Form Of Sexual Abuse Research Articles

Knowledge of sexual abuse amongst female students in Malawi

Sexual abuse is an increasing problem in Malawi amongst female students, and is associated with physical and mental health problems. This study aimed to determine existing knowledge of sexual abuse amongst female students in tertiary education institutions in Malawi. A descriptive, comparative, quantitative and contextual research design was used. Participants (n=219) were selected through systematic random sampling from a population of female students aged 18 to 21, at fifteen (n= 15) tertiary education institutions in Malawi. Sexually abusive behaviours demonstrated by a lover and friend were interpreted as not being abusive. There were no significant differences in knowledge of sexual abuse between the abused and non-abused respondent groups (p > 0.05). The overall prevalence rate of sexual abuse was 41%. Common forms of sexual abuse experienced were touching of breasts (54.4%) and attempted sexual intercourse (47.8%). Completed sexual intercourse was experienced by 18.9% of the respondents. The majority reported that they were sexually abused by men (98.9%). Twenty one percent experienced more than one sexually abusive incident and some respondents were abused by friends (30%). The abusers mostly used physical threats. Only 55.6% reported their sexual victimisation to others. Female students aged 18 to 21 in tertiary education institutions in Malawi had some knowledge of sexual abuse, but there were deficits in the interpretation of sexually abusive behaviours. The majority of abusers were male adolescents and young adults. Respondents should know what the Malawi law stipulates and what can be done to control and prevent sexual abuse. The information obtained from the study was used to develop guidelines for sexual abuse prevention programmes.

Concordance about Childhood Sexual Abuse among Depressed Patients 50 and Over and Their Family and Friends

In post-mortem studies of suicide, informant sources are often relied upon to provide information to identify correlates of suicide and suicidal behavior. While previous research has shown that informants can supply reliable information about patients' recent stressful life events, it is unknown whether informants and patients provide concordant data about adverse early life experiences such as childhood sexual abuse. This study examined concordance between patient and informant reports of childhood sexual abuse in a sample of depressed patients 50 years and older. Patients and informants (n = 88 pairs) independently responded to items from the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. Informants' reports of patients' severe sexual abuse histories were in high agreement with patients' reports; concordance was significantly lower, however, for milder forms of sexual abuse. These findings demonstrate the feasibility and limitations of collecting sensitive information about patients' early life experiences in research designs utilizing informant report, including postmortem studies of suicide that use psychological autopsy methodology.

When marriage as an institution ceases to be a partnership: Contested issues of rape and other forms of sexual abuse as condoned by culture

abstract Through the ages, the notion of culture has been misused as a weapon by some men to marginalise, oppress or abuse women. Traditional value systems that view women as inferior to men have led to various atrocities committed against this social group in the name of ‘culture’. This leads to the contested issues of rape and other forms of sexual abuse, in and outside of marriage. This briefing examines women's strategies to contest the notion that they are ‘properties’ of men. One such channel is constituted by cultural songs, as exemplified by married Zulu women from Zwelibomvu, a rural village near Pinetown in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Oppressed women hope that their sung messages will reach the hearts of their partners, as they share the anxieties of their life experience with women in similar situations. Some of the concerns addressed in these songs revolve around issues of what I regard as marital rape, where men, for example, refuse to use condoms amidst HIV and Aids pandemic.

PTSD and ADHD: underlying factors in many cases of burnout

AbstractObjective: To analyse the extent to which traumatic life events, post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the neuropsychiatric disorder attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can be contributors associated with burnout and the long‐term sick leave that results from it.Subjects: Sixty‐two individuals on long‐term sick leave due to stress‐related poor health and burnout, and 83 working individuals were screened for the presence of traumatic life events, PTSD and ADHD. Potential background factors involved in burnout were analysed using a multiple logistic regression.Results: Fifty‐two per cent of those on long‐term sick leave were judged to have PTSD and 24 per cent to have ADHD. The number of suspected/possible cases was even higher—71 per cent and 56 per cent, respectively. Nineteen per cent were judged to have both PTSD and ADHD; 56 per cent were judged to have PTSD and/or ADHD. PTSD, ADHD and traumatic life events in the form of sexual assault and severe human suffering were all strongly associated with both burnout and long‐term sick leave.Conclusions: Since ADHD is almost never discussed and PTSD rarely so in the occupational rehabilitation of individuals with burnout, these results should act as a warning signal. Further studies are needed, however, including clinical examinations in order to establish with certainty if PTSD and ADHD can predict burnout followed by long‐term sick leave. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Female Criminal Victimization and Criminal Justice Response in China

