Prevalence Of Child 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.

Mental Health and Sociodemographic Correlates of Child Sexual Abuse

Abstract Background: Child sexual abuse (CSA) has long-term deleterious effects on mental health. The prevalence of CSA is more in females than males. A lifetime diagnosis of anxiety, depression, eating disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), sleep disorders, and suicide attempts has been associated with a history of sexual abuse. Few studies have focused on the role of temperament and the relationship between psychiatric morbidity and sociodemographic variables. Aim: This study aimed to assess the relationship between psychiatric morbidity and sociodemographic variables in cases of CSA. Methodology: After ethical approval, 168 consecutive survivors of an alleged history of child sexual assault brought by the police were enrolled after informed consent from legal guardians and assent from survivors. A specially designed semi-structured pro forma was used to collect data. Psychiatric morbidity was diagnosed using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5. Scales assessing temperament, perceived social support and global functioning, were used. Results: Seventy-seven percent of survivors in this study had psychiatric morbidity. Adjustment problems were more in children with slow-to-warm temperament. A positive family history of mental illness was significant in major depressive disorder (MDD) but not in PTSD. Those with a history of being assaulted multiple times (36 out of 42) had a higher chance of developing MDD. Conclusion: This study highlights that the adjustment problems were more in children with slow-to-warm temperament, highlighting the need for targeted and timely intervention in this subgroup of CSA survivors. This study shows an association between childhood environmental adverse event and development of psychiatric morbidity.

Child Sexual Abuse and Associated Factors Among High School Female Students in Arba Minch Zuria Woreda, Southern Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract Background Child sex abuse is a severe violation of fundamental human rights that has numerous negative consequences, including physical and psychological ones, and is a huge global public health issue. It is a significant public health issue that affects millions of people annually around the world but is the least acknowledged and reported form of violence in Ethiopia against schoolgirls. Thus, this study is very important to provide recent information on the magnitude of sexual abuse and its associated factors. Objective This study was aimed at assessing the prevalence of lifetime child sexual abuse and associated factors among high school female students in Arba Minch Zuria Woreda (AZW), Southern Ethiopia. Methods An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 414 randomly selected female high school students in Arba Minch Zuria Woreda between December 20, 2022, and January 20, 2023. A stratified and multi-stage sampling technique was used to select participants from selected high schools. A pretested, self-administered questionnaire was used, and the data were entered using EpiData version 4.6 and analyzed using SPSS (the Statistical Package for Social Science) version 27. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were carried out to identify factors associated with sexual abuse using binary logistic regression. Statistical significance was set at a p-value of less than 0.05. Result In this study area, prevalence of child sexual abuse was 45% (95% CI 40.6–50.2). Students who slept alone at home (AOR = 4.93, 95% CI 1.46–16.67); having no open discussions with their parents (AOR = 4.49, 95% CI 1.62–12.47); drinking alcohol (AOR = 3.3, 95% CI: 1.32–8.28); and having friends who drink alcohol or chew chat (AOR = 6.14, 95% CI 1.58–23.9) were the identified factors associated with child sexual abuse. Conclusion This study found a high level of child sexual abuse among high school female students in Arba Minch Zuria Woreda. High schools must collaborate with parents to develop a strategy to reduce sexual abuse acting against human rights, focusing on identified factors.

Enhancing Social Justice: A Synergy of Right to Education with Special Reference to Child Rights in India

This study explores the concept of education as a social right', applied to rights which protect the basic necessities of life of a Child. The book adopts a thematic approach, utilizing case studies to delve into pivotal issues such as the right to education, protection from abuse, exploitation, including sexual and commercial exploitation and the state's role in assisting children in need of care & protection. The main findings of this study are as follows: (1) India has the highest prevalence of child sexual abuse, with millions of children worldwide subjected to violence, abuse, and exploitation; (2) India's children are at risk of poverty and malnutrition, and they are often disproportionately affected by human rights crises. (2) India has a high prevalence of sexual exploitation of children, and it remains one of the most egregious violations of children's rights. (3) Children are arguably the most vulnerable to abuse, including domestic violence, school & home violence, human trafficking, cyberbullying, child labour, & bullying, and are often in the midst of human rights crisis. (4) India is a country with a large number of laws aimed at safeguarding children, with particular prevalence in countries like India. The most important preventive measure is to identify and address potential abuse among various service providers like Doctors, lawyers, judges, educators, police, volunteers, parents, unions and social workers - so that they can significantly reduce the risk.

