Impact Of Childhood Sexual Abuse Research Articles

Child Sexual Abuse Victimization Amongst Detained Adolescents and Incarcerated Young Adults: Findings from an Australian Population-Based Birth Cohort Study

ABSTRACT To guide prevention and intervention efforts, the prevalence and impact of child sexual abuse (CSA) victimization among detained and incarcerated populations requires further examination, particularly with consideration of multi-type maltreatment experiences and sex-based variations. This longitudinal population-based study explores these relationships in an Australian birth cohort comprising all individuals born in Queensland in 1983 and 1984 (n = 82,409; 48.68% female). Data include all notified and substantiated harm(s) from child protection services (0 to 17 years), and sentences to youth detention and/or adult incarceration between ages 10 and 30. Findings indicate greater prevalence of CSA amongst detained/incarcerated individuals compared to the general population but emphasize the impact of cooccurring maltreatment (particularly neglect) on the likelihood of custodial outcomes. Important sex-based differences were noted in the intersection of CSA victimization and detention/incarceration. Findings reinforce the need for trauma-informed practices when working with custodial populations, particularly females, and highlight opportunities for prevention of detention/incarceration in at-risk populations, in line with a broader public health approach to child protection.

Impact of child sexual abuse on suicidal behavior in a population of Moroccan women with severe psychiatric disorders: Impact des abus sexuels à l'enfance sur les comportements suicidaires chez une population de femmes marocaines atteintes de troubles psychiatriques sévères

BackgroundChild sexual abuse (CSA) was associated with an increased risk of suicidal behavior. AimsEvaluate the impact of child sexual abuse on suicidal behavior in a population of Moroccan women with severe psychiatric disorders. MethodA cross-sectional study was carried out at the psychiatry department of Mohammed VI University Hospital Center in Oujda (Morocco). Results400 women with psychiatric disorders were included. 5% of the patients in our sample had a history of CSA, and the average age at the time of sexual abuse was 12.5 ± 3.4 years old, ranging from 4 to 18. 25.5% of the patients had a history of a lifetime suicide attempts. The prevalence (7.8% vs. 4%, p = 0.078), and the number of the lifetime suicide attempts (6.25 ± 4.68 Vs 2.59 ± 2.69, p = 0.0008), were significantly higher in sexually abused patients. Jumping from heights was the most common method of suicide attempts among sexually abused patients (p = 0.0055). In addition CSA is significantly more frequent among patients with borderline personality disorder (p = 0.0034), and those who use tobacco (28% vs. 8.5%, p = 0.00007), cannabis (38.5% vs. 4%, p = 0.00018), and alcohol (45.5% vs. 4%, p = 0.00007). LimitationsThe cross-sectional design, as well as the non-performance of logistic regression, were the main limitations of our study. ConclusionCSA significantly influences suicidal behavior in women with severe psychiatric disorders. CSA screening and evaluation could prevent suicidal behavior and improve patients' overall quality of life.

‘What do I do?’ A study to inform development of an e-resource for maternity healthcare professionals and students caring for people with lived experience of childhood sexual abuse

BackgroundThe impact of childhood sexual abuse can last a lifetime. It is more prevalent than many common complexities that require additional care during the childbirth cycle but is rarely part of the education of healthcare professionals and students. This study informed the development of an e-resource to support maternity healthcare professionals and students caring for people with lived experience of childhood sexual abuse. ObjectivesTo identify any previous learning of pre-registration students and healthcare professionals in relation to care of survivors of childhood sexual abuse, explore their clinical experience in caring for survivors, identify related learning needs, explore what survivors of childhood sexual abuse would like healthcare professionals to know about their maternity care needs. DesignA qualitative descriptive study using focus groups and interviews. Data derived qualitative content analysis was employed to address the objectives. SettingThe study was designed in consultation with The Survivors Trust and took place in South London, UK ParticipantsThirty seven health care professionals and students participated, comprising 25 students of midwifery, health visiting and medicine; 9 midwives, health visitors and doctors with specialist obstetric training. Eight women with lived experience took part in focus groups. FindingsCare of women and birthing people who have experienced childhood sexual abuse had not been part of the undergraduate/pre-registration curricula, nor in specialist training for obstetricians. Many practitioners felt unprepared to care for those with lived experience of abuse and their learning needs were wide-ranging. The need for a learning resource was acknowledged and the outline plan that had been produced following the focus groups was endorsed by participants with lived experience. ConclusionCare for women and birthing people with lived experience of childhood sexual abuse can be challenging for both personal and professional reasons. This study confirmed the need for a resource that could facilitate the classroom teaching of students and be used for the Continuous Professional Development of qualified practitioners.

