DEFINITIONAL ISSUES AND MEDIATING VARIABLES IN THE SEXUAL REVICTIMIZATION OF WOMEN SEXUALLY ABUSED AS CHILDREN

This study examined the effect of child sexual abuse, defined three di fferent ways, and three definitions of adult sexual assault on revicti mization rates. Child definitions varied in the degree of contact; adu lt definitions varied in degree of contact and force used. Variables h ypothesized to mediate the rate of revictimization included parental s upport, attributional style, coping style, severity of abuse, and invo lvement in psychotherapy. Subjects were 654 college females. Contact f orms of child sexual abuse were associated with significant rates of r evictimization, although noncontact child sexual abuse was not associa ted with revictimization. Revictimized women could not be discriminate d from nonrevictimized women on the basis of the proposed mediating va riables. Level of adult sexual experience was the best predictor of ad ult sexual assault. High levels of sexual activity is proposed as the link between child sexual abuse and adult sexual assault.