title: The Occurrence and Traumatic Impact of Sexual Revictimization in Newlywed Couples.
abstract: The present study examines whether individuals with a history of child sexual abuse are at risk of sexual revictimization in marriage and, if so, whether these experiences are associated with increased trauma symptomatology. Two hundred heterosexual newlywed couples were recruited from marriage license records and completed self-report assessments of past sexual victimization and sexual coercion within the marital dyad. Actor-Partner Interdependence Models revealed that, compared to non-victims, women with a history of child sexual abuse (CSA) experienced more acts of sexual coercion by their husbands during the past year. Moreover, there was a significant interaction between CSA and sexual coercion such that, among women who experienced CSA, the relationship between marital revictimization and trauma symptoms was stronger. Findings suggest that, for women but not men, sexual revictimization may occur in the context of a new marriage, and these experiences are associated with increased trauma symptoms. These findings have implications for understanding female survivors' perceptions of risk, and are particularly concerning given the high degree of personal and legal commitment involved in marriage.
authors.affiliation: University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: DiLillo
authors.affiliation: University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
authors.forename: Anna E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Jaffe
authors.affiliation: University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
authors.forename: Laura E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Watkins
authors.affiliation: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peugh
authors.affiliation: Albany Stratton VA Medical Center.
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kras
authors.affiliation: University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Campbell
keywords: childhood sexual abuse; intimate partner violence; long-term effects; sexual assault