Victims Of Child Sexual Abuse Research Articles

Empowerment or Threat: Perceptions of Childhood Sexual Abuse in the #MeToo Era.

The rise of the #MeToo movement has shed light on the prominence of sexual violence, and its victims who often remain silent. Despite increasing awareness, victims or survivors of sexual violence who disclose may be faced with negative reactions such as disbelief or blame. Such reactions extend to child victims of sexual abuse. This study aimed to shed light on gender differences in responses to sexual violence against a backdrop of #MeToo. Through an online survey (N = 253) on Amazon’s Mechanical Turk, we assessed participants’ exposure to and perception of the #MeToo movement. In addition, we measured proximity to a victim or perpetrator of sexual violence. The effect of these variables on participants’ response to a disclosure of childhood sexual abuse was examined. Results indicated that men are more likely to perceive the movement as threatening than women. Furthermore, a discrepancy in proximity to sexual violence emerged, with women more likely to know a victim and men more likely to know a perpetrator. In response to a disclosure of childhood sexual abuse, men were more likely to respond in a skeptical manner than women. Positive perceptions of the #MeToo movement translated into more supportive responses to a disclosure. Proximity to a victim of sexual violence did not impact how people responded to a disclosure, but proximity to a perpetrator was associated with a more negative response. Although the aim of this movement is to give a voice to victims of sexual violence, it may trigger a defensive response from men, which makes them more skeptical toward disclosures of victimization.

The Interplay of Depression and Hostile Attributions in the Link Between PTSD Symptoms and Peer Victimization in Child Victims of Sexual Abuse.

This study sought to test a serial mediation model in which depressive symptoms and hostile attributions mediate the relationship between post-traumatic stress symptoms and peer victimization in a sample of child victims of sexual abuse. Participants included 771 children aged 6 to 12 years old, consulting specialized intervention settings following disclosure of sexual abuse. Children completed questionnaires assessing their levels of post-traumatic stress symptoms, depressive symptoms and experiences of peer victimization in the school context. Vignettes were used to assess hostile attributions for instrumental and relational provocations. Results of the path analysis revealed that post-traumatic stress symptoms were associated with depressive symptoms, which were linked to greater hostile attributions for relational provocations, which were in turn associated to a greater likelihood of reporting peer victimization. Hostile attributions for instrumental provocations were not related to peer victimization.

Long-term healthcare utilisation following child sex abuse: A follow-up study utilising five years of medical data

BackgroundLimited attention has been paid to the long-term physical health consequences experienced by CSA survivors. Research has found that CSA is often associated with increased health burden in adulthood. However, research in this area is plagued by a range of methodological difficulties, rendering it difficult to draw conclusions regarding the health status of CSA survivors. ObjectiveThis research sought to investigate associations between child sexual abuse (CSA) victimisation and rates of subsequent healthcare utilisation. MethodThe forensic medical records of 2759 cases of CSA between 1964 and 1995 were linked to commonwealth Australian medical data recorded between 2010 and 2015. Differences in rates of health service utilisation during this five-year period were compared between CSA victims and a age and gender matched comparison cohort without known abuse history. FindingsCSA was associated with increased levels of attendance at health professionals (OR = 1.51, p < .001) for medical care and for consultations related to dental (OR = 1.28, p < .001) and chronic disease (OR = 1.23, p <.001). CSA was associated with lower mean rates of attendance at gynaecologists. Gender and age at abuse significantly influenced the relationship between CSA and frequency of health service utilisation. ConclusionsExperiencing CSA was associated with increases in rates of contact with health professionals. Abused females and victims abused after 12 years of age demonstrated the greatest elevations in rates of service utilisation. These findings have significance for both researchers in this field, and medical practitioners providing primary care.

Bestiality Among Sexually Violent Predators.

