Sexual revictimisation: a critical review of the theoretical pathways from childhood sexual abuse to adult sexual assault

The aim of this chapter is to review and critically discuss theoretical explanations for sexual revictimisation. The content is drawn from a larger review produced in the project planning stage of a number of interrelated studies (retrospective and prospective surveys, and qualitative interviews) that seek to explore the potential causal mechanisms. It is anticipated that this might inform new directions for research that could ultimately assist in the design of more efficacious interventions. Currently, interventions for the prevention of sexual revictimisation suffer from a number of problems. First, psycho - therapy can be offered only to those who are known survivors of child sexual abuse or to those who are able and willing to risk the stigma in identify ing themselves as survivors. Second, generic sexual assault prevention pro - grammes, where offered in schools, tend to demonstrate some efficacy in protecting young women whose histories are free of child sexual abuse (CSA), yet they are largely ineffective in reducing risk in those with a history of CSA.