Growing attention has been paid to female victimization around the world in recent decades. This study examines sexual assault against women, its legal definition and criminal punishment in transitional China. Four forms of sexual assault, including rape, abduction of women, sexual assault and forcing women into prostitution in China, are discussed. Employing criminal court cases spanning ten years from 1992 to 2002, this study further constructs offender and offence profiles and their respective legal punishment in China. Theoretical and practical implications of this comparative research are discussed.

Update on Childhood Sexual Abuse

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a problem of epidemic proportion affecting children and communities worldwide. This review will examine the most recent published CSA literature emphasizing not only new findings in diagnosis, management, and prevention, but also practice implications for the medical and community-based provider. Sexual assault and rape, though forms of sexual abuse, are broader than the scope of this article and not discussed in detail at this time. RECENT FINDINGS: Prevalence rates for CSA are difficult to obtain. To identify populations at greatest risk and tailor treatment and prevention initiatives, consistent methods for defining and reporting cases of CSA are needed. Appreciating the quality and quantity of adverse health outcomes associated with CSA has helped clinicians and community providers expand and develop treatment programs. The physical and psychological late effects of abuse can be permanent and life threatening and the primary care provider should assess for mental health problems as well as physical maladies in all routine examinations. Children do not often disclose experiences of abuse for months to years and caregivers must be cognizant of the medical and behavioral indicators that signal early abuse. Child advocacy centers are community-based programs that incorporate medical, psychological, and legal support services for children and their families. This therapeutic model is based on a multidisciplinary team assessment aimed at decreasing stress, providing adequate protection and services for the child, and optimizing chances for a successful legal outcome. SUMMARY: While prevention remains the ultimate goal, improved awareness and education for communities and professionals alike is required to ensure appropriate and quality care for all children who are sexually abused. Language: en

Update on childhood sexual abuse

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a problem of epidemic proportion affecting children and communities worldwide. This review will examine the most recent published CSA literature emphasizing not only new findings in diagnosis, management, and prevention, but also practice implications for the medical and community-based provider. Sexual assault and rape, though forms of sexual abuse, are broader than the scope of this article and not discussed in detail at this time. Prevalence rates for CSA are difficult to obtain. To identify populations at greatest risk and tailor treatment and prevention initiatives, consistent methods for defining and reporting cases of CSA are needed. Appreciating the quality and quantity of adverse health outcomes associated with CSA has helped clinicians and community providers expand and develop treatment programs. The physical and psychological late effects of abuse can be permanent and life threatening and the primary care provider should assess for mental health problems as well as physical maladies in all routine examinations. Children do not often disclose experiences of abuse for months to years and caregivers must be cognizant of the medical and behavioral indicators that signal early abuse. Child advocacy centers are community-based programs that incorporate medical, psychological, and legal support services for children and their families. This therapeutic model is based on a multidisciplinary team assessment aimed at decreasing stress, providing adequate protection and services for the child, and optimizing chances for a successful legal outcome. While prevention remains the ultimate goal, improved awareness and education for communities and professionals alike is required to ensure appropriate and quality care for all children who are sexually abused.

Does Childhood Sexual Abuse Set in Motion a Cycle of Violence Against Women?

This article reviews evidence for the deleterious effects of childhood sexual abuse on female development in both the acute and long-term phases. Taken in aggregate, there is evidence to suggest a persistent cycle of violence perpetrated against women that begins in childhood in the form of sexual abuse, reemerges later in adolescence and early adulthood in the form of physical assault or sexual revictimization, and ultimately places the next generation at considerable risk for victimization. The differential effect of the characteristics of sexual abuse and the wide variation in the onset and developmental course of symptoms are underscored. The need for adequate models elucidating mechanisms behind this continued cycle of violence is discussed.