Bestiality, or sexual contact between humans and nonhuman animals, is a poorly understood aspect of sexual behavior. There is a dearth of scientific research on the prevalence of bestiality, the motivations for individuals to engage in the behavior, and the risk that such individuals pose for interpersonal sexual and nonsexual violence. This study is a descriptive analysis of bestiality in all individuals found to be sexually violent predators (SVPs) in the state of Virginia between the years 2003 and 2017. Of 1,248 SVPs, 33 (2.6%) had a history of engaging in bestiality. SVPs with a history of bestiality were significantly more likely to be victims of childhood sexual abuse (P < .005), to engage in nonsexual animal abuse (P < .0001), and to have committed child sexual abuse (P < .005). They were most likely to report sexual contact with dogs and demonstrated a breadth of other atypical sexual behavior. The lifetime prevalence of 2.6 percent is low compared with other published findings, suggesting that offenders may have intentionally minimized their history of atypical sexual behavior. The relationship between childhood sexual victimization and bestiality has not previously been reported in the literature and represents an important nidus for future investigation. Further research is necessary to characterize human-animal sexual interactions in SVPs and other populations.

Child Sexual Abuse and Suicidal Ideation: The Differential Role of Attachment and Emotional Security in the Family System.

The objective of this study was to analyze the effects of attachment style and emotional security in the family system on suicidal ideation in a sample of young adult female victims of child sexual abuse (CSA). The possible effects of CSA characteristics and other types of child abuse on suicidal ideation were controlled for. The sample consisted of 188 female college students who had been victims of sexual abuse before the age of 18, as well as 188 randomly selected participants who had not experienced CSA. The results showed that both attachment and emotional security were associated with suicidal ideation, even when controlling for both the characteristics of abuse and the existence of other abuses. The strong relationships of emotional security and attachment style with suicidal ideation suggest the importance of early intervention with children who have been sexually abused and their families, in an effort to optimize their attachment style, as well as to decrease emotional insecurity to prevent the onset of symptomatology related to suicidal ideation.

The Role of Microbiologists and the Clinical Laboratory in Identifying Infections in Survivors of Pediatric Sexual Abuse: a Difficult Task and an Ethical Responsibility

There are few standards for the clinical examination methods used in suspected cases of sexual abuse; therefore, there is debate about which laboratory test methods should be used. The lack of standards for sample collection from and testing of children creates additional challenges, in part because of the differences in biology and pathogen interaction with children's cells and in part because of the additional emotional impact of a pediatric case. The incidence of child sexual abuse (CSA) is much higher than the general population or health care professionals realize. Potential CSA victims have been traumatized by the experience; therefore, the physical examination that follows needs to be performed in a “safe” environment. The laboratory may get requests to evaluate samples collected from potential perpetrators, as well. The normal pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical procedures used are inadequate when used to evaluate specimens collected from survivors of abuse. Specific procedures and policies need to be instituted to aid in the diagnosis of a sexually transmissible disease (STD), indicative of sexual contact. Coordinating the examination of potential victims requires using a multidisciplinary team to ensure proper collection, delivery, and processing of samples, and the identification of organisms known to cause an STD is a difficult task. In addition, the results of testing and potential confirmation of positive results are important aspects of care. The original sample must be retained so that additional testing may be performed, if indicated. Since many potential perpetrators admit to the crime following positive STD organism identification, the microbiology laboratory must work with clinicians, nursing, law enforcement, administrators, and the legal department of the health care system to offer testing for STDs. Approved interdisciplinary policies should be stringently followed, and the laboratory must be ready to be cross-examined during the litigation process. Practical suggestions for those performing testing for CSA are detailed in this review.

PERLINDUNGAN HUKUM BAGI ANAK KORBAN TINDAK PIDANA PELECEHAN SEKSUAL

Moral crime or moral harassment and sexual harassment are two forms of violation of morality which are not only a national legal problem of a country, but already a legal problem of all countries in the world or a global problem. The research method used by the author is a type of normative legal research with the legislation approach and concept approach. The goal to be achieved is to realize optimal legal protection for child victims of sexual abuse, which has many problems. The results showed that legal protection for child victims of sexual abuse was carried out by providing legal assistance and rehabilitation. The implementation of legal protection is still constrained by the substance of the law; legal structure, legal culture, facilities and infrastructure. A clear and comprehensive regulation on the protection of children which in essence aims to provide guarantees and protect their rights so that they can live, grow, develop and participate, optimally, and obtain protection from violence and discrimination.Keywords : Legal Protection, Children, Sexual Harassment

