The Relationship between a History of Childhood Sexual Abuse and Gender Role Attitudes

• Published in: Journal of child sexual abuse Vol. 18; no. 6; pp. 641 - 654
• Main Authors: Unger, Jo Ann, Norton, G. Ron, De Luca, Rayleen V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis Group 01.11.2009; Routledge; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Adult Children; At Risk Persons; Attitude; Attitudes; Attitudes Toward Women Scale; Child; Child Abuse; Child abuse & neglect; Child Abuse, Sexual - statistics & numerical data; Child Rearing; Child Sexual Abuse; childhood sexual abuse; College Students; Coping; Correlation; Correlation analysis; Crime Victims; Female; Females; Gender Bias; Gender Identity; gender role attitudes; Humans; Low Income Groups; Male; Middle Aged; Parent Attitudes; Questionnaires; Risk factors; Sex crimes; Sex Factors; Sex Role; Sex Role Attitudes; Sexual Abuse; Social Attitudes; Social Isolation; Sociodemographic Characteristics; Socioeconomic Influences; Student Attitudes; Studies; Surveys and Questionnaires; victim distress; Victimization; Victims of Crime; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1053-8712; 1547-0679
• DOI: 10.1080/10538710903308207

This study explored the relationship between childhood sexual abuse and gender role attitudes. Female university students rated themselves and their parents on gender role attitudes and history of childhood sexual abuse. Traditional participant gender role attitude and social isolation were associated with reporting being sexually abused as a child and may thus be risk factors for, or the result of a history of, CSA in women. Traditional participant gender role attitude and low income were associated with victim distress and therefore may be detrimental to coping with a history of childhood sexual abuse. Although replication of these results is needed, discovery of attitudinal and demographic variables associated with CSA may be important in the prevention and treatment of CSA.