Childhood and Adult Sexual Abuse

Questions concerning sexual abuse before and after the age of 16 years were included in a general population survey of a representative sample of 1052 UK women and 975 UK men. In relation to women 12.5% reported experiencing some form of sexual abuse before the age of 16 years. The corresponding figures for men in this category were 11.7%. After the age of 16 the figure for women remained at this level. However the proportion of men reporting these traumatic experiences dropped to 3.2%. Sexual abuse both pre and post age 16 was associated with ‘addictive’ or ‘problem’ behaviours such as those associated with eating too much (for women), sexual activity and Internet use (for men).

Commercial and sexual exploitation of children and young people in the UK—a review

AbstractThis paper reviews recent information and data relevant to the commercial sexual exploitation of children and young people in the UK. Three main aspects of exploitation are addressed: abuse through prostitution; abuse through pornography; and the trafficking of children and young people to and through the UK for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation. Most published research in this area relates to young people exploited through prostitution. The review explores the range of vulnerability factors, the processes used to engage young people in prostitution and the types of support strategies for those being exploited. Rather less information is currently available on the scale of child pornography, or the links between the use of pornography and other forms of sexual abuse. The internet as a modern technology for proliferating child pornography is discussed, alongside its role in providing opportunities for paedophiles to access and ‘groom’ children for sexual purposes. Finally, the review provides a summary of research on trafficking of children to and through the UK for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and demonstrates the limited knowledge about this topic. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Hadley, S. (Ed.). (2003). Psychodynamic music therapy: Case studies. Gilsum, NH: Barcelona. 424 pages. ISBN 1-891278-16-9. $42.00

Hadley, S. (Ed.). (2003). Psychodynamic music therapy: Case studies. Gilsum, NH: Barcelona. 424 pages. ISBN 1-891278-16-9. $42.00. One criticism of the profession of music (from within, as well as from outside, the field) is that music therapists do not articulate clearly enough their theoretical underpinnings. As a profession, we have in fact written much about what we do and less about why we do it. That criticism, however, cannot be leveled against the music therapists represented in Susan Hadley's (2003) new offering, Psychodynamic music therapy: Case studies. In this edited work, Hadley has compiled 21 engaging case studies written by music therapists from nine countries. All share a psychodynamic orientation toward their work, but differ in regard to the particular theories/theorists that inform and shape their work. Prior to the actual case studies, Hadley provides three sections that enhance the reading of the remainder of the book. The Contributors section gives a brief biography of each therapist/author represented. In the Preface, Dr. Hadley provides her personal and pedagogical reasons for creating this book, emphasizing her hope that it will inspire music therapists to pursue advanced training in music therapy. The Introduction provides a wealth of information. In this section Hadley gives a brief history of psychodynamic music and a succinct overview of several psychodynamic schools of thought, including Drive Psychology, Ego Psychology, Object Relations, Self Psychology, and Jungian Theory. She makes note of the particular case studies informed by each theory. I found this section particularly helpful to refer to during my reading of each case study, so as to review the core beliefs and terminology of that author's theoretical basis. This section also includes a summary of basic common assumptions of psychodynamic music therapy (p. 12) and an introduction to several psychodynamic constructs, such as defenses and transference. The entire Introduction is essential for the music therapist who has had little or no exposure to psychodynamic theories and/or psychodynamic music and to the pioneers who have paved the way for this type of work. The case studies are organized into three parts according to the chronological ages of the clients. All authors follow a similar format, presenting an abstract, an introduction (often used to delineate the author's theoretical influences or treatment approach), background information on the client, an explication of the treatment process, and finally a discussion of the case and the psychodynamic constructs present. The duration of music in the cases ranges from two sessions to over seven years. Music methods utilized include improvisation, songs, music listening, and music imagery. Part One contains nine case studies with children from 5 to 12 years of age. Eight of the case studies reflect individual music sessions; one is a group situation. The children in these cases have incredibly challenging problems including emotional and developmental disabilities, abusive and neglectful caregivers, selective mutism, and terminal illness. I was particularly moved by Sweeny's case study regarding her work with a terminally ill boy who, through the use of an instrument as a transitional object, seemed to come to terms with his impending death. I also appreciated the description of various phases in the process addressed by some authors (e.g., Robarts; Dvorkin and Erlund). Most of the cases in this section are influenced by some branch of object relations theory; one study is decidedly Jungian. Part Two contains three case studies with adolescents from 10 to 16 years of age. All three are examples of individual music therapy. The theories drawn upon in this section of the book include object relations and self psychology. The clients' histories include incest and other forms of sexual abuse, deprivation, attempted suicide, abandonment, and social difficulties. …

