Relationship to Perpetrator and Posttraumatic Symptomatology among Sexual Abuse Survivors

Author(s)

Barbara A. Lucenko, Nova Southeastern University
Steven N. Gold, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
Melissa A. Cott, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-2000

Publication Title

Journal of Family Violence

Volume

15

Issue/Number

2

First Page

169

ISSN

0885-7482

Last Page

179

Abstract/Excerpt

This study investigated the association of several dimensions of relationship to perpetrator of childhood sexual abuse to posttraumatic symptomatology in adulthood. A structured clinical interview, the Impact of Event Scale, and the TSC-40 were administered to 67 women survivors seeking psychotherapy. The t-tests for significant differences indicated that subjects whose perpetrators were not caretakers experienced higher levels of posttraumatic symptomatology (PTS) in adulthood than those abused by caretakers. No significant differences were found in traumatic symptomatology between those whose perpetrators were family members and those whose perpetrators were not or between those abused by someone in the home and those abused by someone outside the household. Implications for future research and clinical practice are explored.

DOI

10.1023/A:1007542911767

NSUWorks Citation

Lucenko, B. A., Gold, S. N., Cott, M. A. (2000). Relationship to Perpetrator and Posttraumatic Symptomatology among Sexual Abuse Survivors. Journal of Family Violence, 15(2), 169-179.
Available at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cps_facarticles/473