Citation

Fargo JD. J. Interpers. Violence 2009; 24(11): 1771-1791.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, Utah State University, 2810 Old Main Hill, Logan, Utah 84322-2810, USA. jamison.fargo@usu.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0886260508325489

PMID

18931368

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate direct and indirect social and behavioral risk factors for adult sexual revictimization. Participants include 147 adult, predominantly African American (88%) women, 59% of whom had a documented history of child sexual abuse. Participants are interviewed in adulthood about adolescent and adult sexual victimization as well as other background and lifestyle characteristics. Structural equation modeling indicates that the relationship between child and adolescent sexual victimization is indirect, mediated by adolescent risk-taking behavior. The relationship between adolescent and adult sexual victimization is also indirect, mediated by risky sexual behavior. The residual effects of early childhood family environment and childhood physical abuse also indirectly predict sexual revictimization. Results provide empirical support for the general supposition that the relationship between child and adult sexual victimization is complex and that many intermediary factors differentially affect risk for a heightened vulnerability to sexual revictimization.

Language: en