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Relating body image to psychological and sexual functioning in child sexual abuse survivors
Author(s) -
Wenninger Kerstin,
Heiman Julia R.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of traumatic stress
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.259
H-Index - 134
eISSN - 1573-6598
pISSN - 0894-9867
DOI - 10.1023/a:1024408830159
Subject(s) - psychology , attractiveness , clinical psychology , sexual abuse , psychological intervention , child sexual abuse , psychological well being , cognition , physical attractiveness , developmental psychology , poison control , injury prevention , psychiatry , medicine , environmental health , psychoanalysis
Cognitive‐affective body image variables and their relation to long‐term psychological and sexual functioning were investigated in a community sample of 57 female adult child sexual abuse (CSA) survivors and 47 comparison subjects. The Body‐Self Relations Questionnaire and the Body Esteem Scale were administered to assess cognitive‐affective body image. Group comparisons indicated that, after controlling for actual weight status, survivors evaluated their health more negatively and reported less body esteem regarding their sexual attractiveness than comparison subjects. Body image variables related to health and sexual attractiveness significantly explained variance on symptom measures that reflect the diverse CSA long‐term sequelae. Results suggest the need for careful assessment of body image disturbances and the development of effective interventions targeting body image in the treatment of CSA survivors.