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Validation of the German Version of the Sexual Self-Esteem Inventory for Women and its Application in a Sample of Sexually and Physically Abused Women

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Abstract

Results regarding the association between global self-esteem and sexual behavior suggest the importance of a domain-specific construct—so-called sexual self-esteem (SSE). Prior studies suggested that SSE is malleable and found a negative impact of sexual abuse on SSE. In the present study, the German translation of the Sexual Self-Esteem Inventory-Short Form (SSEI-SF) by Zeanah and Schwarz (1996) was validated via an online survey with 557 women and then investigated in a clinical sample of women suffering from PTSD following sexual and physical abuse compared with healthy controls (n = 130). We examined differences in SSE depending on the type of abuse. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed adequate model fit, with acceptable-to-excellent reliability (α = .78–.94) and sound convergent and discriminant validity. As expected, SSEI-SF scores were significantly lower in the clinical sample than those in the healthy control group. Within the clinical sample, there were no significant differences in SSE between clients who had experienced sexual abuse and those who had experienced physical abuse, but a history of sexual abuse was significantly linked to lower SSE and SSE was related to both sexual behavior and sexual satisfaction. In conclusion, our study supports the validity and applicability of the German version of the SSEI-SF. Results regarding the differences in SSE between survivors of abuse and healthy controls contribute to the further understanding of female sexuality and have implications for treatment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Psychology and Intervention, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Varrentrappstr. 40-42, 60486, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

    Pia Bornefeld-Ettmann, Regina Steil, Klara A. Lieberz & Meike Müller-Engelmann

  2. Psychotherapeutic practice, Bad Vilbel, Germany

    Volkmar Höfling & Charlotte Weßlau

  3. Institute of Psychiatric and Psychosomatic Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, J 5, 68159, Mannheim, Germany

    Sophie Rausch

  4. Department of Psychology, Humboldt University, Unter den Linden 6, 10099, Berlin, Germany

    Kathlen Priebe & Thomas Fydrich

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  1. Pia Bornefeld-Ettmann
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Research Involving Human Participants and/or Animals

Study 1: The study was approved by the ethical commission of the Department of Psychology at Goethe University in Frankfurt (2014-82 K). Participants were informed about anonymity of data collection and that an abortion of the study would not have any disadvantages for them.

Study 2: Data was collected within a large research project “Treating Psychosocial and Neural Consequences of Childhood Interpersonal Violence in Adults”, study registration 01KR1303A.

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Bornefeld-Ettmann, P., Steil, R., Höfling, V. et al. Validation of the German Version of the Sexual Self-Esteem Inventory for Women and its Application in a Sample of Sexually and Physically Abused Women. Sex Roles 79, 109–122 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-017-0849-5

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