Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 1 of 1
Sexual revictimization and mental health: a comparison of lesbians, gay men, and heterosexual women
- Authors:
- BALSAM Kimberley F., LEHAVOT Keren, BEADNELL Blair
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 26(9), June 2011, pp.1798-1814.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Several studies have indicated that women who were sexually abused in childhood are at increased risk for sexual assault in adulthood; a phenomenon referred to as revictimisation. Research has also shown that lesbians and gay men are at elevated risk for sexual victimisation in both childhood and adulthood. This study sought to examine the prevalence and the impact on mental health of sexual revictimisation in lesbians and gay men. A large national sample of self-identified lesbian and gay adults and their siblings were mailed a questionnaire. The analysis is based upon the completed questionnaires for 322 lesbians, 214 gay men, and 335 heterosexual women. The results indicated that child sexual abuse is associated with elevated rates of adult rape for all 3 groups. In addition, revictimisation showed comparable associations with mental health variables for all 3 groups. Participants with both child sexual abuse and adult rape had higher levels of psychological distress, suicidality, alcohol use, and self-harm behaviours relative to those with only one type of victimisation and those with no victimisation. Those with any victimisation were more likely to report recent use of drugs compared to those with no victimisation.