Sexual revictimization and adjustment in college men.

Abstract

Child sexual abuse (CSA) and adult sexual assault (ASA) occur at alarming rates in the United States and are associated with a number of adult psychological adjustment problems. Moreover, having a history of CSA may increase risk for sexual victimization in adulthood (revictimization). A number of studies explore the issues of CSA, ASA, revictimization, and adjustment in women, but far fewer studies investigate these issues in men. This study explored the phenomenon of sexual revictimization and related adjustment difficulties in 1,002 male college students who completed the Life Experiences Questionnaire, an expanded version of the Sexual Experiences Survey, and the Symptom Checklist-90—Revised. Results indicated that male CSA survivors are more likely than nonvictims to experience ASA and that sexual victimization and revictimization are related to increased adult adjustment difficulties in the forms of posttraumatic stress, hostility, depression, and general distress. Research and clinical implications are discussed, such as the need to assess male psychotherapy clients for sexual victimization and revictimization histories and the need for research on the mechanisms resulting in psychological adjustment difficulties in male survivors of sexual victimization and revictimization.