Relationships among childhood sexual abuse, sex guilt, and sexual behavior in adult clinical samples

In the current study we extended the literature on the relationships between sex guilt and sexual behavior to clinical samples of adult females who were either sexually abused [childhood sexual abuse (CSA); N = 71] or not abused (N = 45) during childhood. The results replicated prior findings, revealing significant negative relationships between sex guilt and nonaccepted (societal norms of) sexual behavior, sexual knowledge, and attitudes toward contraception within both the CSA group and a clinical sample of nonabused women. However CSA victims reported higher levels of sex guilt and nonaccepted sexual behavior than did the nonabused group. Severity of abuse was significantly associated with nonaccepted sexual behavior but not with sex guilt. These findings suggested that CSA is closely linked to nonaccepted sexual behavior. Furthermore, some CSA victims' distress may be a function of their discordant levels of sex guilt and nonaccepted sexual activity.