Psychological defense styles in women who report childhood sexual abuse: Acontrolled community study

Objective: The psychological defense styles of women who reported childhood sexual abuse were assessed and compared to those of women without childhoo d sexual abuse. Method: Subjects in a random community sample (N=354) of Ne w Zealand women were interviewed and completed two relevant questionnaires, the Defense Style Questionnaire and the Dissociative Experiences Scale. Re sults: Women reporting childhood sexual abuse showed more immature defense styles, and those who experienced the most severe childhood sexual abuse sh owed the most immature styles. Dissociation, however, as measured on the Di ssociative Experiences Scale, was not linked to childhood sexual abuse. Con clusions: Reporting childhood sexual abuse was associated with more immatur e coping styles, although not dissociation, in this community sample of wom en. Coping styles are likely to be a major mechanism through which childhoo d sexual abuse increases rates of later psychological problems.