The effectiveness of school-based child sexual abuse prevention programmes among primary school-aged children: A systematic review

This systematic review provides a comprehensive overview of child sexual abuse prevalence globally, along with an examination of the effectiveness of school-based prevention education programmes for primary school-aged children. These prevention programmes utilise social cognitive learning theories to teach children the importance of identifying and responding to abusive situations. A total of 676 papers were evaluated with 13 Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) or cluster RCT design studies identified as meeting the study's inclusion criteria. These studies were published in English between January 2000 and May 2022, and focus on outcomes of school-based prevention programmes designed for primary school-aged children (5–12 years old). To ensure a comprehensive and academically rigorous analysis, the following databases were included: Science Direct, Web of Science, Scopus, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) PsycINFO, Ovid Medline, and Embase. The studies reviewed aim to evaluate the effectiveness of various child sexual abuse prevention programmes in improving children's knowledge and recognition of, and response to potentially unsafe situations. In terms of outcomes and results, the interventions have significantly impacted knowledge, skills, confidence, and awareness in the short and long term. These studies used different intervention methods, including mobile applications, personal safety programmes, and protective behaviour programmes, delivered in various formats such as web-based, textbooks, and in-person sessions. This systematic review highlights the importance of child sexual abuse prevention programmes in schools and the need for further research.

Child Sexual Abuse and Wellbeing Among LGBTQ + Individuals: The Role of Family in Healing

The present study was undertaken to understand the prevalence of child sexual abuse and its association with the wellbeing of a sample of LGBTQ + individuals in India. A total of 206 respondents took part in the study. The WHO-5 wellbeing scale developed by the World Health Organization was used to assess the wellbeing of the respondents. The prevalence of child sexual abuse among the respondents was high (46.1 per cent). In general, the level of wellbeing of the respondents was found to be below average. Among those who had experienced child sexual abuse, the majority of the respondents were cisgender women. Cisgender women respondents were also more likely to have a much lower mean rank of wellbeing compared to the other groups and similarly, respondents who identified as lesbians were also found to have a lower level of wellbeing compared to respondents who identified themselves as bisexual, pansexual, and gay. Other associated factors have been discussed in the full paper. The role of family in supporting and helping the individuals heal, has also been discussed in detail. There is a need for families to be more empathetic toward the victims.

Sex differences in the association of childhood sexual abuse severity with premarital sex among Chinese college students in Luzhou, China

PurposeThe adverse health consequences of premarital sex and childhood sexual abuse (CSA) are both global public health problems. Based on a random sample of college students from a Chinese city, this study investigated the relationship between CSA severity and premarital sex among students, focusing on sex differences.MethodsA total of 2722 college students from 4 schools in Luzhou were recruited by multistage random sampling. Self-administered questionnaires were used to measure CSA experiences and premarital sex. Binary logistic regression analyses were conducted to analyse the relationship between CSA and premarital sex.ResultsThe prevalence of CSA was 9.39%, and that of mild, moderate and severe CSA was 4.04%, 2.90% and 2.46%, respectively. The premarital sex reporting rate was 22.42%. After adjusting for confounding variables, CSA was positively associated with premarital sex. Notably, a cumulative effect of CSA on premarital sex was observed among students. Further stratification analyses showed that males who experienced CSA had a higher premarital sex rate than females, and this sex difference was also observed among students with different CSA severities.ConclusionCSA and its severity were associated with premarital sex among college students. Furthermore, this association was stronger for males than females. Therefore, it is important to emphasize CSA prevention, especially for boys. These findings can promote understanding of the effects of CSA on premarital sex, and CSA prevention and intervention strategies should consider CSA severity and sex differences.

The prevalence of child sexual abuse with online sexual abuse added

Background and objectiveResearch efforts are measuring various forms of online sexual abuse. There is a need to incorporate such measures of online sexual abuse into the calculation of overall prevalence rates for child sexual abuse. ParticipantsA sample of 2639 respondents aged 18-to-28 was recruited from a nationally representative online panel. MethodsUsing an online questionnaire, respondents were assessed via self-report about 9 types of online sexual abuse in childhood and were also assessed with 2 questions that have been used to assess generic child sexual abuse prevalence in previous surveys. ResultsThe addition of the online abuse to the generic questions about child sexual abuse raised the overall prevalence rate from 13.5 % to 21.7 %. The rate for females increased from 19.8 % to 31.6 % and for males from 6.2 % to 10.8 %. The largest independent contribution to the overall combined increase were the offenses involving non-consensual image sharing and voluntary online sexual interactions with an impermissibly older adult partner. The inclusion of the online sexual abuse exposures also increased the ability to identify the survivors with the highest levels of current psychological distress. ConclusionThe study highlights the importance of counting and including online sexual abuse in efforts to estimate the overall prevalence of childhood sexual abuse. The paper proposes 2 or 3 questions that could be added to sexual abuse questionnaires to assess these online offenses efficiently.

Child sexual abuse by different classes and types of perpetrator: Prevalence and trends from an Australian national survey

BackgroundLittle evidence exists about the prevalence of child sexual abuse (CSA) inflicted by different relational classes of perpetrators (e.g., parents; institutional adults; adolescents), and by individual types of perpetrators (e.g., fathers and male relatives; male teachers and male clergy; known and unknown adolescents). ObjectiveTo generate evidence of the prevalence of CSA by different perpetrators, and trends by victim gender and age group. Participants and settingThe Australian Child Maltreatment Study collected information about CSA victimisation from a nationally-representative sample of 8503 individuals aged 16 and over. MethodsWe analysed data about 42 perpetrator types, collapsed into eight classes. We generated national prevalence estimates of CSA inflicted by each perpetrator class and individual perpetrator type, and compared results by victim gender and age group. ResultsAustralian CSA prevalence was 28.5%, with the following prevalence by perpetrator classes: other known adolescents (non-romantic): 10.0%; parents/caregivers in the home: 7.8%; other known adults: 7.5%; unknown adults: 4.9%; adolescents (current/former romantic partners): 2.5%; institutional caregivers: 2.0%; siblings: 1.6%; unknown adolescents: 1.4%. Women experienced more CSA by all perpetrator classes except institutional caregivers. Age group comparison showed significant declines in CSA by parents/caregivers, and other known adults; and increases in CSA by adolescents (current/former romantic partners). Individual perpetrator type comparison showed declines in CSA by fathers, male relatives living in the home, non-resident male relatives, and other known male adults; and increases in CSA by known male adolescents, current boyfriends, and former boyfriends. ConclusionsCSA by adults has declined, indicating positive impacts of prevention efforts. However, CSA by adolescents has increased. Further declines in CSA by adults are required and possible. Targeted prevention of CSA by adolescents must be prioritised.

Ecological factors associated with child sexual abuse among 15- to 17-year-old adolescents in mainland China: implications for intervention.

Child sexual abuse is a major public health problem with adverse consequences for victims' physical, mental, and reproductive health. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence of child sexual abuse and its associated factors among 15- to 17-year-old adolescents in mainland China. From September 8, 2019 to January 17, 2020, a total of 48,660 participants were recruited by 58 colleges and universities across the whole country to complete the self-administered, structured, online questionnaire. This analysis was restricted to 3,215 adolescents aged between 15 and 17 years in mainland China. Chi-square tests and multivariate Logistic regression analyses were performed to identify individual, relationship, and community factors associated with child sexual abuse. The overall prevalence of child sexual abuse was 12.0%. More specifically, 13.0% of girls and 10.6% of boys reported that they were sexually abused prior to 18 years of age. At the individual level, being female, sexual minority identity, younger age, and higher levels of knowledge, skills and self-efficacy regarding condom use were significantly related to increased odds of reporting sexual abuse. At the relationship and community level, adolescents from disrupted families and those entering into a marriage, having casual sexual partners, and having first intercourse at a younger age were more likely to report sexual abuse. On the contrary, those who had never discussed sex-related topics with their family members at home and were offered school-based sexuality education later (vs. earlier) were less likely to report sexual abuse. Multilevel prevention programs and strategies, including targeting adolescents with high-risk characteristics, educating young children and their parents about child sexual abuse prevention and optimizing the involvement of parents, school, community, society and government in comprehensive sexuality education, should be taken to reduce child sexual abuse among 15- to 17-year-old adolescents.