Multilevel factors associated with the intergenerational continuity of child sexual abuse

BackgroundDespite burgeoning interest in the phenomenon of intergenerational continuity, literature concerning risk and protective factors in the context of child sexual abuse (CSA) is still underdeveloped. ObjectiveSince the identification of such risk and protective factors is essential in order to break these negative cycles, the present study aimed to identify specific multilevel factors associated with the continuity of CSA in a large sample of mother–child dyads using secondary analysis of data. Participants and settingMother-child dyads (n = 1,250) were divided into four groups: 1) CSA Both (mother and child are victims); 2) CSA Mother (only mothers are victims); 3) CSA Neither (mother and child are not victims); and 4) CSA Child (only children are victims). MethodsMothers completed a series of self-report measures assessing maternal characteristics (e.g., history of intimate partner victimization, psychological functioning), parenting and familial characteristics (e.g., cohesion, conflicts, empowerment), and demographic variables (e.g., early maternity, income, education). ResultsThe four groups were compared using analyses of variance and chi-square analyses. Overall, mothers in the CSA Both group showed an increased number of risk factors compared to the mothers in the other three groups; however, mothers in the CSA Child group also presented with high levels of risk factors. ConclusionsFindings suggest that practitioners should be attentive to the needs of the mothers of young CSA victims they are serving, since mothers involved in the cycle of intergenerational continuity appear to be particularly vulnerable and distressed.

Child Sexual Abuse: the Detrimental Impact of its Specific Features

Child sexual abuse (CSA) has been linked to several negative psychosocial outcomes in its victims throughout life. However, the specific impact of different features of CSA has not been sufficiently studied. This research addressed: 1) the impact of CSA on psychosocial outcomes in young adulthood; and 2) the differential effect of a wide range of CSA features (such as, victim’s gender, age of onset, penetration occurrence, victim-offender relationship, number of offenders and use of force) in deviant behavior and psychopathological symptoms, in male and female victims. Our sample comprised 617 young adults and data was collected using the ACE Study Questionnaire, the Deviant Behavior Variety Scale and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale. Pearson correlations, point-biserial correlations were used to test the associations between CSA and indicators of psychopathological symptoms and deviant behavior. We then analyzed CSA’s capacity to predict these outcomes using multiple linear regressions. Afterwards, participants who were identified as victims of CSA (n = 76) were selected and we carried out separate analyses for males and females using point-biserial correlations and calculating Cohen’s d effect size. Our findings not only support the hypothesis that CSA is associated with negative psychosocial outcomes in young adulthood, but also suggest that some specific features of CSA are positively associated with psychopathological symptoms and/or deviant behavior (e.g., age of onset, victim-perpetrator relationship). Furthermore, gender differences were found in the pattern of these associations. This research strengthens the scientific evidence concerning the potential clinical benefits of exploring the effect of specific characteristics of CSA.

The impact of extralegal factors on perceived credibility of child victims of sexual assault

ABSTRACT The study examined the impact of victim age, victim gender, and perpetrator gender, across five domains of witness credibility: accuracy, believability, competency, reliability and truthfulness. The study also investigated which of these sub-constructs is the best predictor of guilt. 231 adult lay-people completed a survey measuring perceived credibility. Victim age emerged as having the most consistent effect, with the 5- and 10-year-old victims rated as more credible than the 15-year-old victim. Despite their legal incapacity to consent to sex, 15-year-old victims appear to be viewed as ‘quasi-adults’. Victims were rated as more accurate and truthful when the defendant was male compared to when the defendant was female. This may be due to the availability heuristic, as cases involving female defendants are less common. A significant main effect for victim gender was found for the competency sub-construct, such that males were rated as more competent than females. This result suggests that gendered attitudes and stereotypes may begin in childhood and extend to complainants of sexual assault. Main effects for accuracy and truthfulness, were qualified by three-way interaction effects. The five-factor model of perceived credibility accounted for 42% of variance in guilt perceptions, with truthfulness emerging as the strongest predictor of guilt.

