Childhood Sexual Abuse, Posttraumatic Stress Symptomatology, and Gender: Impact of “Trauma” Operationalization on Findings

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between gender, posttraumatic stress symptomatology (PTSS), and childhood sexual abuse (CSA) while simultaneously considering how potentially traumatic events are defined (absence or requirement of fear, hopelessness, or horror [FHH]) in 84 childhood sexual abuse survivors (CSAS; 65 females and 19 males). Female CSAS reported higher overall PTSS than male CSAS when controlling for abuse severity and comorbid negative life event frequency, but only when FHH was excluded in the definition of a potentially traumatic event. Trauma operationalization did not influence findings for PTSS expression; men and women did not differ on reexperiencing, hyperarousal, or avoidance PTSS. Findings indicate that trauma operationalization may account for discrepancies in the current research.

Keywords:

• childhood sexual abuse
• posttraumatic stress
• trauma operationalization
• gender

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the Women's Giving Circle for their assistance in funding this project. We would also like to thank anonymous reviewers for feedback on an earlier version of this manuscript.