Le sentiment de compétence parentale des mères victimes d’abus sexuel(s) infantile(s) : un modèle structural

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate the impact of childhood sexual abuse on the parental sense of competence and to propose a structural model, taking into account the cumulative effect of the different types of abuse. Participants and methodThe participants were 1904 mothers of children aged 3 to 8. They were asked to complete an online form that included a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire - Short Form (CTQ-SF), and the Questionnaire d’Auto-Évaluation de la Compétence Éducative Parentale (QAECEP). ResultsOur results confirm the link between sexual abuse and intrafamilial abuse. They suggest that the experience of childhood sexual abuse impacts mothers' parental sense of competence when it occurs in situations of multiple and severe abuses. Furthermore, our statistical analyses indicate that maternal psychological well-being and the presence of child disorders mediate the association between the mother's childhood experience and her parental sense of competence. DiscussionIt seems that the parental sense of competence is impacted by sexual abuse when it is part of multiple traumas leading to symptoms of complex post-traumatic stress disorder. Psychological well-being of the mother and the absence of disorders in the child demonstrates a protective role in the parental sense of competence of mothers with histories of childhood abuse. These findings have implications for interventions for mothers experiencing parenting difficulties. Our results suggest that taking into account the parental sense of competence and the childhood experiences is essential for providing appropriate interventions. ConclusionsThis study confirms the importance of integrating the mother's childhood experiences to better understand her parenting difficulties and to be able to intervene on her difficulties of traumatic origin.

Experiences of and Interventions for Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual abuse in South Asia: A systematic review

IntroductionAdult survivors of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) may experience psychological difficulties in adulthood. Such adverse experiences in the developmental years, sometimes for prolonged periods, could have an impact on their emotional, social and psychological resources. This impact is heightened in CSA adult survivors as the interpersonal nature of harm could reverberate throughout their adult relationships, with complex emotional responses to traumatic stressors. Despite the demonstrated effectiveness of trauma focused treatments in the West, culturally specific understanding of the needs and treatments for such survivors in South Asia is still in its infancy. This is important to address their meaning of presenting complaints in South Asia and offering them treatments suitable for them.ObjectivesIn this systematic review, we aimed to synthesize the findings of existing research on the impact of CSA on adult survivors in South Asia and the current approaches used to treat them.MethodsWe searched nine databases and ‘hand searched’ important peer-reviewed journals published in South Asian countries from inception until 3rd April 2022. Searches focused on adult survivors of CSA of South Asian origin residing in South Asia, different treatments offered and the efficacy and acceptability of these treatments.ResultsWe identified and screened 2608 records and included 56 articles in our full text screening. Out of those, we included 22 articles in the final review. Studies were from four out of the eight countries in South Asia; India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Pakistan. Of note, only six of those studies focused exclusively on CSA whereas others included all forms of abuse and neglect. All except one article explored experiences of survivors. Only one article focused on their recovery process, within and/or outside of professional treatment with no published research on treatments for them in South Asia. Physical abuse and emotional abuse or neglect were more often reported in our included studies as compared to sexual abuse.ConclusionsOur review suggests that even though the needs of adult CSA survivors in South Asia have been partly identified, there is very little research into the treatment of CSA adult survivors in this region. Perpetrators often come from their immediate or extended families, leading to their distrust of the familial and legal systems. Even when not diagnosed with a severe mental health condition, there are potentially serious implications for victims’ adult relationships and social functioning. There is a current lack of research and therefore, lack of evidence-based treatment for adult survivors of CSA in South Asia.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

The Impact of Childhood Sexual Abuse on Adult Female Sexual Function and Sexual Distress: A Systematic Review and Meta- Analysis.