Child sexual abuse among medical school students: experiences and perceptions.

Given that 5-25% of the adult population report child sexual abuse (CSA), most clinicians will care for victims. Data regarding CSA experiences among medical students are limited and the association of medical students' own history of CSA with relevant perceptions has not been previously examined. The aim of this study was to assess CSA perceptions and exposure of medical students, while exploring their associations. For this purpose, a link was created and made available on a site accessed solely by the Athens medical school undergraduates from February 20 to March 20 2019, comprising a 12-item questionnaire to assess the knowledge and past experience of CSA. This was based on a larger published questionnaire, which was translated and adapted. The questionnaire was then transcripted online, and after pilot testing, was disseminated using the Google documents® platform. Out of 261 responses, CSA was reported by 48 participants (18%), of which 39 were women. Thirty five reported contact CSA. Thirty seven victims (77%) reported previous disclosure of the event, but 18 of them were not protected post disclosure. CSA victims were less likely to agree with the perception that most perpetrators are mentally ill or disabled (p = 0.043), and more likely to strongly disagree with the statement that reputable families are protected from sexual abuse (p = 0.019). In agreement with existing data in general populations globally, about one in five medical students had exposure to CSA. In addition, a potential association of their own experiences with shaping perceptions regarding the identity of CSA perpetrators and affected families for medical students is highlighted.

Victimización Sexual en la Infancia e Intervención Basada en la Evidencia:

La victimización sexual infantil es un grave problema que afecta a uno de cada cinco niños y niñas de nuestro país y que requiere de una intervención temprana y eficaz, que permita superar las graves consecuencias que sus víctimas manifiestan. La Terapia Cognitivo-Conductual Focalizada en el Trauma (TF-CBT) es el modelo de intervención que reúne una mayor cantidad de evidencia en cuanto a su efectividad. Con un mínimo de 8 y un máximo de 25 sesiones de 50 minutos, en las que se trabaja con la víctima de entre 3 y 18 años y sus cuidadores, se ofrece psicoeducación sobre la experiencia de victimización, se tratan habilidades parentales que pueden haberse visto afectadas por la situación, técnicas de relajación que permitan reducir la hiperactivación del sistema de afrontamiento al estrés, identificación y expresión emocional, el triángulo entre pensamientos, emociones y conductas, la narrativa del trauma y el procesamiento cognitivo de los pensamientos distorsionados, la exposición a situaciones o lugares angustiantes, así como estrategias para mejorar la seguridad en el futuro. Es necesario que los profesionales de nuestro país se puedan formar en este modelo y confirmar sus positivos resultados en el tratamiento de víctimas de abuso sexual infantil en España.

"Hot-for-Teacher"

In this article I explore the highly problematic but wildly acclaimed romantic relationship between Aria Montgomery, a high school junior, and her English teacher Ezra Fitz in the television series Pretty Little Liars. This partnership normalizes gendered power imbalances often common to heterosexual partnerships, yet fervent fans have supported the duo enthusiastically, dubbing the couple #Ezria in blogs and social media. As we know, much research shows that along with unintended pregnancy, young girls who are victims of child sexual abuse by adult males suffer from depression. These outcomes are not shown in Pretty Little Liars: the series ends with Aria marrying her teacher in an example of a happily-ever- after ending, thereby reinforcing postfeminist ideas that Aria’s self-efficacy has never been compromised. I argue that in the era of #Metoo, the exploration of power in heterosexual romantic relationships on television shows aimed at adolescent girl audiences is a site for critical analysis.

Psychological evaluation of children victims of sexual abuse: development of a protocol.

