PRIOR VICTIMIZATION - A RISK FACTOR FOR CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE AND FOR PTSD-RELATED SYMPTOMATOLOGY AMONG SEXUALLY ABUSED YOUTH

The experience of prior victimization (sexual and nonsexual) was found to increase children's risk for experiencing later child sexual abuse (CSA) in a national random sample of 2,000 American children aged 10- 16 years. Prior victimization predicted subsequent CSA even when backg round variables (child's gender, race, age, geographic location, quali ty of relationship with parent's, and relative level of violence in th e home community) were controlled for. In addition, the prior victimiz ation of a family member also predicted later CSA. Among children who experienced CSA, prior victimization increased the level of post-traum atic stress symptomatology, even after demographic factors and charact eristics of the CSA episode (e.g., severity of the assault, severity o f injury, fear of death or serious injury) were included in the model. These results suggest that prior victimization is a factor that needs to be addressed by educators who design CSA prevention interventions and by mental health professionals who counsel child victims of sexual abuse.