The role of stigmatization in developing post-traumatic symptoms after experiencing child sexual abuse by a female perpetrator

Background: The context in which individuals are exposed to child sexual abuse (CSA) and reactions to the disclosure of such abuse experiences play a major role in post-traumatic mental health. Female-perpetrated CSA is an under-recognized issue in society and mental health care, and is therefore supposed to be a breeding ground for stigmatization.
Objective: The aim of the current study was to examine the mediating role of internalized and anticipated stigma on the efects of so-called victim-blaming experiences and the perception of abuse in the childhood of survivors of female-perpetrated CSA on their post-traumatic
symptom severity.
Method: A total of 212 individuals who reported experiences of female-perpetrated CSA were assessed in an anonymous online survey. The International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ) served as the primary outcome parameter for detecting diferences in post-traumatic symptom severity within mediation analyses, where victim-blaming and abuse awareness served as predictors and anticipated as well as internalized stigma served as mediator variables.
Results: Internalized stigma fully mediated the deteriorating efect of victim-blaming on posttraumatic symptom severity, while abuse awareness and anticipated stigma showed no statistically signifcant efects as predictor and mediator variables. Yet, victim-blaming had a signifcant increasing efect on anticipated stigma.
Conclusions: Eforts to enhance awareness of female-perpetrated CSA in society are needed and mental health care professionals should pay attention to the adverse efects of victimblaming and internalized stigma on post-traumatic symptoms in individuals afected by female-perpetrated CSA.