Sexual abuse (SA) is associated with significant psychological problems in childhood, making it increasingly important to develop evaluation protocols. This study examined clinical aspects and cognitive measures of 49 children (24 with SA history and 25 controls). It employed a SA assessment questionnaire, clinical evaluations of posttraumatic stress disorder, risk indicators and neuropsychological tests in order to elaborate a specific forensic psychological evaluation protocol for this population. Conflicting couples (80%), separated parents (68%) and parents’ alcohol/drug abuse (76%) were revealed as major risk factors. Fathers represented the primary perpetrator (24%). The main cognitive complaint was difficulty concentrating. Regarding the association between clinical and cognitive variables, it was observed that children who were anxious or referred to having fear, difficulties with operational memory and difficulty sleeping, had more trouble performing tasks that required attention and memory (operational, immediate and late). Children with SA history demonstrated inferior performance in visual attention/task switching and memory; with an emphasis in the loss of set in the Wisconsin test. The findings suggest the possibility of a primary attention deficit in children with SA history, possibly influencing the performance of other cognitive functions.

아동 성폭력 피해자를 위한 목회적 돌봄 : 소설 『소원』 사례 연구

이 연구 논문은 2008년 안산에서 일어났던 아동 성폭력 사건인 조두순 사건을 다 룬다. 이 사건은 조두순이 2020년 만기출소를 앞두고 청와대에 출소를 반대하는 청원 이 생길 정도로 사회적 반향이 큰 현재진행형 사건이다. 이 연구 논문을 통해 아동 성폭력 사건의 심각성을 조명하고 아동 성폭력 피해자를 위한 목회적 돌봄의 중요성에 대해서 살펴보게 될 것이다. 방법론으로는 이 사건의 실제 피해자를 모델로 완성 된 소설 『소원』을 사례로 연구 분석하며 신학, 사회과학, 심리학 전반에 관한 문헌 연구 방법론을 사용할 것이다. 이런 과정들을 통해서 나온 목회적 돌봄의 주제들은 첫 번째로 아동 성폭력의 명 확한 이해를 통한 돌봄의 중요성, 두 번째로 아동 성폭력의 피해자를 가족과 공동체 로 확대시키는 것의 필요성, 세 번째로 안전지대를 상실한 아동들에게 안전한 사회 구조를 회복시켜주는 것의 필요성, 네 번째로 피해자 치료의 중요성과 아동 치료에 있어서 놀이를 통한 안전감과 신뢰 관계 형성의 중요성, 다섯 번째로 놀이 치료를 통 해 회복되어 가는 자신과 아빠를 다시 만나는 피해자의 여정의 중요성, 여섯 번째로 안전한 신고와 법정 진술과 언론 보도에 있어서 피해자 인권 보호를 위한 제도적 장치 마련의 중요성을 분석하는 것이다. 사례 분석에서 제기된 6가지 주요 주제들을 목회적 돌봄으로 적용하여 실천하기 위하여 다음과 같은 통합된 세 가지 주제의 목회적 돌봄과 목회 상담의 실천 과제를 주장하고자 한다. 첫째, 성폭력 피해자가 목회 상담을 통한 안전감을 회복할 때 새로 운 자신을 발견하고 새로운 공동체와 하나님을 찾아갈 수 있는 여정을 시작할 수 있 다는 것이다. 둘째, 교회는 목회적 돌봄으로서 안전한 성전 운동을 통해 안전한 하나 님 나라 확장에 힘써야 한다는 것이다. 셋째, 목회적 돌봄을 통해 피해자가 느끼는 고 통의 복합성과 심각성을 충분히 공감해 줄 때 비로소 고통을 치유하시는 하나님의 임 재를 인식할 수 있다는 것을 주장할 것이다.

아동 성폭력 피해자를 위한 목회적 돌봄 : 소설 『소원』 사례 연구

아동 성폭력 피해자를 위한 목회적 돌봄 : 소설 『소원』 사례 연구

Five Applications of Narrative Exposure Therapy for Children and Adolescents Presenting With Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders.

