Recent Stressful Life Events, Sexual Revictimization, and Their Relationship With Traumatic Stress Symptoms Among Women Sexually Abused in Childhood

Abstract

This cross-sectional study examined whether previous life stressors are associated with current traumatic stress symptoms in women who were sexually abused in childhood. Fifty-eight treatment-seeking women, sexually abused in childhood and meeting criteria for current posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in response to their childhood sexual abuse, participated in this study. Participants were administered a structured interview to assess PTSD as well as selfreport measures to assess acute stress reactions, other trauma-related symptoms, sexual revictimization as an adult, and recent stressful life events. Recent stressful life events were shown to be associated with PTSD symptoms, acute stress disorder (ASD) symptoms, and other trauma-related symptoms. Sexual revictimization was associated with trauma-related symptoms but not PTSD symptoms or ASD symptoms. Implications for clinical intervention and future research are discussed.