NCJ Number
147492
Journal
Violence and Victims Volume: 8 Issue: 2 Dated: (Summer 1993) Pages: 153-163
Date Published
1993
Length
11 pages
Annotation
A sample of 177 young African-American women who were either pregnant or had small children was used to examine the influence of sexual victimization on their psychological and social adjustment.
Abstract
The results showed that young women with a history of sexual abuse or assault were more symptomatic, had lower self- esteem, and had a more external locus of control than their counterparts who had not been victimized. Women who had been sexually victimized also reported higher levels of economic strain. Experiences of sexual victimization were negatively associated with psychological functioning, even after controlling for the effects of the economic strain. Victimized young women were also less satisfied with their support resources than nonabused women. These preliminary data suggest possible links between sexual victimization, adolescent pregnancy, and psychosocial dysfunction. 2 tables, 1 note, and 43 references