title: Abuse and parental characteristics, attributions of blame, and psychological adjustment in adult survivors of child sexual abuse.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of abuse and parental characteristics on attributional content and determine the relative contribution of different attributions of blame in predicting psychological symptomatology among adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. One hundred eighty-three female undergraduates with a history of childhood sexual abuse completed self-report questionnaires. Abuse characteristics were significantly related to attributions. Family- and perpetrator-blame accounted for significant variability in psychological symptomatology, beyond the contributions of abuse characteristics, family environment, and self-blame. Implications for research and treatment are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina 29634, USA. hzinzow@clemson.edu
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zinzow
authors.forename: Puja
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Seth
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: Ashley
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Niehaus
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D054523:Adult Survivors of Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008016:Life Change Events; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D012931:Social Environment; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires