Introduction. The aim of this work is to examine the relation between sexual trauma experience and experiencing of one’s body.
Material and methods. The study involved the Questionnaire of Body Self of Sakson-Obada and a standardized set of questions relevant to particular characteristics of sexual violence. Measurement were administered among control and clinical groups. The control group consisted of 149 women who have not experienced sexual violence and in clinical group there were 43 women who experienced sexual trauma.
Results. The study showed that women who experienced sexual violence, compared to women without such experiences have weaker body self. Also the relationship between experiencing of one’s body and particular characteristics of sexual trauma was found The presence of such characteristics of trauma as sexual coercion, the repetition of trauma and close relationship with the perpetrator are connected with the most problems in body self.
Conclusion. The obtained results indicate that sexual trauma is a significant risk factor in disorders in experiencing of one’s own body. Aspects of body self, which seem to be especially susceptible to disturbance as a consequence of sexual violence are: heightened threshold of sensation, emotional functioning (emotion interpretation and regulation) and the interpretation of sensations in the categories of bodily identity.