The role of childhood sexual abuse sequelae in the sexual revictimization of women

Abuse and Protection Issues across the Lifespan: Reviewing the Literature

“…Study samples in revictimisation research have predominantly comprised young, white, middle-class North American women, with no recorded disabilities or mental health problems (Messman-Moore and Long, 2003). This limits the scope for findings to be generalised.…”

Revictimization: Advancing Theory and Method

“…However, despite repeated findings of the existence of this revictimization relation in college, community, and clinical samples (Messman-Moore & Long, 2003), understanding of this phenomena is poor, hampered by theoretical and methodological constraints.…”

“…Based on these theories, most models and proposed intervening variables (e.g., coping styles, attachment styles) have focused solely on individual level characteristics (e.g., Arata, 2000;Irwin, 1999). However, these individual level characteristics do not fully explain revictimization and have limited support from the literature (Breitenbecher, 2001;Messman-Moore & Long, 2003). Grauerholz (2000) suggests an ecological framework for considering factors influencing revictimization beyond the individual level based on Bronfenbrenner's initial model (modified by Belsky, 1980).…”

“…Grauerholz acknowledges the limitations of prior work and emphasizes the importance of understanding factors in the microsystem, exosystem, and macrosystem. Factors in the exosystem and macrosystem have not yet been examined in terms of their relation with revictimization (Messman-Moore & Long, 2003).…”

“…Researchers have not used the same definition of revictimization; hence, the measurement of revictimization has also varied from study to study (Messman-Moore & Long, 2003;Muehlenhard et al, 1998). One important feature of the definitions of child abuse is the age range used.…”