Childhood Sexual Violence, Partner Violence, and Crack Cocaine

Abstract

The purpose of this small, descriptive study was to examine the association between childhood sexual abuse and current partner violence in a sample of women who smoke crack cocaine. Using an investigator-developed measure of sexual trauma and the Conflict Tactic Scale to assess partner violence, we focused on participants' descriptive reports of childhood sexual violence and partner violence—biting, slapping, kicking and beating by their partners and themselves. Consistent with previous research, women were more likely to report being slapped, kicked, bitten, or beaten than they reported perpetrating the violence. A small percentage of women (12%) reported being in mutually violent relationships. No association was found among a previous history of childhood sexual trauma and current partner violence.