The role of stigmatization in developing post-traumatic symptoms after experiencing child sexual abuse by a female perpetrator
Background The context in which individuals are exposed to child sexual abuse (CSA) and reactions to the disclosure of such abuse experiences play a major role in post-traumatic mental health. Female-perpetrated CSA is an under-recognized issue in society and mental health care, and is therefore sup...
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doaj-96e571048fdc4830baf2aaa13b86c03d2021-10-06T10:22:22ZengTaylor & Francis GroupEuropean Journal of Psychotraumatology2000-80662021-01-0112110.1080/20008198.2021.19669821966982The role of stigmatization in developing post-traumatic symptoms after experiencing child sexual abuse by a female perpetratorJohanna Schröder0Leonhard Kratzer1Yasemin Yamak2Peer Briken3Safiye Tozdan4University Medical Centre Hamburg-EppendorfClinic St. IrmingardUniversity Medical Centre Hamburg-EppendorfUniversity Medical Centre Hamburg-EppendorfUniversity Medical Centre Hamburg-EppendorfBackground The context in which individuals are exposed to child sexual abuse (CSA) and reactions to the disclosure of such abuse experiences play a major role in post-traumatic mental health. Female-perpetrated CSA is an under-recognized issue in society and mental health care, and is therefore supposed to be a breeding ground for stigmatization. Objective The aim of the current study was to examine the mediating role of internalized and anticipated stigma on the effects of so-called victim-blaming experiences and the perception of abuse in the childhood of survivors of female-perpetrated CSA on their post-traumatic symptom severity. Method A total of 212 individuals who reported experiences of female-perpetrated CSA were assessed in an anonymous online survey. The International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ) served as the primary outcome parameter for detecting differences in post-traumatic symptom severity within mediation analyses, where victim-blaming and abuse awareness served as predictors and anticipated as well as internalized stigma served as mediator variables. Results Internalized stigma fully mediated the deteriorating effect of victim-blaming on post-traumatic symptom severity, while abuse awareness and anticipated stigma showed no statistically significant effects as predictor and mediator variables. Yet, victim-blaming had a significant increasing effect on anticipated stigma. Conclusions Efforts to enhance awareness of female-perpetrated CSA in society are needed and mental health care professionals should pay attention to the adverse effects of victim-blaming and internalized stigma on post-traumatic symptoms in individuals affected by female-perpetrated CSA.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2021.1966982child sexual abusestigmatizationsexually offending womenpost-traumatic stress disorder |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Johanna Schröder Leonhard Kratzer Yasemin Yamak Peer Briken Safiye Tozdan |
spellingShingle |
Johanna Schröder Leonhard Kratzer Yasemin Yamak Peer Briken Safiye Tozdan The role of stigmatization in developing post-traumatic symptoms after experiencing child sexual abuse by a female perpetrator European Journal of Psychotraumatology child sexual abuse stigmatization sexually offending women post-traumatic stress disorder |
author_facet |
Johanna Schröder Leonhard Kratzer Yasemin Yamak Peer Briken Safiye Tozdan |
author_sort |
Johanna Schröder |
title |
The role of stigmatization in developing post-traumatic symptoms after experiencing child sexual abuse by a female perpetrator |
title_short |
The role of stigmatization in developing post-traumatic symptoms after experiencing child sexual abuse by a female perpetrator |
title_full |
The role of stigmatization in developing post-traumatic symptoms after experiencing child sexual abuse by a female perpetrator |
title_fullStr |
The role of stigmatization in developing post-traumatic symptoms after experiencing child sexual abuse by a female perpetrator |
title_full_unstemmed |
The role of stigmatization in developing post-traumatic symptoms after experiencing child sexual abuse by a female perpetrator |
title_sort |
role of stigmatization in developing post-traumatic symptoms after experiencing child sexual abuse by a female perpetrator |
publisher |
Taylor & Francis Group |
series |
European Journal of Psychotraumatology |
issn |
2000-8066 |
publishDate |
2021-01-01 |
description |
Background The context in which individuals are exposed to child sexual abuse (CSA) and reactions to the disclosure of such abuse experiences play a major role in post-traumatic mental health. Female-perpetrated CSA is an under-recognized issue in society and mental health care, and is therefore supposed to be a breeding ground for stigmatization. Objective The aim of the current study was to examine the mediating role of internalized and anticipated stigma on the effects of so-called victim-blaming experiences and the perception of abuse in the childhood of survivors of female-perpetrated CSA on their post-traumatic symptom severity. Method A total of 212 individuals who reported experiences of female-perpetrated CSA were assessed in an anonymous online survey. The International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ) served as the primary outcome parameter for detecting differences in post-traumatic symptom severity within mediation analyses, where victim-blaming and abuse awareness served as predictors and anticipated as well as internalized stigma served as mediator variables. Results Internalized stigma fully mediated the deteriorating effect of victim-blaming on post-traumatic symptom severity, while abuse awareness and anticipated stigma showed no statistically significant effects as predictor and mediator variables. Yet, victim-blaming had a significant increasing effect on anticipated stigma. Conclusions Efforts to enhance awareness of female-perpetrated CSA in society are needed and mental health care professionals should pay attention to the adverse effects of victim-blaming and internalized stigma on post-traumatic symptoms in individuals affected by female-perpetrated CSA. |
topic |
child sexual abuse stigmatization sexually offending women post-traumatic stress disorder |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2021.1966982 |
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