Perceptions of abuse: effects on adult psychological and social adjustment

The present study examined perceptions of abuse (psychological, physical, and sexual) and later adult psychological and social adjustment in a nonclinical sample of 173 individuals. A subgroup of abused individuals were identified (Minimizers), who reported levels of abuse above the mean, but failed to acknowledge themselves as abused. Analyses of variance revealed that abused individuals, both Acknowledgers and Minimizers, consistently had more psychological and social adjustment problems than the Nonabused group. In addition, individuals who fell in the Minimizing subgroup had more detrimental outcome than the Abused (Acknowledgers) group in a few areas, suggesting that the perception of past events (abuse) may be an important factor in determining future psychological adjustment.