The association between childhood sexual abuse and adult female sexual difficulties

Predictors of Sexual Functioning in a Sample of U.S. Marines: An 11-Year Follow-Up Study

“…In the final model, T5 alcohol problems, again a defining aspect of the externalizing dimension, were positively associated with sexual problems for women. The primary limitation of Laurent and Simons's hypothesis is that it only considered sexual difficulties that fall under the "undersexualization" category of sexual difficulties described by Zwickl and Merriman (2011). A comprehensive model of sexual functioning difficulties needs to also account for the "oversexualization" category of sexual difficulties.…”

“…DSB was the sexual functioning outcome that mapped most closely onto what Zwickl and Merriman (2011) referred to as the "oversexualization" domain of sexual problems (i.e., increased sexualized behaviors and cognitions including sexual risk-taking behaviors), while our measure of sexual problems was the outcome that mapped most closely onto what they referred to as "undersexualization" (i.e., sexual avoidance and distress oversexualization). Thus, the pattern of bivariate associations that emerged in the current study suggests that different correlates are associated with different domains of sexual difficulties.…”

“…Recent reviews of empirical data attempting to understand the link between CSA and sexual functioning (e.g., Zwickl & Merriman, 2011) and between psychopathology and sexual functioning (e.g., Laurent & Simons, 2009) have emphasized the multifaceted nature of human sexuality. Zwickl and Merriman used the term "sexual difficulty" to describe a range of problematic sexual functioning variables including sexual performance, satisfaction, cognitions, and behavior.…”

“…In the general population, the deleterious effects of CSA on adult sexual functioning are well documented (Leonard & Follette, 2002;Zwickl & Merriman, 2011). In one of the few studies examining the impact of CSA on sexual functioning among military personnel, Merrill and colleagues (2003) cross-sectionally examined associations among CSA severity, sexual concerns (as an indicator of hyposexualization), dysfunctional sexual behaviors (DSB; as an indicator of hypersexualization), coping style, and number of sexual partners using data from 547 U.S. female Navy recruits who endorsed a history of CSA.…”

Sexual Abuse and Subsequent Risky Sexual Behaviors: A Competency Model for Treatment of Adolescent Females

“…The first group exhibits diminished sexual expression, increased sexual anxiety, and fear of sex (Luo, Parish, & Laumann, 2008;Zwickl & Merriman, 2011). They have negative attitudes towards sexuality (Finkelhor & Browne, 1985) and increased sexual dysfunction (Merrill et al, 2003;Simon & Feiring, 2008).…”