FFoorrtt HHaayyss SSttaattee UUnniivveerrssiittyy FFHHSSUU SScchhoollaarrss RReeppoossiittoorryy Master's Theses Graduate School Spring 2014 CChhiilldd SSeexxuuaall,, PPhhyyssiiccaall,, aanndd EEmmoottiioonnaall AAbbuussee:: TThhee LLoonngg--TTeerrmm IImmppaacctt ooff CChhiilldd AAbbuussee oonn AAdduulltt IInntteerrppeerrssoonnaall FFuunnccttiioonniinngg Sarah Landry Fort Hays State University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://scholars.fhsu.edu/theses Part of the Psychology Commons RReeccoommmmeennddeedd CCiittaattiioonn Landry, Sarah, "Child Sexual, Physical, and Emotional Abuse: The Long-Term Impact of Child Abuse on Adult Interpersonal Functioning" (2014). Master's Theses. 65. https://scholars.fhsu.edu/theses/65 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at FHSU Scholars Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Master's Theses by an authorized administrator of FHSU Scholars Repository. CHILD SEXUAL, PHYSICAL, AND EMOTIONAL ABUSE: THE LONG-TERM IMPACT OF CHILD ABUSE ON ADULT INTERPERSONAL FUNCTIONING being A Thesis Presented to the Graduate Faculty of the Fort Hays State University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements of the Degree of Master of Science by Sarah Landry B.S., University of Louisiana at Lafayette Date _______________________ Approved ___________________________ Major Professor Approved ___________________________ Chair, Graduate Council ABSTRACT In order to appreciate the relationship problems child abuse victims experience in adulthood, there must first be a fundamental understanding of how the abusive relationship impacts a victim’s cognitions and behaviors. The various forms of child abuse include sexual, physical, and emotional. Information gathered from relevant child abuse literature is provided regarding definitions, statistics, prevalence, effects experienced in both childhood and adulthood, and effects on interpersonal functioning. Attachment theory’s working models and child attachment styles are discussed and introduced as potential sources for conceptualizing the interpersonal problems commonly associated with a history of child abuse. For this current study, a sample of 132 undergraduate students was obtained and divided into groups representing child abuse histories. The purpose was to examine the relationship between child sexual, physical, and emotional abuse and the presentation of relationship-specific attachment styles in adulthood. Results indicated that participants who did not experience abuse in childhood had attachment scores similar to a secure attachment style across all three relationships (mother, father, best friend), while the abuse groups exhibited a minimum of one insecure attachment style. All of the groups (Non-Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Physical Abuse, Emotional Abuse) had low avoidance and anxiety scores for mother and best friend, suggestive of a secure attachment. However, scores on avoidance were significantly elevated for relationship with father in the three abuse groups. These results suggest a dismissing attachment style with fathers if a history of any type of child abuse is present. In addition, relationship with mother for the Emotional Abuse group was also associated with significantly high avoidance scores, revealing a dismissing attachment style. ii Overall, scores on anxiety did not reflect any issues regarding low self-evaluation and thus did not provide evidence for its influence in abuse victims’ adult interpersonal functioning. However, issues regarding trust, which is well established throughout the child abuse literature, were evident in this study’s results. With the exception of the Non- Abuse group, participants displayed an avoidant attachment style (specifically dismissing) with their father for all types of abuse examined, as well as with their mother for the Emotional Abuse group. Abuse victims relied on their best friends and felt comfortable with this, as indicated by the secure attachment style within this adult relationship. Implications regarding these results and their potential use in clinical settings as well as society are provided. Key words: child abuse, child sexual abuse, child physical abuse, child emotional abuse, effects of child abuse, adult interpersonal relationships, adult attachment iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I must first say that my entire graduate school experience (crying, stressing, losing sleep, and of course succeeding) could not have been done without the assistance, encouragement, and love provided by Paul and Patricia Landry. The work I put into this research is an accumulation of years spent testing their patience just so I could find my place in the world. Secondly, I must acknowledge the Psychology Department at Fort Hays State University for welcoming me during a time of adjustment and fear. Moving