De kracht van sociale steun: een onderzoek naar sociale steun en zelfwaardering bij jongeren met seksueel misbruikervaringen.

Sexual abuse is an important risk factor for mental health problems and low self-esteem. However, not all victims develop such problems, suggesting a possible role for protective factors such as social support. Whereas previous research has often focused either on general social support or on a single specific source of support in relation to self-esteem in victims of sexual abuse, the present study examines three distinct sources of social support (parents, friends and romantic partners) in relation to self-esteem among adolescence with experiences of sexual abuse. Additionally, it investigates whether social support moderates this relationship. Data were drawn from the THRIVE-study and included 125 healthy young adults aged 18 to 24, all of whom reported experiencing at least one adverse childhood experience before the age of 18. Self-esteem was assessed using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, sexual abuse was measured with the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, and social support was...Show moreSexual abuse is an important risk factor for mental health problems and low self-esteem. However, not all victims develop such problems, suggesting a possible role for protective factors such as social support. Whereas previous research has often focused either on general social support or on a single specific source of support in relation to self-esteem in victims of sexual abuse, the present study examines three distinct sources of social support (parents, friends and romantic partners) in relation to self-esteem among adolescence with experiences of sexual abuse. Additionally, it investigates whether social support moderates this relationship. Data were drawn from the THRIVE-study and included 125 healthy young adults aged 18 to 24, all of whom reported experiencing at least one adverse childhood experience before the age of 18. Self-esteem was assessed using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, sexual abuse was measured with the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, and social support was measured with the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Results showed that social support from family, friends and romantic partners was significantly positively associated with self-esteem. Although each source of support was tested in a separate regression and effect sizes are therefore not directly comparable, family support appeared to be the strongest predictor, followed by support from friends and romantic partners. No significant association was found between sexual abuse and self-esteem, and social support did not moderate this relationship. These findings suggest that, although social support is linked to higher self-esteem among adolescents with adverse childhood experiences, there is no evidence of a moderating effect of social support on the relationship between sexual abuse and self-esteem. Given the relatively small number of participants reporting sexual abuse and the overrepresentation of highly educated women in the sample, the results should be interpreted with caution. To conclude, this study highlights the importance of social support for self-esteem, while also pointing to the need for future research to clarify when, from whom, and under which circumstances social support can function as a protective factor.Show less

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De kracht van sociale steun: een onderzoek naar sociale steun en zelfwaardering bij jongeren met seksueel misbruikervaringen.