescence and early college. The results indicated that those who reported experiencing CSA experienced more severe subsequent victimization in adolescence but not in early college compared to those without a history of CSA. Neither CSA nor family social support predicted frequency of risky behaviors. However, both prior history of CSA and higher levels of involvement in risky sexual activities during high school predicted severity of further sexual victimization in adolescence but not in early college. These findings suggest that many survivors of CSA may need access to psychoeducational service.