Sexual victimization and perceptions of close relationships in adolescence

An attachment perspective is proposed as a framework for conceptualizing the impact of sexual victimization on close relationships. Two studies were conducted to empirically examine the links between sexual victimization and perceptions of romantic, parental, and peer relationships. Study One included 154 undergraduate women, and Study Two included 48 high school seniors. In both studies, approximately half the women reported having experienced some form of coerced sexual experience. The majority were victimized by an acquaintance, and most victims had experienced multiple incidents. The first study found that victimized women had significantly more preoccupied romantic views than nonvictimized women. Retrospective reports indicated that women victimized in college were significantly more dismissing with their fathers in high school. In Study Two, victims reported more negative interactions with romantic partners, but no differences were found for romantic styles. Victims also reported more dismissing parental styles and more negative interactions with their fathers than nonvictims.