Anxiety Mediates the Relation Between Childhood Sexual Abuse and Genito-Pelvic Pain in Adolescent Girls

J Sex Marital Ther. 2017 Nov 17;43(8):774-785. doi: 10.1080/0092623X.2016.1266539. Epub 2016 Dec 2.

Abstract

Previous research has demonstrated associations between child sexual abuse, anxiety, and genito-pelvic pain, but no study to date has examined whether sexual abuse may be associated with genito-pelvic pain through victims' elevated anxiety. The present study aimed to determine whether anxiety mediates the relationship between child sexual abuse and genito-pelvic pain. Using self-report questionnaires, data were gathered from 218 sexually active adolescent girls recruited from seven metropolitan high schools. As expected, results revealed a significant indirect effect of sexual abuse on the development of genito-pelvic pain through trait anxiety. This study thus suggests that anxiety may be one of the mechanisms by which child sexual abuse leads to an increased risk of developing genito-pelvic pain in this population.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adolescent Behavior / psychology
  • Anxiety / complications
  • Anxiety / psychology*
  • Child
  • Child Abuse, Sexual / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Pelvic Pain / complications
  • Pelvic Pain / psychology*
  • Risk Factors
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Vulvodynia / complications
  • Vulvodynia / psychology*