In this study, it was aimed to examine the impacts of exposure to childhood sexual abuse (CSA) on women's sexual function and sexual distress. In this systematic review and meta-analysis study, eight international (EBSCO, Psyc-Info, Proquest, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Ovid, Web of Science) and two national electronic databases (Dergipark and Thesis Database of the Turkish Council of Higher Education) were searched. Studies reporting outcomes of sexual function and sexual distress in women with and without a history of CSA were included. The data were synthesized by meta-analysis and narrative methods. Two dissertations and five research articles published between 2010 and 2021 were included in the study. In some studies that were not included in the meta-analysis, it was reported that there was no difference in the prevalence of sexual dysfunction, and sexual satisfaction in women with and without a history of CSA. Meta-analysis results demonstrated lower sexual function (sexual arousal, MD: -0.83, p<0.001; sexual desire, MD: -0.55, p<0.001; lubrication, MD: -0.78, p<0.01; pain, MD: -0.52, p<0.001) and more sexual distress (SMD: -0.79, p<0.05) in women with CSA history. This study showed that CSA negatively affects female sexual function and increases sexual distress. Healthcare professionals should be aware that women with a CSA history may have worse sexual functions and more sexual distress. More research is needed on the role of CSA in the etiology of sexual function problems and its possible mechanisms of action.

Child Sexual Abuse, Psychopathology, Trauma and Attachment Beliefs and Interpersonal Functioning among Young Adult Survivors Attending Psychiatric Services in India

Background: Child sexual abuse (CSA) is known to have short and long-term consequences which can have an impact even in adulthood. The objectives of the study were to explore the nature of CSA in individuals attending psychiatric services, the impact of CSA on psychopathology, trauma and attachment beliefs and interpersonal functioning in young adult survivors and factors associated with CSA and its impact. Methodology: The study adopted a cross-sectional exploratory design. The sample comprised of 246 young adult patients attending inpatient and outpatient psychiatric services of a tertiary care hospital in India. The tools used were: Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview, Sexual and Physical Abuse History Questionnaire, abuse-related Beliefs Questionnaire, Sexual Abuse Severity Score, Trauma and Attachment Beliefs Scale, Brief Symptom Inventory and Social Adjustment-Self Report. Results: About 21% of the sample had a history of CSA; among them 70% were females. The age of CSA ranged between 8 and 12 years. About 34% of them had more than 5 such experiences and about half of them had more than 2 perpetrators with majority of the sample experiencing high coercion. The survivors of CSA had greater levels of psychopathology, trauma and attachment beliefs, difficulties in certain domains of interpersonal functioning in comparison with individuals without a history of CSA. Female gender, poor parental emotional support, and having more than one significant life event contributed to risk of CSA. Poor emotional support from parents and trauma related beliefs predicted psychopathology. Conclusion: The study has implications with respect to the assessment, research and conceptualization of therapy in individuals with a history of CSA.

The impact of childhood sexual abuse and its associated stigma on depressed women in Egypt

Abstract Background Depression is common in women, childhood sexual abuse and its related stigma in our culture are expected to increase the severity of depression, and it may be a strong risk factor for the presence of suicidal ideations in women. This study aimed to look at the relationship of childhood history of sexual abuse and its related stigma to depression and suicidal ideations in depressed women. Methods A consecutive sample of 160 depressed women was enrolled in this study. The structured clinical interview for DSM-5 was used to diagnose depression, and the Beck Depression Inventory, second edition was used to quantify its severity. The Scale for Suicidal Ideations was used to evaluate suicidal ideations, and history taking was used to assess previous suicidal attempts. The history of childhood sexual abuse was evaluated using a self-report questionnaire, the questions of this questionnaire were derived from the National Population Survey, and a Canadian survey of sexual abuse and its related stigma was assessed using a scale for stigma of sexual abuse. Results The findings showed that 11.8% of depressed women had a history of childhood sexual abuse under age of 15 years. There was a significant decrease in age of onset of depression, a significant increase in duration of depression, number of hospital admission, the Beck Depression Inventory, second edition BDI-II, the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS) mean scores, number of patients with suicidal ideations, and previous suicidal attempts in depressed women with a history of childhood sexual abuse in comparison to those without that history. History of childhood sexual abuse and its related stigma were the most significant predictors for the presence of depression and current suicidal ideations. Conclusions The history of sexual abuse in childhood and its related stigma were associated with increased severity of depression and the presence of suicidal ideations in depressed women. Identification of childhood sexual abuse and its related stigma in depressed women is highly important for proper management of depression.