Child Sexual Abuse in Schools in India: A Critical Analysis

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the types and prevalence of Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) in India, with a focus on its widespread presence throughout the educational system. It also aims to identify and address societal, cultural, and familial risk factors for CSA. The report argues for increased awareness of minors' safety and rights, particularly those of girls, throughout their schooling years. Theoretical reference: This study employs a multidisciplinary approach, including findings from psychology, sociology, and education. It combines trauma theory, child development, and gender studies to examine the impact of CSA on minors in the educational context. Method: The study adopts a mixed-method approach, integrating qualitative interviews with survivors, instructors, and parents with a quantitative survey to examine CSA beliefs and knowledge levels. To obtain relevant insights, data is evaluated using thematic coding and statistical approaches. Result and conclusion: The study demonstrates a worrying incidence of CSA inside the Indian education system, emphasizing the critical need for intervention. It addresses significant risk factors, emphasizing the importance of education in protecting children. The findings highlight the need of effective reporting procedures and due process in protecting children's rights and safety. Implications of Research: This study emphasizes the need of educational institutions prioritizing minors' safety and well-being. It promotes the adoption of clear, accessible reporting systems as well as strong preventive initiatives. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of knowing and addressing teachers' and parents' views and knowledge levels in order to create a safe workplace. Originality: This study adds to the current body of knowledge by providing a thorough assessment of CSA inside the Indian school system. It gives deep insights into the special issues faced by minors, particularly girls, as well as effective preventative and intervention solutions. This research also emphasizes the critical role of educators and parents in fostering a safer learning environment.

Integrating Group Cognitive Behavioural, Art Psychotherapy for women following childhood sexual abuse

ABSTRACT Background Despite the prevalence of childhood sexual abuse, and the number of adults referred to secondary mental services with symptoms of mental distress or disorder who report such a history, there is little in the way of specific recommendations for treatment approaches. Aims We wanted to consider the effectiveness of a combined Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Art Psychotherapy (ApT)* group therapy model (GCB-ApT) for women with experience of childhood sexual abuse. Methods GCB-ApT was delivered to seven groups of female survivors of childhood sexual abuse (n = 41) in community mental health team settings, using a standardised model. There were 32 participants who completed the group, and full data is available for 30 participants. Each group was facilitated by two female therapists – a clinical psychologist and an art psychotherapist. The study was registered with the employing Trust (BSMHFT) as a retrospective evaluation of validated clinical outcome measures routinely administered pre – and post-intervention. Results Results showed significant post-intervention improvement in the domains of global distress, depression and self-esteem. Conclusions Results were promising, although numbers were small. Implications for practice/policy/future research Results suggested that group provision using the GCB-ApT model could be a helpful addition to clinical interventions provided for women who have experienced childhood sexual abuse. Further research is recommended. *Some texts referenced may use ‘art therapy’ rather than ‘art psychotherapy’. The abbreviation ApT is used for either throughout. Plain-language summary We looked at how we could provide specific ways to help those women referred to Psychological Services who had experienced childhood sexual abuse. There weren’t many suggestions from previous research that gave us a confident idea about what specific approach works best. We found evidence that Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Art Psychotherapy can be useful, and we wanted to combine them in a group setting to see how helpful this was. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy looks at how our thoughts might affect our behaviours and feelings, while Art Psychotherapy uses and explores image-making as a way of helping with distressing experiences and emotions. We organised seven groups with a total of forty-one women. Two therapists (one specialist in each therapy) led each group, held over twenty sessions. There were three parts to the group: firstly we covered coping strategies, then we looked in more detail at each person's account of what they had been through. Finally, we supported women to review what had happened for them in the group and to plan for after it had ended. Each week we began by looking at a topic or theme relevant to this group (e.g. flashbacks) through information giving and discussion. The theme provided a starting point for using the art materials, followed by group members being invited to share the images they had made and how that had felt, and to explore any thoughts and feelings that arose in the group in response. We gave each woman three questionnaires to complete at the beginning and the end of the groups, and compared the results. These showed that there had been improvements in mood, self-esteem and psychological well-being. There are limitations with these results, partly because the numbers are small. However, they suggest that more research would be worthwhile.

