Childhood Maltreatment and Date Rape

Abstract

Women college students who reported unwanted sexual experiences judged to constitute date rape were compared with controls who reported no rape. Compared to controls, the date-rape group had significantly higher scores on a measure of overall childhood stress and maltreatment and scored significantly higher on the principal subscale of that measure, which assesses negative home environment/neglect. Date rape participants were also more likely to have experienced sexual abuse in childhood; however, the relationship between date rape and other negative childhood experiences remained statistically significant after sexual abuse was partialled out. Thus, forms of maltreatment that are not specifically sexual are also associated with an increased likelihood of sexual victimization later in life. Maltreatment was significantly associated with dissociation, depression, and other psychological symptoms of trauma. Findings are consistent with a model in which the psychological consequences of trauma increase the likelihood of later traumatic experiences.

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