A PROCESS MODEL FOR UNDERSTANDING ADAPTATION TO SEXUAL ABUSE - THE ROLE OF SHAME IN DEFINING STIGMATIZATION

While sexual abuse in childhood places the individual at-risk for a va riety of problems, research indicates wide variation in victims' adjus tment. Limited work is available that attempts to systematically expla in processes by which children adjust to the trauma. Few studies have been undertaken to examine any theory about what causes children to be symptomatic. This article presents a theoretical and testable model t hat specifies psychological processes related to the traumagenic dynam ics of stigmatization in child and adolescent victims of sexual abuse. The model proposes that sexual abuse leads to shame through the media tion of cognitive attributions about the abuse and shame, in turn, lea ds to poor adjustment. Three factors, social support, gender, and deve lopmental period are hypothesized to moderate the proposed stigmatizat ion process. Developmental and clinical research supporting the model is reviewed, specific hypotheses are made, and the relevance of develo pmental psychopathology for future theory and research is discussed. U nless future research elucidates the process and circumstances whereby the experience of sexual abuse leads to poor adjustment, little progr ess will be made toward developing more effective treatments.