SOCIO-CULTURAL IMPACT OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE ON SURVIVORS: A CASE STUDY OF PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

Child sexual abuse is a serious problem that has adverse sociocultural impact on survivors. The present study was aimed to find out the socio-cultural impact of child sexual abuse on survivors. The study was also aimed to find out the impact of stigma and maladjustment on survivors as well as to investigate the impact of disclosure and social support among child sexual abuse survivors. The nature of the study was qualitative and case study method was applied. The population of the study was child sexual abuse survivors from Punjab, Province. The multi-stage sampling technique was applied for the selection of districts, courts and respondents. At first and second stage, districts and courts were selected by using simple random sampling technique. At third stage, the respondents were selected by convenient sampling technique. The study was comprised of 10 in-depth case studies, and pseudonym were used. The tool for data collection was semi-structured interview guide. The data was analyzed by thematic analysis. The study concluded that the survivors of child sexual abuse face several socio-cultural difficulties such as social maladjustment, hindrance in education, disclosure, stigmatization and revictimization. They also face the problems of family discordance and family breakdown. Keywords: Child Sexual Abuse, Survivors, Disclosure, Social Support, Revictimization, Punjab, Pakistan.

The Perception, Understanding and Incidence of Pedophilia, The Reasons of its Prevalence, The Problems and the Consequences of this Social Crime in Rural Sindh: A Sociological Analysis

The objective of the study was to find out and determine the types of child sexual abuse, temptations used by the abusers to seduce the victim, the impact of child sexual abuse on the victims, and the impact of child sexual abuse on the family of the victims. The study was conducted using mixed methods i.e. Qualitative and Quantitative. This was a six months study. The qualitative study was conducted first. Based on the findings of the qualitative study Quantitative study was done through a field survey. For the qualitative study police officials and Casualty Medical Officers (CMO) were interviewed in depth. For quantitative research Parents of victims or the victims themselves with the consent of their parents were interviewed. Qualitative data was analyzed using the Theme, subtheme, and remarks while the quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS (26 versions) and Excel software applications. Most of the children appeared to be innocent and the minor children considered the act vulgar and indecent. The more grown-up ones considered it unethical and were having some guilt. Similar feelings were shared by the parents about the child. Society is very much aware of crime but they are more sensitive to girls than boys. To some extent, they are ignorant too and that is the reason crime is increasing. They became frightened, depressed, lonely, and aloof. The parents became depressed and also suspicious of the social environment. They became secretive in their talk and behavior. Abusers tempted the victims with sex stories, jokes pornographic materials (photos and videos), and by showing their sex organs.

Impact of Child Sexual Abuse on Socioeconomic Attainment in Adulthood

PurposeWhile child sexual abuse (CSA) victimization is linked to adverse mental and behavioral health outcomes, few studies have examined the association between CSA and socioeconomic attainment in adulthood, particularly for men. This study assesses the impacts of CSA victimization on socioeconomic outcomes in adulthood, separately for men and women. MethodsAnalyses are based on the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health restricted use dataset. Adolescent to Adult Health is a nationally representative cohort of teenagers in grades 7–12 (1994–1995; N = 20,000) followed to ages 33–44 (2016–2018; N = 12,300). These analyses were based on N = 10,119 participants. We used propensity score weighting to equate on observed confounders of those who experienced CSA victimization with those who had not. All analyses were conducted in the R statistical software. ResultsIn this analytical sample, 25.2% of women and 9.8% of men reported of having been sexually abused as a child. Results from propensity score weighted models showed that by their late 30s, men and women who experienced CSA had lower educational attainment, lower odds of being financially stable, and a decrease in household income compared to their peers. CSA was associated with lower odds of being employed among women only. DiscussionFindings from this study suggest that men and women who survive CSA, experience socioeconomic disadvantages in adulthood relative to peers who did not experience CSA. Preventive programs and treatment and other services for survivors of CSA could positively impact individuals' economic productivity over the life course, reducing the individual and societal costs associated with CSA victimization.

