POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS SYMPTOMATOLOGY - SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN VIETNAM VETERANS AND ADULT SURVIVORS OF CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE

Social workers have identified an association between a history of chi ldhood sexual abuse and impairment in emotional, behavioral, cognitive , and interpersonal functioning in adult survivors. This article exami nes similarities and differences in posttraumatic stress symptomatolog y between Vietnam veterans and adult survivors of childhood sexual abu se. Results indicate that the two groups were similar in that they bot h scored in the direction suggestive of posttraumatic symptomatology o n various measures. Significant differences were found on only one mea sure. Content analysis also revealed differences in identification of stimuli that evoked anxiety. Examination of qualitative data provided further support for a conceptual model using a cognitive perspective. Overall, results indicated that childhood sexual abuse can be consider ed a traumatic event that can result in symptoms similar to those demo nstrated by individuals who have experienced war-related trauma. Impli cations for social work practice, policy, and education are discussed.