Suchergebnisse

The "clarification session" has been implicated as an important component of the treatment of families affected by incest. On the basis of information presented in clinical literature, however, the specific nature of this intervention varies widely. This exploratory study examined the practices and attitudes regarding clarification sessions of select members of the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers. Surveys were completed by 483 members. Results indicated that approximately 77% of respondents had experience in conducting clarification sessions. The top two reported reasons for conducting clarification sessions were for the perpetrator to assume all responsibility for the abuse and to decrease the level of self-blame of the victim. The majority of respondents concurred that several activities needed to occur prior to the clarification session, whereas less consensus was indicated for activities that were deemed essential during the clarification session. Respondents' practices, attitudes, and beliefs are discussed in terms of the current state of limited, empirically based knowledge in this area. Directions for future research are suggested.

This study examined the associations between perceived risks and benefits of drug use, unsafe sexual behavior, alcohol consumption, and aggressive/illegal behavior and reports of expected involvement in those behaviors in a sample of 340 college women with and without histories of interpersonal victimization (i.e., child sexual abuse, child physical abuse, adult sexual assault, and aggravated assault). Trauma victims reported greater perceived benefits and lower perceived risks associated with risky sexual behavior, illicit drug use, and heavy drinking, but not aggressive/illegal behavior than nonvictims. Victims also reported greater expected involvement in risky sex behavior, drug use, and heavy drinking. Regression analyses revealed that the relationship between victim status and expected involvement in risky behaviors was mediated by cognitions about risks and benefits of risky behavior, controlling for trauma-related symptoms. Implications of the findings for the understanding of repeat victimization are discussed.

Childhood rape occurs frequently in our society and is associated with adverse consequences. Despite the severity of these outcomes, there appear to be many obstacles for children to receive postrape medical care. To date, it is unclear what proportion of childhood rape victims receive postrape medical examinations or what factors predict receipt of this medical care. This study investigated the factors predicting immediate medical care for women who were raped during childhood. Data for the study were obtained from the final wave of the 2-year, longitudinal National Women's Study. Results indicated that the majority of women did not receive medical care following their childhood rape. Although women raped as adolescents were more likely to receive a postrape exam, logistic regression analyses indicated that rape characteristics (e.g., reporting the assault, concerns about sexually transmitted diseases [STDs]) mediated the relationship between age of victimization and receipt of medical care. Implications of these findings are discussed.