The role of women's substance use in vulnerability to forcible and incapacitated rape.

Although women's substance use is believed to contribute to rape vulnerability, few studies have examined, separately from forcible rape, rape that occurs due to incapacitation. The current study examines the prevalence of completed forcible and incapacitated rape in a representative community sample of young women, identifies the predictors of these two forms of rape and compares characteristics of forcible and incapacitated rape incidents. Women, ages 18-30 (N = 1,014), were recruited from households in the Buffalo, NY, area, by means of random-digit-dialing. They completed computer-assisted measures, including the Sexual Experiences Survey and a face-to-face interview regarding sexual assault experiences occurring since age 14. Lifetime prevalence of incapacitated rape was nearly identical to prevalence of forcible rape, with about 1 in 10 women reporting each type of rape since age 14. In multivariate analysis, age and childhood sexual abuse predicted forcible but not incapacitated rape, whereas adolescent alcohol and drug use predicted incapacitated but not forcible rape. Incapacitated rape incidents differed from forcible rape incidents on several contextual variables, including relationship to perpetrator, activities preceding the assault and victim injury. Findings suggest that forcible rape and incapacitated rape may be different forms of sexual assault, with different distal and proximal correlates. Distinguishing these two forms may facilitate understanding of the role of women's alcohol and drug use in sexual assault.

Multiple Sexual Victimizations Among Adolescent Boys and Girls: Prevalence and Associations with Eating Behaviors and Psychological Health

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of sexual abuse, including multiple victimizations, among adolescents and to examine associations among history of sexual abuse, disordered eating behaviors and psychological health. The sample included 81,247 students (40,946 girls and 40,301 boys) in 9th and 12th grades in Minnesota public schools. Sexual abuse was reported by 14.7% of girls and 6.2% of boys. Sexual abuse was associated with unhealthy eating behaviors, suicidal thoughts and attempts, and lower emotional well-being and self-esteem. Students who reported a single or multiple forms of sexual abuse were more likely than their non-abused peers to binge-eat (Odds Ratio: girls = 1.93–2.21; boys = 2.26–5.61), fast (OR: girls = 1.68–2.34; boys = 1.33–2.32), use diet pills (OR: girls = 1.50–4.30; boys = 2.99–17.29) or laxatives (OR: girls = 1.87–5.11; boys = 3.89–29.22), vomit (OR: girls = 1.75–4.06; boys = 2.82–24.16), and have suicidal thoughts/attempts (OR: girls = 3.01–6.12; boys = 3.35–9.46). Boys and girls reporting multiple sexual victimizations had the highest odds ratios for disordered eating behaviors. Future research should explore strategies for primary prevention of revictimization and secondary prevention of detrimental effects of abuse.

Sexual Assault of College Women: A Feminist Interpretation of a Routine Activities Analysis

Sexual assault has been a frequent topic of research for several decades, especially for feminist researchers. Generally, feminist research suggest that there are high levels of sexual assault against women because of a patriarchal, rape-supportive culture. However, not all women have the same heightened risk for sexual assault victimization. Wh the feminist perspective does not adequately account for are the variations in rape victimization rates across the female population. This is where the importance of theory that focuses on individual statuses and lifestyles becomes important. By combining the two perspectives, explanations of sexual assault victimization can be made more vigorous and instructive. The data in this article come from 674 college and university women in 12 southern postsecondary institutions in eight states who completed an in-depth survey. Analyses focused on sexual assault in general and an more serious forms of sexual assault. Findings suggest tat the combination of feminism and routine activity theory enhances explanation of sexual assault victimization risks. Sexual assault victimization risks were influenced primarily by the amount of exposure that respondents had to potential offenders, especially to rape-supportive male per groups. Additionally, the finding between the models of differing degrees of sexual assault victimization are not particularly different.