Prevalence of Child Sexual Abuse in Spain: A Survey Study

Prevalence of Child Sexual Abuse in Spain: A Survey Study

An Ecclesial Analysis of Child Sexual Abuse in Ghana: implications for Pastoral Response

Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) is a pervasive problem in Ghana that has long-term negative consequences for survivors. Churches in Ghana are not immune to this menace. Although, there is no reliable data on the prevalence of CSA in churches, in some cases, Christian religious leaders have been accused as perpetrators of CSA, covering up abuse or failing to take appropriate action when abuse occurs. Using the second phase of the Pastoral Cycle, the study undertook a contextual examination of child sexual abuse in churches and the church’s role in child protection in Ghana. The paper posits that pastoral ministry of care and safeguarding of children could contribute significantly to the fight against CSA in Ghana. This article adds to the literature on curbing child sexual abuse in Ghana. Keywords: Church, Child Sexual Abuse, Pastoral Response, Ghana

Stories of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) among older adults living with HIV (OALH) in South Carolina: a qualitative study

ABSTRACT Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) devastatingly impacts an individual’s behavioral, psychological, and social health. Childhood, a developmental stage directly influenced by the home or school environment, leaves a life-long imprint. Compared with the general population, CSA prevalence is doubled among people living with HIV. Thus, the study aimed to explore CSA circumstances among older adults living with HIV (OALH) in South Carolina (SC). We included 24 OALH aged 50 and above who reported CSA. The data were collected at an immunology center in SC. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted, audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. The iterative analytic process included a discussion of initial thoughts and key concepts, identification, and reconciliation of codes, and naming of emergent themes. Six themes emerged: known perpetrators, re-victimization, “nobody believed me”, “cannot live like others”, lack of CSA disclosure, and interconnections with other adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). CSA experiences and non-disclosure were found to be linked with shame, embarrassment, fear, and trust issues. Hence, trauma-focused interventions are required to resolve these issues and improve the quality of life of OALH with past trauma. Counseling or therapy programs should incorporate psychological and behavioral theoretical models to best target OALH who are CSA survivors.

Vulnerability to child sexual abuse: NOABS tool

Background: The prevalence of child sexual abuse shows a result of 19% in females and 8% in males. Objective: The main aim of this study, is to identify the level of vulnerability and risk of sexual abuse in children between 6 to 13 years old with the NOABS tool. Participants and Setting: 684 children between the ages 6 and 13 from the Simón Araujo school in Sucre, Colombia. Methodology: The methodology used in this study has a descriptive approach and data was analyzed with a quantitative strategy. Results: After analyzing the data, it shows a 5.3 % high vulnerability (VA), (VA) female (F) 4.3 %, 6.5 % male (M), (VA) family context 16.1 %, social 14.9 %, school 8.2 %. Conclusions: Other researches allow to compare these results in order to have a clear idea about the levels of vulnerability and risk of abuse validating the NOABS game.

