THE IMPACT OF CHRISTIAN FAITH ON THE PREVALENCE AND SEQUELAE OF SEXUAL ABUSE

The present study examines the impact of religious faith on the prevalence and long-term sequelae of childhood sexual abuse in a sample of 2,964 professional women. No significant difference was found on the prevalence of abuse based on religious preference within the family of origin but the rate of abuse was mediated by the extent to which religious beliefs were integrated into family life. Whether or not a survivor war religiously active as an adult was mediated by the religious orientation of her family of origin and by whether or not the abuse occurred within the nuclear family. Finally, the severity of adult symptomatology was mediated by both the religious practices of the adult survivor and by whether or not the abuse occurred within the nuclear family.