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Perception of trauma of childhood sexual abuse related to subsequent psychological and parental functioning in a community sample

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posted on 2023-05-26, 23:34 authored by Fitzgerald, Anne
This thesis investigated the long-term psychological and parental functioning of 31 adult women, who were sexually abused as children, and 31 controls drawn from a community sample. It used a Perceived Trauma of Abuse Scale to investigate the relationship between the actual features of the abuse experience and the subsequent perception of trauma associated with the abuse, and to divide the sexually abused subjects into a High Trauma and a Low Trauma group. A close relationship to the offender, abuse continuing over a long period, and disbelief or blame upon disclosure were most strongly correlated with high perceived trauma. The High Trauma group suffered significantly higher levels of psychological distress (withdrawal, dependence/low self esteem, anxiety, depression, borderline personality type, and alcohol abuse) and parenting stress than the Nonabused group. The psychological and parental functioning of the Low Trauma group more closely resembled that of the Nonabused group than the High Trauma group. Neither abused group differed significantly from the Nonabused group in parental attitudes, values and practices.

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Copyright 1991 the Author - The University is continuing to endeavour to trace the copyright owner(s) and in the meantime this item has been reproduced here in good faith. We would be pleased to hear from the copyright owner(s). Thesis (M.Psych.)--University of Tasmania, 1992. Includes bibliographical references

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