Sexual and physical revictimization among victims of severe childhood sexual abuse

Abstract Objective This 15-year prospective, longitudinal study examines adolescent and young-adult female self-reports of traumatic sexual and physical experiences occurring subsequent to substantiated childhood sexual abuse— re victimizations ( N = 89). Method These incidences were contrasted to sexual and physical victimizations reported by a group of non-abused comparison females ( N = 90). Results Abused females were almost twice as likely to have experienced sexual revictimization (odds = 1.99 ± 2.79, p < .05), and physical revictimization (odds = 1.96 ± 2.58, p < .05) as compared to victimization rates reported by comparison females. Abused females’ revictimizations were also more likely to have been perpetrated by older, non-peers and characterized by physical injury than were victimizations reported by comparison females. Conclusion Early childhood sexual abuse may provide information regarding the level of risk for recurrent sexual and physical victimization.