The purpose of this study is to compare Mexican American adolescent mothers with and without childhood sexual abuse (CSA) histories to examine the influence of CSA on dissociation, selection of infant feeding method, and intimate parenting anxiety. Participants are 78 English-speaking adolescents between 15 and 19 years of age and recruited from the southwestern United States. Nearly one third of the sample ( n = 24, 30.77%) reports CSA histories. There is no correlation between CSA history and intimate parenting anxiety, no difference between breast-feeding and formula-feeding mothers in CSA severity, and intimate parenting anxiety does not predict dissociation. These findings are inconsistent with previous research. Supportive resources may explain the inconsistency and play a role in adolescent mothers' responses to CSA. Further research is necessary to explore these possibilities.
Armstrong, J., Putnam, F.W., Carlson, E., Libero, D.Z., & Smith, S. (1997). Development and validation of a measure of adolescent dissociation: The Adolescent Dissociative Experience Scale. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 185, 491-497.
2.
Aspelmeier, J.E., Elliott, A.N., & Smith, C.H. (2007). Childhood sexual abuse, attachment, and trauma symptoms in college females: The moderating role of attachment. Child Abuse & Neglect, 31, 549-566.
3.
Bernstein, D.P., & Fink, L. (1998). Childhood Trauma Questionnaire: A retrospective self-report manual. San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation.
4.
Bernstein, D.P., Stein, J.A., Newcomb, M.D., Walker, E., Pogge, D., Ahluvalia, T., et al. (2003). Development and validation of a brief screening version of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. Child Abuse & Neglect, 27, 169-190.
5.
Bernstein, E.M., & Putnam, F.W. (1986). Development, reliability, and validity of a dissociation scale. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 174, 727-735.
6.
Department of Health and Human Services. ( 2001, November 13). Code of federal regulations, title 45 public welfare, part 46 protection of human subjects. Retrieved April 29, 2004, from http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/humansubjects/guidance/45cfr46.htm#46.116(d)
7.
DiLillo, D. (2001). Interpersonal functioning among women reporting a history of childhood sexual abuse: Empirical findings and methodological issues. Clinical Psychology Review, 21, 553-576.
8.
Douglas, A.R. (2000). Reported anxieties concerning intimate parenting in women sexually abused as children. Child Abuse & Neglect , 24, 425-434.
9.
Finkelhor, D., & Browne, A. (1986). Initial and long-term effects: A conceptual framework . In D. Finkelhor (Ed.), A sourcebook on child sexual abuse (pp. 180-198). Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.
10.
Fiscella, K., Kitzman, H.J., Cole, R.E., Sidora, K.J., & Olds, D. (1998). Does child abuse predict adolescent pregnancy ? Pediatrics, 101, 620-624.
11.
Friedman, H. (1982). Simplified determination of statistical power, magnitude of effect and research sample sizes. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 42, 521-526.
12.
Gibson, L.E., & Leitenberg, H. (2001). The impact of child sexual abuse and stigma on methods of coping with sexual assault among undergraduate women. Child Abuse & Neglect, 25, 1343-1361.
13.
Hannon, P.R., Willis, S.K., Bishop-Townsend, V., Martinez, I.M., & Scrimshaw, S.C. (2000). African-American and Latina adolescent mothers' infant feeding decisions and breast-feeding practices: A qualitative study. Journal of Adolescent Health, 26, 399-407.
14.
Hartt, J., & Waller, G. (2002). Child abuse, dissociation, and core beliefs in bulimic disorders. Child Abuse & Neglect, 26, 923-938.
15.
Hobbins, D. (2004). Survivors of childhood sexual abuse: Implications for perinatal nursing care. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing, 33, 485-497.
16.
Howard, J.S., & Sater, J. (1985). Adolescent mothers. Self-perceived health education needs. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing , 14, 399-404.
17.
Karl, D.J. (2004). Using principles of newborn behavioral state organization to facilitate breast-feeding. MCN, The American Journal of Maternal Child Nursing, 29, 292-298.
18.
Lesser, J., Koniak-Griffin, D., & Anderson, N.L.R. (1999). Depressed adolescent mothers' perceptions of their own maternal role. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 20, 131-149.
19.
Luo, T.-Y.E. (1998). Sexual abuse trauma among Chinese survivors. Child Abuse & Neglect, 22, 1013-1026.
20.
Maier, S.F., & Seligman, M.E.P. (1976). Learned helplessness: Theory and evidence. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General , 105, 3-46.
21.
Merrill, L.L., Thomsen, C.J., Sinclair, B.B., Gold, S.R., & Milner, J.S. (2001). Predicting the impact of child sexual abuse on women: The role of abuse severity, parental support, and coping strategies . Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 69, 992-1006.
22.
Meston, C.M., Rellini, A.H., & Heiman, J.R. (2006). Women's history of sexual abuse, their sexuality, and sexual self-schemas. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 74, 229-236.
23.
Miller, B.C., Benson, B., & Galbraith, K.A. (2001). Family relationships and adolescent pregnancy risk: A research synthesis. Developmental Review, 21, 1-38.
24.
Mollborn, S. (2007). Making the best of a bad situation: Material resources and teenage parenthood. Journal of Marriage and Family, 69, 92-104.
25.
Noll, J.G., Trickett, P.K., & Putnam, F.W. (2003). A prospective investigation of the impact of childhood sexual abuse on the development of sexuality. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 71, 575-586.
26.
Peleikis, D.E., Mykletun, A., & Dahl, A.A. (2004). The relative influence of childhood sexual abuse and other family background risk factors on adult adversities in female outpatients treated for anxiety disorders and depression. Child Abuse & Neglect, 28, 61-76.
27.
Prentice, J.C., Lu, M.C., Lange, L., & Halfon, N. (2002). The association between reported childhood sexual abuse and breast-feeding initiation. Journal of Human Lactation , 18, 219-225.
28.
Putnam, F.W. (1997). Dissociation in children and adolescents: A developmental perspective. New York: Guilford .
29.
Roberts, R., O'Connor, T., Dunn, J., Golding, J., & The ALSPAC Study Team. ( 2004). The effects of child sexual abuse in later family life; mental health, parenting and adjustment of offspring. Child Abuse & Neglect, 28, 525-545.
30.
Ruscio, A.M. (2001). Predicting the child-rearing practices of mothers sexually abused in childhood. Child Abuse & Neglect, 25, 369-387.
31.
Saewyc, E.M., Magee, L.L., & Pettingell, S.E. (2004). Teenage pregnancy and associated risk behaviors among sexually abused adolescents. Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 36, 98-105.
32.
Scher, C.D., Stein, M.B., Asmundson, G.J.G., McCreary, D.R., & Forde, D.R. (2001). The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire in a community sample: Psychometric properties and normative data. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 14, 843-857.
33.
Schloredt, K.A., & Heiman, J.R. (2003). Perceptions of sexuality as related to sexual functioning and sexual risk in women with different types of childhood abuse histories. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 16, 275-284.
34.
Simkin, P., & Klaus, P. (2004). When survivors give birth: Understanding and healing the effects of early sexual abuse on childbearing women. Seattle, WA: Classic Day.
35.
Smith, S., & Carlson, E. (1996). Reliability and validity of the Adolescent Dissociative Experience Scale. Dissociation, 9, 125-129.
36.
Wambach, K.A., & Cole, C. (2000). Breast-feeding and adolescents. Journal of Obstetric , Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing, 29, 282-294.
37.
Zabin, S.L., Emerson, M.R., & Rowland, D.L. (2005). Childhood sexual abuse and early menarche: The direction of their relationship and its implications. Journal of Adolescent Health, 36, 393-400.
