Childhood Unwanted Sexual Attention and Young Women's Present Self-Concept

Abstract

Recent studies indicate that children receive considerable amounts of unwanted attention to their sexuality and appearance. This investigation explored the association between childhood unwanted sexual attention (UWSA) and current self-concept in 448 young women. The frequency of childhood UWSA was associated with poorer academic self-esteem, physical appearance self-esteem, global self-esteem, body image, and body anxiety, after controlling for child sexual abuse. Next, the role of negative emotional reactions to UWSA was explored as a potential moderator between UWSA and impact. It was hypothesized that stronger negative reactions to UWSA would increase the relationship between UWSA and poor self-concept. However, results did not support the moderating role of emotional reactions for the majority of self-concept scores. Overall findings suggest that the objective experience of childhood UWSA is damaging to women's self-esteem and body image, regardless of the subjective reactions women have to the behaviors.