Attributions of Female Adolescent Incest Victims Regarding Their Molestation
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-1991
Description
It has been suggested that how one cognitively appraises his or her victimization experience will influence one's psychological adjustment. In this study, content analysis was conducted on the explanations given for their molestation by 84 female adolescent incest victims. The relationship of these explanations with measures of self-esteem and depression was examined. No relationship was found between self-esteem or depression scores and whether or not subjects found some meaning or explanation for their being molested. However, the type of attribution was related to self-esteem and depression, with subjects significantly more depressed and having lower self-esteem if they attributed the molestation as due to something about self (internal attribution) versus some reason external to self (external attribution). Subjects making internal attributions were more likely to have experienced intercourse.
Citation Information
Morrow, K. B.. 1991. Attributions of Female Adolescent Incest Victims Regarding Their Molestation. Child Abuse and Neglect. Vol.15(4). 477-483. https://doi.org/10.1016/0145-2134(91)90031-8 PMID: 1959079 ISSN: 0145-2134