Child and Adolescent Sexual Abuse History in a Sample of 1,490 Women Sexual Partners of Injection Drug-Using Men

ABSTRACT Subjects for this study were 1490 community-recruited women sexual partners of injection drug-using men who were interviewed in three U.S. cities during 1990–'92. Data were collected on respondents' childhood and adolescent sexual abuse history, identity of abuse perpetrators and duration of abuse. Over 56 percent of respondents reported a history of sexual victimization by age 18, including 39 percent who were abused before age 12 and over 53 percent who were victimized by abuse involving bodily contact by age 18. One in three women were victimized by unwanted penetration by age 18. White women more likely than African-American and Hispanic women to have been the victims of virtually every type of abusive act investigated here. Overall, nearly two out of three White women had experienced some form of sexual abuse by age 18, including almost 42 percent who were the victims of unwanted penetration by this age. Acts of forced sexual touching and penetration occurring in childhood were most likely to have been carried out by an uncle or other relative of the victim; family members were much less likely to be the perpetrators of adolescent contact abuse. Based on these findings, it appears that many in this special population of women are likely to be at substantial risk for some of the long-term effects of early life sexual abuse, including those that may reduce victims' ability to take preventive action against HIV risk. Recommendations are offered for those who function as caregivers to this population, including drug treatment personnel.

New Survey Methodologies in Researching Violence Against Women

This paper assesses the methodologies of the new national surveys of violence against women, including those in the US, Canada, Australia, Finland and the Netherlands, as well as the British Crime Survey. The development of large-scale quantitative survey methodology so as to be suitable for such a sensitive subject has involved many innovations. The paper concludes with recommendations for further improvements including: the sampling frame, the scaling of both sexual assaults and range of impacts, the recording of series rather than merely single events, the collection of disagregated socio-economic data and criminal history. Violent crime against women has given rise to concern, but to far less data collection than that for property crime. Rape is the crime women are more worried about than any other, yet there is little data about its extent in the UK. Thirty-one per cent of women are very worried about rape, according to the British Crime Survey (BCS) in 1997, more than any other crime. Yet there are no reliable national estimates of the extent of rape or indeed any other form of sexual assault. Women are much more likely to be assaulted by people that they know, while assaults by known assailants are much less likely to be reported to the police than those by strangers (Gartner and Macmillan 1995). Nearly half of women who are murdered are killed by their partners—47 per cent of 224 (Criminal Statistics for England and Wales 1997). Yet, despite most assault on women taking place domestically, the police do not routinely collect statistics on domestic violence as a category. New research methods, especially the use of dedicated surveys in other countries, have been uncovering ever higher rates of violence against women. For instance, Statistics Canada found that 51 per cent of women had experienced violence at some point in their lifetime (39 per cent sexual assault, 34 per cent physical violence and 29 per cent spousal assaults) and 10 per cent in the previous year (Statistics Canada 1993). The methodology of the Statistics Canada survey has now been replicated in Australia, Finland and Iceland and is under development in Sweden, Germany and Ireland. The UK lags behind in these developments, making reliable estimates of the extent and patterns of rape and domestic violence difficult to obtain. The British Crime Survey, when introduced, was a state of the art generic crime survey, however, it does not utilize state of the art methods on issues of violence against women. Elsewhere specialized methodologies have been developed to provide information on crimes of violence against women. Estimates derived from the BCS suggest that less than 1 per cent of women are subjected to rape or other sexual assault each year, but such figures are usually unpublished because even the Home Office felt them to be unreliably low (Percy and Mayhew 1997). The first generation methodology of the 1998 British Crime Survey

