A Characterization of Adult Victims of Sexual Violence: Results From the National Epidemiological Survey for Alcohol and Related Conditions

Abstract

Sexual violence can cause acute and persistent negative psychological outcomes among children and adults in a community. Previous studies have frequently reported high prevalence of prior child and adolescent sexual abuse among adult victims of sexual violence. This raises uncertainty over the specific contribution of sexual victimization in adulthood to the adverse psychological outcomes. The present study draws on a large nationally representative sample of adults without history of childhood sexual abuse, and applies diagnostic criteria of DSM-IV, in order to investigate the risk factors and psychiatric comorbidities correlated with sexual victimization in adulthood. In a large representative sample of U.S. adults without history of childhood sexual abuse, 2.5% reported sexual victimization in adulthood. Female gender, living alone, economic disadvantage, and a history of childhood adversities and parental psychopathology were identified as risk factors. Adult sexual victimization increased the risk of developing a variety of psychiatric disorders, especially PTSD (HR = 3.43, 95% CI [2.67, 4.41]) and drug abuse (HR = 3.38, 95% CI [2.49, 4.58]). Conversely, pre-existing psychiatric psychopathology, particularly PTSD (HR = 3.99, 95% CI [2.68, 5.94]) and dysthymia (HR = 2.26, 95% CI [1.42, 3.59]), increased the likelihood of sexual victimization in adulthood. Childhood experience and adulthood sociodemographic characteristics are important in affecting the risk of being sexually victimized in adulthood. Psychiatric disorders can act as both risk factors and outcomes of adult sexual victimization.

Sexual Violence against Women in Germany: Prevalence and Risk Markers

“…As the link between childhood victimizations and sexual (re)victimization later in life has already been mentioned in previous research, the present study convincingly contributes to the growing body of research in this domain (e.g., [27,33,38]). Yet, potential explanations and underlying processes for this link remain unclear.…”

“…Widom and colleagues [37], for example, showed that reports of CSA, parental violence, and neglect were associated with an increased risk of experiencing physical or sexual violence later in life (also see [38]). Similarly, Zurbriggen and colleagues [39] found a positive correlation between childhood emotional abuse and later sexual victimization.…”

“…Similarly, Siddique [49] reported that independent of the victim–offender relationship (stranger, acquaintance, or intimate partner), women who had never been married as well as separated and divorced women had an increased risk of sexual victimization (as compared to married women). Furthermore, living alone was a significant risk factor for experiencing sexual violence (also see [38,45]). Relating her findings to the lifestyle-routine activities framework, the author argues that as “unmarried women are more likely to participate in daily routines unaccompanied by other household members, they may be perceived more frequently by motivated offenders to be suitable targets without adequate guardianship.” [49].…”

The forensіc psychіatrіc assessment of vіctіm behavіor of persons suffered from sexual vіolence

“…В інших випадках ґвалтівники застосу-вали фізичну силу (64,6 %), іноді поєднану з погро-зами розправи, зокрема фізичної (10,8 %). Причи-нами безпорадного стану потерпілих у більшості випадків є сильне алкогольне сп'яніння, значно рідше -наявність захворювань, малолітній вік та інші обставини [47,48].…”

Estudio del consumo de sustancias psicoactivas y conflictividad familiar en sujetos condenados por delitos de violencia de género

“…Aquellas personas que han sido victimizadas física-mente durante la infancia tienen mayores posibilidades de convertirse en delincuentes que las que no lo fueron 4 , y de empezar a consumir tóxicos con el fin de aliviar la situación sufrida 5,6 .…”