CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE AS A PREDICTOR OF ADULT FEMALE SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION - A STUDY OF COUPLES SEEKING SEX THERAPY

The present study investigated 359 married adult women who sought sex therapy with their spouses. Discriminant function analyses indicated t hat childhood sexual abuse plus a college education significantly disc riminated between women with and without a diagnosed sexual dysfunctio n. Among abused women, abuse involving sexual penetration significantl y discriminated between dysfunctional and nondysfunctional women. Curr ent findings confirm previous theory and research regarding a connecti on between childhood sexual abuse and adult female dysfunction. Furthe rmore, the findings suggest that abuse involving sexual penetration is specifically associated with adult sexual dysfunction. Between 75% to 94% of women with a sexual dysfunction could be accurately identified on the basis of prior abuse, but many nondysfunctional women were mis classified. Future research should examine additional variables that m ay contribute to sexual dysfunction such as levels of anxiety and depr ession, as well as features of the marital relationship such as marita l satisfaction and communication skills.