Abstract
Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a challenging social issue that causes detrimental effects among survivors in the United States. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2018) Child Maltreatment report, there were a total of 47,124 (7.0%) children between under age one to age 17 who were sexually abused in the United States. There are many subsequent symptoms and illnesses that influence survivors of CSA differently, but changes, specifically, in self-esteem can affect the self-worth and success of an individual. The focus on self-esteem is significant to the individual, as experiencing CSA predicts lower self-esteem, suggesting that CSA can negatively affect the central aspect of a person’s identity (Robinaugh & McNally, 2011). The current study further examined the influence of CSA with the specific focus on how the attributions of blame could moderate the relation between CSA and self-esteem in adulthood (N = 61). Each participant’s level of self-esteem following CSA was analyzed based on whom they attributed blame, self-blame or perpetrator-blame, using the Post-Traumatic Diagnostic Scale (PDS; Foa et al., 1997), the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE; Rosenberg, 1979), and the Attributions of Blame and Responsibility Scale (ARBS; McMillen & Zuravin, 1997).A multiple linear regression model was conducted with self-esteem regressed on the centered predictor variables and the interaction terms. The regression analysis revealed a few different significant findings. First, survivors of childhood trauma who have increased self-blame experienced decreased levels of self-esteem. Second, increased levels of perpetrator-blame predicted decreased self-esteem for participants who experienced CSA.