PTSD as a mediator of sexual revictimization: The role of reexperiencing, avoidance, and arousal symptoms

• Published in: Journal of traumatic stress Vol. 19; no. 5; pp. 687 - 698
• Main Authors: Risser, Heather J., Hetzel-Riggin, Melanie D., Thomsen, Cynthia J., McCanne, Thomas R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germantown Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.10.2006; Wiley; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Anxiety disorders. Neuroses; Arousal; Avoidance Learning; Biological and medical sciences; Child Abuse, Sexual - diagnosis; Child Abuse, Sexual - psychology; Child Abuse, Sexual - statistics & numerical data; Crime Victims - psychology; Female; Health Surveys; Humans; Illinois; Medical sciences; Mental Recall; Post-traumatic stress disorder; Principal Component Analysis; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Recurrence; Risk Factors; Sex Offenses - psychology; Sex Offenses - statistics & numerical data; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - diagnosis; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - epidemiology; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - psychology; Students - psychology; Surveys and Questionnaires; Illinois; Symptomatology; Posttraumatic syndrome; Anxiety disorder; Arousal; Victimization; Posttraumatic stress disorder; Avoidance; Stress
• ISSN: 0894-9867; 1573-6598
• DOI: 10.1002/jts.20156

Theory and research suggest that posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may mediate the relationship between child sexual abuse and adult sexual assault. However, little empirical research has examined the mediational role of PTSD. In the present study, the authors use structural equation modeling to examine the degree to which the three symptom clusters that define PTSD (reexperiencing, avoidance, and hyperarousal) contribute to sexual revictimization. To assess PTSD symptomatology, undergraduate women completed questionnaires (N = 1,449), which detailed the history and severity of childhood and adult sexual assault experiences. Results indicated that PTSD mediated sexual revictimization. When PTSD symptom clusters were examined individually, only the hyperarousal cluster was a significant mediator. Results are discussed in terms of information‐processing mechanisms that may underlie sexual revictimization.