Degree Name
MA (Master of Arts)
Program
Psychology
Date of Award
5-2010
Committee Chair or Co-Chairs
Stacey L. Williams
Committee Members
Christopher S. Dula, Jon B. Ellis
Abstract
Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a frequent problem in American society associated with a wide range of negative mental health outcomes. Some evidence suggests that disclosure may moderate the relationship between CSA and mental health. However, the specific reactions a victim receives following disclosure may directly affect the impact that disclosure has on mental health. The current study directly and simultaneously evaluated the roles of disclosure and social reactions in relation to mental health outcomes. The sample consisted of 652 undergraduate students at East Tennessee State University who completed an on-line, self-administered questionnaire. Forty-four (6.75%) of the participants reported experiencing CSA. Of the 44 participants who experienced CSA, 18 (41%) disclosed their abuse. Results indicated that, counter to our hypotheses; neither CSA nor disclosure was significantly related to anxiety and depression. However; as predicted, negative social reactions were significantly related to both anxiety and depression among those who had disclosed.
Document Type
Thesis - unrestricted
Recommended Citation
Hopson, Holly E., "Disclosure, Social Reactions to Disclosure, and Mental Health Outcomes Among Adult Child Sexual Abuse Victims." (2010). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 1685. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/1685
Copyright
Copyright by the authors.