The Impact of Critical Life Points and Events for Survivors of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse: Understanding Trauma and the Role of Compensation in Recovery.

Although the impact of child sexual abuse (CSA) is well documented in the international literature, little is known about the critical points of recovery across the life course for survivors of institutional CSA. The aim of this study was to identify critical points, or events across the life course that may increase, or decrease, a survivor's vulnerability to the complex traumatization of institutional CSA (ICSA). The sample consisted of two hundred and forty-eight witness statements extracted from the 56 publicly available case studies presented to the Australian Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse during 2013-2016 (Commonwealth of Australia, 2017). A content analysis and thematic coding of the statements identified seven main themes in the witness statements (Gender, Organization, Triggers, Trauma, Mental Health, Intervention and Compensation), that appeared to be critical events across the life course. The themes were transformed into variables for further analysis using SPSS. Significant Likelihood Ratios were found between associations with the organization where the abuse occurred and between triggers and breastfeeding/sensory, breast feeding/childcare, emotional and physical distress, and mental health (p < 0.01). Significant associations were also found between receiving compensation for the CSA and triggers, trauma, breast feeding-sensory and childcare (p < 0.05) and gender and breast feeding (p < 0.05). Overall, the findings showed that triggers can be random across the life course occurring mainly through indirect association, or in situations that evoke memories of the CSA, and that receiving compensation can assist survivors in their recovery journey. The findings also indicate the need for health care professionals to be aware of the critical points in a CSA survivor's recovery and how triggers may impact on their mental welling throughout the life course.

Myths and Misunderstandings About Child Sexual Abuse in Criminal Investigations.

Researchers have established that rape myths shape perceptions of victims and perpetrators in criminal cases. Researchers have devoted less attention to exploring the impact of child sexual abuse (CSA) myths in court. While we know that jurors believe myths and misconceptions about the nature of CSA, no work has explored how these myths appear during the prosecution of CSA cases. The purpose of the present investigation was to assess how defense attorneys apply myths more specific to CSA in the questioning of children testifying about alleged CSA. The present study compliments and expands upon a previous study by St. George and colleagues (2021a), where authors examined the use of rape myths in the questioning of children making allegations of CSA. In the current study, we examined testimonies of 122 children testifying in criminal cases of alleged CSA in the United States. We qualitatively coded 6,384 lines of questioning for references to CSA-focused myths related to the disclosure process, witnesses and privacy issues, assumptions of harm, and the child's positive relationship with the perpetrator. These myths were common, occurring in over 10% of defense attorneys' lines of questioning. Disclosure issues were the most frequent, followed by witness and privacy issues, assumptions of harm, and the child's positive relationship with their perpetrator. In many cases, attorneys employed different strategies across child's age to highlight these myths. These findings compliment those of prior work suggesting that CSA myths, much like rape myths, are appearing with regularity. Defense attorneys are likely capitalizing on jurors' misconceptions to undermine children's believability.

Men survivors’ perspectives on impact of child sexual abuse

BackgroundPrevious research has shown alarming rates of prevalence of child sexual abuse (CSA) in India, including among boys. However, little is known about lived experiences of men and boys who have experienced sexual abuse during childhood. ObjectiveThe aim of this phenomenological study was to explore perspectives of adult men survivors of CSA on impact of abuse. Participants and settingPurposive sample of eleven adult men with lived experience of CSA, located in six different cities across India. MethodsIn-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with men survivors of CSA. ResultsStudy findings show that child sexual abuse can impact men survivors’ lives in profound and multiple ways, and survivors’ experiences are significantly influenced by sociocultural notions of masculinity. Three themes were identified: impact on self, impact on interpersonal relationships, and impact on relationships with children. Findings challenge some commonly held beliefs and misconceptions about men survivors. ConclusionsCSA can have profound and long-lasting consequences for boys vis-à-vis their wellbeing and interpersonal and social relationships. It is important to center survivors’ voices when developing direct practice interventions, programs and policies to address CSA.

