Effects of child and adult sexual abuse on adult sexuality

Abstract

The differential effects of child and adult sexual abuse on adult sexual functioning were examined. The Golombok Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction (GRISS)1 and a sexual experiences questionnaire were administered to 201 psychology students at the University of South Florida, 175 of whom were retained in the study. GRISS variables that were analyzed consisted of anorgasmia, sexual avoidance, sexual dissatisfaction, sexual noncommunication, nonsensuality, and vaginismus. Women who were sexually abused in adulthood were more sexually dissatisfied and nonsensual than women who had no history of sexual abuse. In addition, women who had a history of sexual abuse in childhood or adulthood were less satisfied with the overall quality of their most recent sexual relationship than non-abused women and had higher numbers of unsafe sexual partners.