The Level of Personality Organization and Revictimization in Lives of Child Sexual Abuse Survivors

Previous research has documented that women who were sexually abused in childhood are also often victims of sexual abuse in adulthood. In the current study, we investigated the relationship between the phenomenon of sexual revictimization and personality organization (PO) conceptualized in accordance with the Otto Kernberg's theory. The central hypothesis was that women with borderline personality organization (BPO) and neurotic personality organization (NPO) differ in terms of the occurrence of revictimization and its features. We predicted that women with BPO would experience revictimization more often, and that it would be characterized by features determining its higher severity than in women with NPO. In our study, 119 Polish adult women completed measures of PO and experiences of sexual violence in childhood and adulthood. The results supported the predicted relationships. After controlling for participants' age, we showed that women with a close to borderline level of personality organization (cBPO) are at the greater risk of experiencing revictimization than those with NPO, in particular the revictimization involving penetration and by the previously known offender. Moreover, specific structural features related to BPO were found to have particular associations: Fear of Fusion (FF) was associated with the experience of revictimization; Identity Diffusion (ID), Primitive Defense Mechanism (PDM), FF, and Impaired Reality Testing (IRT) with penetration during revictimization; and PDM and IRT with revictimization by the previously known offender. Our findings suggest the importance of taking into account PO in estimating the risk of revictimization, as well as in therapy programs aimed at reducing this risk.

Sexual satisfaction and self-esteem in women with acne

BACKGROUND

A significant number of problems related to mental and social functioning is a common occurrence in patients with acne.

AIMS

The aim of our study was to determine how acne affects self-esteem and sexual satisfaction in the affected women.

PATIENTS/METHODS

The study was conducted among 90 women, aged 18-51 years (mean 30.29 ± 7.10), diagnosed with acne. Demographic data, medical history and information concerning their sexual life were obtained from all study participants. After dermatological assessment of lesion location and severity, all subjects completed the following questionnaires: Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Sexual Self-Esteem Inventory, Body Attitudes Questionnaire, and Whitley Sexual Satisfaction Inventory.

RESULTS

Two factors-lesion severity and self-assessment of the body-proved to shape the sexual satisfaction of women, but the influence turned out to be mediated through self-esteem.

CONCLUSION

Acne proves to play an important negative role in female sexuality and satisfaction.

Sexual activity of women with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome (MRKHS)--preliminary study

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was to assess sexual activity of women with Mayer-Pokitansky-K0ster-Hauser syndrome (MRKHS) in relation to age-matched con trots. The hypotheses on differences betwedn them in regard to various types of sexual activity and its characteristics were verified.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

31 patients with MRKHS and 31 healthy women were examined. Psychosexual biography by M. Beisert was used to gain information on autoerotic and dyadic behavior: Phi-coefficient and U Mann-Whitney test were performed.

RESULTS

Women with the MRKHS started autoerotic be ha vior at a similar age (U=58, 00; ns), practiced masturbation with the same frequency (in adolescence--U=350,00; ns and adulthood--U=137.50; ns) and manifested a similar level of sexual arousal (U=326,50; ns) as the age-matched controls. They declared experiencing vaginal (Phi=0.507; p<0.001) and oral (Phi=0.318; p<0.05) intercourse less frequently than healthy women. They also initiated dyadic sexual activity at a higher age than the controls (petting U=182,00; p<0.01; req=0.41; vaginal intercourse (U=64.00; 0<0.001; req = 0.59; oral contact (U=91.50; p<0.05; req=0.56) with exception of anal intercourse, where the age of initiation was the same in both groups (U=30,50; ns). Women in both groups experienced similar orgasm frequency during petting (U=108.50; ns), oral intercourse (U=97.50; ns), anal Tntercourse (U=25.50; ns). However, patients with the MPKHS reported significantly lower frequency of orgasm during vaginal intercourse (U=60.50; p<0.05; req=0.36).

CONCLUSIONS

Sexual development of patients with the MRKHS and healthy women is partly similar Differences in dyadic sexual activity are not limited to vaginal intercourse thus are probably determined by biological conditions and their psychological implications.

[Sexuality of a woman with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome--case report]

Aplasia or hypoplasia of the uterus and the vagina are pivotal elements of Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome. Psychosexual functioning of women with MRKH syndrome remains to be fully elucidated. Detailed analysis of sexuality of a 31-year-old woman with MRKH syndrome (type MURCS) and with a history of surgical creation of the vagina was performed. Both, biological and psychosocial determinants were investigated in great detail. Genital malformations were found to have significant impact on the sexual identity and sexual behavior of the patient.