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 su...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2021-01-01
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| Series: | European Journal of Psychotraumatology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2021.1966982 |
| _version_ | 1827964913041014784 |
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| author | Johanna Schröder Leonhard Kratzer Yasemin Yamak Peer Briken Safiye Tozdan |
| author_facet | Johanna Schröder Leonhard Kratzer Yasemin Yamak Peer Briken Safiye Tozdan |
| author_sort | Johanna Schröder |
| collection | DOAJ |
| 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T17:24:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-96e571048fdc4830baf2aaa13b86c03d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2000-8066 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T17:24:07Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Journal of Psychotraumatology |
| spelling | doaj.art-96e571048fdc4830baf2aaa13b86c03d2023-04-18T14:59:10ZengTaylor & 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 |
| 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 |
| title | 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_short | 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 |
| 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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