Childhood Sexual Abuse and Construction of Self and Others in People Who have Experienced Psychosis

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate how childhood sexual abuse (CSA) affects self-construction and construction of other people in people who have experienced psychosis. A sample of 21 such people was divided into 2 groups, according to whether they had experienced CSA or not. They were compared on repertory grids that included the element “self now” and elements that represented other people. The results provided little evidence to support the hypotheses that people who had experienced CSA had lower levels of self-elaboration, saw themselves less like other people, or had greater conflict in their self-concept. The results are discussed with regard to limitations in the study and use of measures of conflict and elaboration in clinical practice.