Self-Definition as a Survivor of Childhood Sexual Abuse Among Navy Recruits

摘要

The purpose of the present research was to identify how specific characteristics of childhood sexual experiences might relate to self- identification as a victim of sexual abuse. In particular, this study explored the role that self-definitions might play in explaining differential rates of self-reported childhood sexual abuse between men and women. Hierarchical logistic regression analyses were performed to estimate the unique contribution of demographic as well as childhood sexual experience (CSE) characteristics in accounting for variability in the likelihood that participants defined themselves as victims of childhood abuse. Approximately 39% of those who reported CSEs prior to age 14 with someone at least five years older than themselves believed those CSEs were abusive. Proportionally more women than men were self-defined victims (50% versus 14%). Recruits who were older at the time of the survey, who were White, whose parents had not married, and who had a lower family income were more likely to define themselves as abused. Abuse characteristics most strongly associated with self-defined sexual abuse were the use of threats or force, incest, and younger age at the time of the experience. An analysis of within-family abuse also suggested that men were more likely to define themselves as abuse victims if the perpetrator was also male.