Child sexual abuse: Appraisal, emotion, and coping in response to social stress

A study of women reported child sexual abuse and suffering from long-term e ffects (= index group, n = 124) and women reported child sexual abuse but n o suffering (= comparison group; n = 24) revealed significant correlations between specific characteristics of child sexual abuse and typical long-ter m effects(Moggi, 1996). This study compares the same women on appraisal, em otions and coping in response to several vignettes describing stressful soc ial interactions with men. Results show that the index group appraised the social interactions more unpleasant, less controllable, and less changeable than The former experienced more antipathy, guilt, shame, fear, and sadnes s in response to the interactions. The results on appraisal and than the la tter. In contrast, few differences emerged on coping responses to the inter actions. The results on appraisal and emotion indicate learned helplessness among women of the index group.