SEXUAL DYSFUNCTIONS - RELATIONSHIP TO CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE AND EARLY FAMILY EXPERIENCES IN A NONCLINICAL SAMPLE

Studies investigating a possible relationship between childhood sexual abuse and adult sexual dysfunction have reported highly discrepant re sults. The purpose of the present study was to examine 202 female univ ersity students for early familial experience and childhood sexual abu se in relation to adult sexual disorders. Each student was asked to co mplete three questionnaires on victimization, sexual dysfunction, and early familial experiences. Results indicated that: (a) victims of mul tiple CSA more frequently reported sexual desire disorders and orgasm disorders than did single-incident victims and nonvictims; (b) single- incident victims and nonvictims reported no significantly different ra tes for any kind of sexual dysfunction; (c) negative early familial ex periences were significantly related to any kind of sexual disorder; a nd (d) women who reported orgasm disorders more often reported an inad equate sex education than did women with another or no sexual dysfunct ion. The data suggest that both family dysfunction and sexual victimiz ation contribute to sexual disorders in adulthood, and that later sexu al disorders are to a large extent the result of sexual abuse-related factors in particular and family dysfunction in general.