RESILIENCY AND ADULT ADAPTATION IN WOMEN WITH AND WITHOUT SELF-REPORTED HISTORIES OF CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE

This study investigated the relationship of protective factors (PF) to adult adaptation in a nonclinical sample consisting of 264 undergradu ate women: two groups without childhood sexual abuse (CSA), high (n = 109) and low (n = 99) on PF; and two groups with CSA, high (n = 17) an d low (n = 27) on PF. The first hypothesis that higher levels of PF wo uld be significantly associated with higher levels of functioning for all individuals was supported by the data. The second hypothesis that the women with CSA and higher levels of PF would appear similar in ada ptation to those without CSA was also supported. The findings further suggest that though the protective factors were beneficial for most in dividuals, they were significantly more helpful for those with CSA.