Sexual Victimization and Psychological Functioning of African American

In this study, the relationship among sexual victimization, locus of control, and coping was investigated to determine the impact on the psychological functioning of a predominantly African American student sample attending a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). Results indicated that the sexually victimized participants had higher scores on measures of depression, anxiety, and drug use. Additionally, there existed a significant positive relationship between coping and psychological functioning. However, results indicated no difference between sexually victimized and non-victimized participants in measures of locus of control. Research did not find locus of control as a moderator nor did it find Africultural coping as a mediator for the relationship between sexual victimization and psychological functioning. These findings indicate that further research is needed to understand how African Americans cope with traumatic life events and to discern the way sexual victimization affects locus of control and psychological functioning.