to Kansas and attending FHSU was the best decision I could have made two years ago all because of my fellow classmates and instructors. Thank you for accepting my odd and eccentric Louisiana personality even when it was too much for you to handle! Without the support of JC Vendegna, I truly would not have made it through graduate school in just two years. To be honest, I would probably still be crying over SPSS if it were not for him making me realize that there is life outside of graduate school. Lastly, I would like to sincerely thank my thesis committee—Dr. Leo Herrman, Gina Smith, Dr. Janett Naylor-Tincknell, and Dr. John Raacke. It did not matter if I was procrastinating, minimizing, or catastrophizing, you were the ones that helped throughout it all. Your time, knowledge, and patience are truly appreciated. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT………………………………………………………………………………ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS………………………………………………………………iv TABLE OF CONTENTS…………………………………………………………………v LIST OF TABLES……………………………………………………………..……….viii LIST OF APPENDIXES……………………………………………………………….viiii INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………………...…..1 Child Abuse and Neglect………………………………………………………...2 Definition………………………………………………………………...2 Statistics and Prevalence………………………………………………...3 Developmental Effects…………………………………………………...4 Child Sexual Abuse……………………………………………………………...4 Definition………………………………………………………………...4 Statistics and Prevalence………………………………………………...5 Effects in Childhood……………………………………………………...6 Effects in Adulthood……………………………………………………...6 Child Physical Abuse………………………………………………………….…7 Definition………………………………………………………………...7 Statistics and Prevalence………………………………………………...8 Effects in Childhood……………………………………………………...8 Effects in Adulthood……………………………………………………...9 Child Emotional Abuse………………………………………………………….10 Definition………………………………………………………………...10 v Statistics and Prevalence………………………………………………...11 Effects in Childhood……………………………………………………...12 Effects in Adulthood……………………………………………………...13 Adult Interpersonal Functioning…………………………………………………14 Attachment Styles………………………………………………………...14 Attachment and Child Abuse……………………………………………..17 Child Sexual Abuse………………………………………………………18 Child Physical Abuse…………………………………………………….20 Child Emotional Abuse…………………………………………………..22 Purpose…………………………………………………………………..24 METHOD………………………………………………………………………………..25 Participants…………………………………………………………………….…25 Materials and Procedures……………………………………………………..….26 History Of Abuse…………………………………………………………26 Adult Attachment Styles………………………………………………….28 RESULTS……………………………………………………………………………......29 Non-Abuse…………………………………………………………………...…..29 Child Sexual Abuse………………………………………………………………31 Child Physical Abuse………………………………………………………….…33 Child Emotional Abuse…………………………………………………………..35 Exploratory Analysis…………………………………………………………….37 DISCUSSION…………………………………………………………………………....40 Non-Abuse…………………………………………………………………...…..40 vi Child Sexual Abuse………………………………………………………………41 Child Physical Abuse………………………………………………………….…44 Child Emotional Abuse…………………………………………………………..46 Additional Results for Adult Functioning…………………………………….….49 Support System…………………………………………………………...49 Mental Health Treatment………………………………………………...49 Sexual History……………………………………………………………50 Substance Abuse………………………………………………………….51 Suicide Attempts………………………………………………………….51 Attachment Theory and Child Abuse History…………………………………...52 Limitations and Future Research………………………………………………...53 vii LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1 Summary of Labels For Attachment Styles In Childhood And Adulthood……..16 2 Summary of Correlations for Attachment Outcomes in the Non-Abuse (NA) Group….................................................................................................................30 3 Summary of Correlations for Attachment Outcomes in the Sexual Abuse (SA) Group….................................................................................................................32 4 Summary of Correlations for Attachment Outcomes in the Physical Abuse (PA) Group….................................................................................................................34 5 Summary of Correlations for Attachment Outcomes in the Emotional Abuse (EA) Group….................................................................................................................36 6 Categorization of Physical Abuse Frequency Responses………………………..46 7 Categorization of Emotional Abuse Frequency Responses……………………...49 viii LIST OF APPENDIXES Appendix Page AA FFaammiillyy HHeeaalltthh HHiissttoorryy ((FFHHH)-Female Version…………………………………57 BB FFaammiillyy HHeeaalltthh HHiissttoorryy ((FFHH)-Male Version……………………………………66 C Experiences In Close Relationships-Relationship Structures (ECR-RS)………..74 D Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approval Letter……………………………...77 ix