The Medical Evaluation in Cases of Child Sexual Abuse

Child sexual abuse is a sexual relationship imposed upon a child by an all-powerful and dominant perpetrator. Although in some instances the perpetrator selects the victim by chance (e.g., abduction), in most cases the perpetrator is a family member or an acquaintance. As the sexual relationship develops, the perpetrator persuades or pressures the child to keep the activity secret. Child sexual abuse affects children of all ages, socioeconomic classes, and geographic locations. 1 Kemp C Incest and other forms of sexual abuse. in: Kemp C.E Helfer R.E The Battered Child. University of Chicago Press, Chicago1980 Google Scholar , 2 Kemp C Sexual abuse, another hidden pediatric problem. Pediatrics. 1978; 62: 382 PubMed Google Scholar Children from infancy to young adulthood have been victims of abuse, with the average reported age at first incident ranging between 8 and 11 yrs. 1 Kemp C Incest and other forms of sexual abuse. in: Kemp C.E Helfer R.E The Battered Child. University of Chicago Press, Chicago1980 Google Scholar , 2 Kemp C Sexual abuse, another hidden pediatric problem. Pediatrics. 1978; 62: 382 PubMed Google Scholar Other investigators have suggested that younger children (4–9 yrs) may be at a higher risk because of a naive and trusting approach to adults and a vulnerability to being misled regarding the meaning of various sexual activities. 3 Gelinas D The persisting negative effects of incest. Psychiatry. 1983; 46: 312 PubMed Google Scholar

Group Treatment with Sexually Assaulted Male Veterans: A Year in Review

Rape of men by other men is a form of sexual assault that is incompletely addressed in the literature. As a result, little is known about the treatment interventions that are most effective for this population. We designed and conducted an ongoing process-oriented psychotherapy group for male veterans who were raped while serving in the military and/or sexually assaulted in childhood. Our experience with this group provided us with a better understanding of the behavioral, cognitive, and emotional issues presented by sexually assaulted males. We suggest that group therapy is an effective modality in treating this population.

Victims of violence: an Asian scenario

The term 'violence' is difficult to define. Aggressive behaviour with actual use of physical force may result in some form of physical and emotional trauma to an individual and this could be considered as violence against the person. The trauma may range from minimal physical injury to death. It is also relevant to note that in some jurisdictions if members of the law enforcement agencies with appropriate authority resort to certain acts of 'violence' for lawful purposes, then such acts of violence may be excluded from this category. However, if the law enforcement personnel exceed their limits of authority, or resort to various unacceptable and unauthorized methods of violence, then certainly such acts will become violence against the person. In today's context the word violence has expanded to encompass many issues, besides the usual physical violence such as assault. Rape, child sexual abuse, other forms of sexual abuse, non-accidental injury to children, battered wife, assault in custody, torture, victims of war, civil unrest and ethnic violence are all considered under 'violence'. While general violence is almost endemic in many countries, assault in custody, torture, political and ethnic violence are serious problems in some of the developing world. In these countries, particularly, the law enforcement agencies and other unlawful groups who are backed by politicians may inflict politically motivated violence against its citizens. In such cases attempts are often made to cover up such crimes. Forensic physicians and forensic pathologists who examine these cases may be placed in difficult positions at times owing to various 'pressures' being brought upon them to issue 'favourable' reports. On the other hand there is also a general dearth of suitably trained forensic physicians and forensic pathologists in many of these countries. Medical officers without any training in forensic medicine often undertake the examination of victims of violence, both living and fatal cases. Lack of training makes them more vulnerable to political and other forms of 'pressure'. The objective of this article is to highlight some of the common problems that are encountered, particularly in developing countries.

Obscene Telephone Calls to Children: A Retrospective Field Study

Studied a sample of 24 Danish children selected from a larger group of 56 children who had received obscene telephone calls from a single adult offender to ascertain the psychological consequences of this form of sexual abuse. The sample is unusual in that the source of the abuse was the same for all of the children, and none of them had records of prior or concurrent abuse from other sources. Almost all children suffered significant psychological consequences from these calls, those who obeyed the caller's demands experiencing more serious consequences than those who did not. A comparison was made with the consequences suffered by an additional group of 7 children who had experienced direct physical sexual abuse by the same offender.