Relationship between childhood sexual abuse and attitudes toward premarital sexual permissiveness among middle school students in Luzhou, China

BackgroundIn recent years, the number of adolescents engaging in premarital sex has increased, and an increasing number of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) cases have been reported in China. Many studies have indicated that CSA has a well-established association with risky sexual activities. However, only a limited number of studies have explored possible reasons for this association among middle school students, a population that may engage in premarital sex, which is critical for the development of interventions to prevent risky sexual behavior. Based on random samples of middle school students from a Chinese city, this article investigated the relationship between CSA and students’ premarital sexual permissiveness (PSP).MethodsIn a cross-sectional study conducted between 2016 and 2017 in Luzhou, China, 2292 middle school and high school students aged 12–18 years were recruited by multistage random sampling. All students were administered anonymous questionnaires. Multiple linear regression and binary logistic regression analyses were conducted to analyze the relationship between CSA and PSP.ResultsThe prevalence of CSA was 15.4% (354/2292; 95% CI: 14–16.9%). A higher percentage of male respondents (18.2%) than female respondents (12.9%) had experienced CSA. A positive association between CSA and PSP was found among students. Respondents who had suffered CSA exhibited greater PSP, and this relationship was observed in the male sample, female sample and the total student sample in Luzhou (β = − 3.76, P < 0.05; β = − 2.79, P < 0.05; and β = − 2.84, P < 0.05, respectively). Respondents who had suffered CSA were also more likely to express a double standard about premarital sex (odds ratio [OR] =1.41, P < 0.05), especially among male students (odds ratio [OR] =1.63, P < 0.05).ConclusionsSex differences in CSA and the relationship between CSA and PSP were significant among this large sample of middle school students in Luzhou (China). The findings suggest that experiencing CSA may be closely related to youth attitudes toward premarital sex, especially among males. Therefore, it is important to emphasize the prevention of CSA and provide adolescent reproductive health programs to reduce the impact of CSA on sexual cognition and attitude, prevent premarital sex and promote positive attitudes toward sexual equality for middle school students.

A Clinical Rationale for Assessing the Impact of Childhood Sexual Abuse on Adjunctive Subcutaneous Esketamine for Treatment-Resistant Depression.

Background: A history of child sexual abuse (CSA) is related to higher suicide rates and poor treatment outcomes in depressed adult patients. Twenty years after the first study investigating the effects of ketamine/esketamine on depression and suicide, there is a lack of data on the CSA effects on this emerging treatment. Here, we assess the impact of CSA on adjunctive subcutaneous (SC) esketamine for treatment-resistant depression (TRD).Methods: A directed acyclic graphic (DAG) was designed to identify clinical confounders between CSA and esketamine predictors of response. The confounders were applied in a statistical model to predict depression symptom trajectory in a sample of 67 TRD outpatients.Results: The patient sample had a relatively high prevalence rate of CSA (35.82%). Positive family history of first-degree relatives with alcohol use disorder and sex were clinical mediators of the effects of esketamine in a CSA adult population. Overall, the presence of at least one CSA event was unrelated to esketamine symptom reduction.Conclusions: Unlike responses to conventional antidepressants and psychotherapy, CSA does not appear to predict poor response to esketamine.