Narrative exposure therapy (NET) is an individual therapeutic approach that has an emerging evidence base for children. It was initially trialed with refugee and asylum seeking populations, in low, middle and high-income settings, utilizing either lay or professional therapists. The results of treatment trials for PTSD in refugee children with NET (or the child “KIDNET” adaptation) demonstrates how this is an effective intervention, is scalable and culturally dexterous. This paper describes, in five cases from clinical practice settings, the applicability of NET into broader, routine practice. The cases outlined describe the use of NET with adolescents with: autism spectrum disorders, psychotic symptoms, and intellectual disabilities; histories of forced abduction into child soldiering; complex physical health problems needing multiple interventions; and victims of childhood sexual abuse. The cases are discussed with regards to how the NET lifeline facilitated engagement in treatment, practical adaptations for those with intellectual disabilities and how NET, with its relatively short training for health professionals, can be modified to different contexts and presentations. The importance of improving access to care is discussed to ensure that young people are supported with their most complex and disruptive memories.

Laboratory Diagnosis of Sexually Transmitted Infections in Cases of Suspected Child Sexual Abuse.

Laboratory diagnosis of microbial agents associated with sexually transmitted infections plays an important role in both the care of victims of child sexual abuse (CSA) and the investigation of suspected CSA incidents, with law enforcement implications. Rapid and sensitive test results prompt immediate actions to treat and protect the victimized children. The development and maturation of automated nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) has greatly improved the assay sensitivity and specificity, with only a 1- to 2-h turnaround time. Unfortunately, the performance characteristics of NAATs have been determined largely with a few limited specimen types and evaluated in adults only. This minireview attempts to cover the scope of infectious agents potentially implicated in CSA, specimen collection, laboratory test modalities, and laboratory report constraints, further complicated by infrequently collected specimen types from prepubertal children <13 years of age.

Factors that prevent, prompt, and delay disclosures in female victims of child sexual abuse

BackgroundSeveral studies conducted in clinical and non-clinical settings have described why and when children disclose sexual abuse. Yet, there is incomplete understanding of how adolescents and young children may differ in factors that delay, prompt and deter disclosure that could inform strategies for clinical practice and prevention. ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to identify factors that prevent, prompt, and delay disclosure among pediatric patients presenting for acute and non-acute medical evaluations of sexual abuse or assault, and to examine any differences in disclosure tendencies among female adolescents and pre-adolescents. Participants and settingA chart review of a consecutive sample of pediatric patients presenting to the emergency department or outpatient clinic identified 601 patients who were diagnosed with sexual abuse and were willing to answer examiner questions about their disclosure. MethodsData collection included attainment of patient narratives which were utilized to gather information about abuse disclosures. Recursive abstraction was applied to categorize patient statements for further analysis, while Pearson chi square and logistic regression were utilized for quantitative data. ResultsYoung age (<11 years) at abuse onset was the strongest predictor of, and fear of consequences to self was the most common reason for, disclosure delay in both adolescent and pre-adolescent females. Severity of abuse, adult perpetrator, and self-blame predicted delays only in pre-adolescent females. ConclusionsSocial and moral development during middle childhood likely has a strong influence on disclosure tendency. Strategies to promote disclosure should consider reducing fear of consequences associated with the adult-child paradigm.

Childhood sexual abuse and attachment insecurity: Associations with child psychological difficulties.

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is considered an important public health concern that can derail the developmental course of children. Given that children rely upon their attachment figures when they experience upsetting events, attachment organization may play a critical role in predicting victims' adaptation to CSA. To date, no studies have delineated the unique and interactive contributions of these two risk factors in the prediction of psychopathology. The aims of this study were to examine attachment in CSA victims and a comparison group and to assess the contributions of each risk factor to child psychological difficulties. Participants included 111 children aged 7-13, of whom 43 were CSA victims. Children completed an attachment interview and reported on their depressive symptoms. Their mothers reported on children's externalizing symptoms, internalizing symptoms, dissociation, and sexualized behavior. Our key findings showed that child victims of CSA were more likely to be classified as having insecure and disorganized attachment. Further, insecure attachment was the primary factor associated with higher self-reported depressive symptoms in all children and that CSA was associated with more parent-reported child externalizing problems, sexualizing problems, and dissociation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).