EFFECTS OF CHILD AND ADULT SEXUAL ABUSE ON ADULT SEXUALITY

The differential effects of child and adult sexual abuse on adult sexu al functioning were examined. The Golombok Rust Inventory of Sexual Sa tisfaction (GRISS)(1) and a sexual experiences questionnaire were admi nistered to 201 psychology students at the University of South Florida , 175 of whom were retained in the study. GRISS variables that were an alyzed consisted of anorgasmia, sexual avoidance, sexual dissatisfacti on, sexual noncommunication, nonsensuality, and vaginismus. Women who were sexually abused in adulthood were more sexually dissatisfied and nonsensual than women who had no history of sexual abuse. In addition, women who had a history of sexual abuse in childhood or adulthood wer e less satisfied with the overall quality of their most recent sexual relationship than nonabused women and had higher numbers of unsafe sex ual partners.