The impact of childhood sexual abuse and adverse childhood experiences on adult health related quality of life

BackgroundAdverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been shown to be associated with adult physical, psychological, and socioeconomic well-being, indicative of poor health-related quality of life (HRQoL). However, the association between child sexual abuse (CSA) and adult HRQoL, independent of other ACEs, has been less well examined. ObjectivesTo examine associations between self-reported CSA, including the nature of CSA, and adult HRQoL. ParticipantsData are from 10,624 respondents to CSA and HRQoL questions on the 2015 Texas Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey. MethodsAnalyses included chi square and t-tests to compare sociodemographic and HRQoL differences among those with and without history of CSA. Multivariable logistic regressions were used to evaluate associations between nature of CSA and HRQoL, controlling for covariates. ResultsThe prevalence of self-reported CSA in the sample was 10.3%. Compared to the non-exposed group, individuals exposed to CSA were more likely to report their general health as poor (AOR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.09–2.09), report 14 or more physical unhealthy days (AOR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.06–2.02), 14 or more mental unhealthy days (AOR, 1.86; 95% CI, 1.30–2.64), and 14 or more activity limitation days (AOR, 2.22; 95% CI, 1.58–3.10) in a month. HRQoL outcomes were worse for respondents who reported being forced to have sex as a child compared with those who reported being touched or forced to touch someone. ConclusionsSelf-reported CSA is associated with lower HRQoL. The association varies by the nature of reported sexual abuse. Understanding the long-term impacts of CSA can inform adult treatment options and policies to prevent and treat CSA.

Manifestations of Child Sexual Abuse in Adolescence

The psychological impact of child sexual abuse extends to cognitive and personality development. There have been many studies of the effects of childhood sexual on adults, but much less research has measured the proximal consequences of sexual abuse in adolescents. This study investigated associations between the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-Adolescent (MMPI-A) score elevations, IQ scores, and academic achievements in sexual abuse victims.

Where are We Now? A Consolidation of the Research on Long-term Impact of Child Sexual Abuse

ABSTRACT This manuscript provides an introduction to the special issue: Where are we now? A consolidation of the research on long-term impact of child sexual abuse. Over the past thirty years, there has been an explosion of research about the long-term impacts of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) on adult functioning and wellbeing. However, the consolidation of this vast literature has not kept up with the creation of new research despite the complexity and sophistication of these newer investigations. We have compiled a special issue of the Journal of Child Sexual Abuse to summarize and analyze this vast literature into a cohesive, consolidated whole. The goal of this issue was to consolidate recent research about the effects of CSA on alcohol and substance use in survivors, revictimization, sexual risk and sexual well-being and couple and parenting functioning.

Survivor‐led relational psychotherapy and embodied trauma: A qualitative inquiry

AbstractBackgroundChildhood sexual abuse has complex and multifarious consequences for one's physical and mental health, including injuries and psychological illnesses such as depression (Psychological Bulletin, 99, 1986, 66; The SAVI Report. Sexual abuse and violence in Ireland. A national study of Irish experiences, beliefs and attitudes concerning sexual violence, 2002; Journal of Paediatric Health Care, 24, 2010, 358). In contrast to traditional psychotherapeutic approaches that focus on the treatment of disorders, humanistic integrative frameworks address the relational and neurobiological roots, and cumulative impact, of trauma (Rape: How women, the community and the health sector respond, 2007; The body remembers: The psychophysiology of trauma and trauma treatment, 2000). Quantitative research investigating the efficacy of these various therapies is gaining momentum (Campbell Systematic Reviews, 9, 2013, 3; Clinical Psychology Review, 34, 2014, 645; Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 203, 2015, 443), yet qualitative evidence on individuals' experiences, and analyses of a humanistic approach, are lacking.AimThis study sought to address these gaps by examining the role of Rape Crisis Centre (RCC) specialist psychotherapy in addressing the psychophysiological impact of child sexual abuse in Ireland.MethodSemi‐structured, in‐depth interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 11 adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse accessing RCC therapy and 12 RCC psychotherapists. Interview questions focused on their experiences and perspectives of RCC therapy and recovery. Interview data were analysed using qualitative thematic analysis.FindingsThe analysis showed that working with embodied trauma is integral to the recovery process, while providing salient insights into the complexity of the empowerment approach in trauma work. Recovery is survivor‐led, but it is the individual's somatic experience that guides the process, monitored by the psychotherapist.ConclusionsThis study makes an important contribution to trauma treatment research by detailing the lived experience of the recovery process. The findings enhance our understanding of the dynamics involved in processing the biological, psychological and social components of sexual abuse trauma. They also underscore the importance of a non‐directive relational approach. Implications for practice are discussed.