Overt and Covert Sexual Abuse: Relationship to Body Image and Eating Disturbance
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-1997
Keywords
overt sexual abuse, covert sexual abuse, eating disturbance, body image
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1098-108X(199711)22:3<273::AID-EAT6>3.0.CO;2-K
Abstract
Objective: To separate forms of overt and covert sexual abuse and assess their independent contribution to the development of body image and eating disturbance. Method: A new measure was developed—the Covert‐Overt Sexual Abuse Questionnaire (COSAQ)—and correlated with levels of body image, eating disturbance, social desirability, self‐esteem, and depression. Results: Factor analyses on three independent samples yielded two distinct subscales which were labelled Overt and Covert. Each scale had excellent internal consistency and test‐retest reliability. Regression analyses demonstrated the ability of the Covert factor to explain variance associated with body image disturbance and eating dysfunction beyond that accounted for by levels of social desirability, self‐esteem, depression, and overt sexual abuse. Discussion: These findings support the importance of a more “subtle” form of early trauma—covert sexual abuse—in the development of body image and eating‐related problems.
Was this content written or created while at USF?
Yes
Citation / Publisher Attribution
International Journal of Eating Disorders, v. 22, issue 3, p. 273-284
Scholar Commons Citation
Weiner, Kristi E. and Thompson, Joel K., "Overt and Covert Sexual Abuse: Relationship to Body Image and Eating Disturbance" (1997). Psychology Faculty Publications. 2147.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/psy_facpub/2147
