Adult Clergy Sexual Abuse Survivors, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, and Institutional Betrayal Trauma

Over the last decade, it has become more apparent how common sexual assault is, even in settings where people know one another well. Researchers have shown that sexual assault survivors often experience symptoms of posttraumatic stress. Institutional betrayal trauma theory suggests, and additional studies have shown, that posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms may be more severe when the assault occurs in a setting where the victims are expected to be safe. However, there are few studies about the impact of sexual assault in religious settings when the perpetrator of the assault is a religious leader and the victim is an adult. The purpose of this study is to examine the connection between adult clergy sexual abuse and symptoms of PTSD. A convenience sample of 283 women responded to the survey, and 149 women completed items included in this study's analyses. The Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Specific was used to assess PTSD symptoms. The study found that 39% of the respondents who were sexually abused by a religious authority met the criteria for a positive screen for PTSD, and the average screening score had clinical significance even for survivors whose abuse occurred 7 or more years ago. These results suggest that adult clergy sexual abuse has a significant impact with long-lasting adverse outcomes for survivors.