Understanding the link
between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and sexual victimization (SV) in
adulthood may provide important information about the level of risk for adult
SV and sexual re-victimization among childhood sexual abuse (CSA) survivors.
In
the present paper, we explore the relationship between ACEs, including CSA, and
SV in adulthood. Data from the CDC-Kaiser ACE Study were used to examine the
effect of experiences of early adversity on adult SV. Adult HMO members
(n=7,272) undergoing a routine health exam provided detailed information about
ACEs that occurred at age 18 or younger and their experiences of SV in
adulthood.
Analyses revealed that as ACE score increased, so did risk of
experiencing SV in adulthood. Each of the ACE variables was significantly
associated with adult SV, with CSA being the strongest predictor of adult SV.
In addition, for those who reported CSA, there was a cumulative increase in
adult SV risk with each additional ACE experienced. As such, early adversity is
a risk factor for adult SV. In particular, CSA is a significant risk factor for
sexual re-victimization in adulthood, and additional early adversities
experienced by CSA survivors may heighten adult SV risk above and beyond the
risk associated with CSA alone.
Given the interconnectedness among various
experiences of early adversity, adult SV prevention actions must consider how
other violence-related and non-violence-related traumatic experiences may
exacerbate the risk conferred by CSA on subsequent victimization.
Purchase full article at: http://goo.gl/xe0eZM
By:
- 1Division of Violence Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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