Prevalence of The Child Sexual Abuse in Turkey: A Scoping Review

Child sexual abuse (CSA) can occur at different social, cultural, and socioeconomic levels. To handle the phenomenon of CSA healthily and to be able to prevent it, it is necessary to determine CSA’s scope. Therefore, this review examined the prevalence rates of CSA in Turkey. We did a literature review in June- November 2020, searched international and Turkish electronic literature databases (Embase, Medline, PsycInfo, Web of Science, Science Direct, PsychINFO, Google Scholar, and TUBITAK-ULAKBIM National Database), and identified 523 potentially eligible studies. After the inclusion process, fourteen prevalence research were assessed. The results show a prevalence of child sexual abuse between 2.8-32.4%. In addition, it is found that nearly a total of the studies examined are population-based. However, despite the positive aspect of the majority of the population-based studies, the sample size of about one-third of the research is not sufficient. As a result, with this study, various information about CSA prevalence was obtained within the framework of the methodological features of the studies in Turkey. The results highlight the need for more and more large-scale studies regarding the prevalence of CSA in Turkey.

The lifetime prevalence of child sexual abuse assessed in young adults in Lithuania

ObjectiveWe examined the prevalence of different types of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) in Lithuania focusing on how these experiences were related to victim's age and relationship to the perpetrator. MethodsThe participants came from a representative household survey of youth aged 18–29 and the sample consisted of 2000 participants (47.7 % women) with a mean age of 23.9 years (SD = 3.6). The ISPCAN Child Abuse Screening Tool Retrospective version (ICAST-R, Dunne et al., 2009) for young adults was used to investigate childhood exposure to CSA. Both current sociodemographic information and information on circumstances during childhood (e.g., number of siblings, family members with whom the participant lived between 7 and 12 year of age) were collected. ResultsThe prevalence of any CSA experience before the age of 18 was 15.9 %, with higher rates for women (13.5 % and 18.5 % for men and women, respectively). Being spoken to in a sexual way or sexual things being written about the person was the most prevalent form of CSA. In contrast, number of victims that reported sexual intercourse was much lower. The most common type of perpetrator was another young person. Intrafamilial CSA was rare with higher risk in step-relationships. ConclusionsOur study provides representative prevalence estimates of the CSA in a region for which such estimates were not previously available. These Lithuanian estimates correspond well with previous literature. Importantly, the findings point to peers being an important perpetrator group in CSA cases. This and other findings can inform the planning of relevant policy measures and actions to both prevent CSA and investigate cases effectively.

“When I was a child, the doctor advised me to have sex more gently”: The perceptions and experiences with the healthcare system as conveyed by adult survivors of child sexual abuse

RationaleExtensive findings have illuminated the implications of child sexual abuse (CSA) for mental and physical health. Attention has been dedicated to the discrepancy between the high prevalence of CSA, and the lack of adequate CSA screening and trauma-informed care within healthcare systems. ObjectiveThis study was designed to examine this discrepancy by providing CSA survivors’ perspectives. Specifically, this study aims to uncover the perceptions and experiences of female survivors of CSA concerning their encounters with the healthcare system. MethodsWritten narratives were collected from 53 female survivors of CSA as part of the Israeli Independent Public Inquiry into CSA, which were analyzed guided by an inductive thematic analysis. ResultsThis study's findings portrayed a complex scenery in which female survivors of CSA are concurrently dependent on healthcare services due to the CSA-related morbidity, yet they are hesitant and have difficulty approaching healthcare services. Additionally, the findings showed that the survivors of CSA described being perceived as mentally ill and distrustful; they also were encouraged to take excessive medication by healthcare providers, which resulted in many survivors of CSA avoiding further treatment. Furthermore, the survivors of CSA conveyed several clear messages to the healthcare system, all of which called for the urgent need to implement trauma-informed care. ConclusionsThese findings underline the necessity of a paradigm shift in which health and illness are viewed in light of personal, interpersonal, and social contexts. Simply put, it is time for trauma-informed care to be extensively implemented in healthcare services.

Symptoms of depression (not anxiety) mediate the relationship between childhood sexual abuse and compulsive sexual behaviors in men.

Childhood sexual abuse is associated with compulsive sexual behavior, depression, and anxiety in men. Furthermore, both depression and anxiety have been linked to compulsive sexual behaviors. However, whether anxiety and depression mediate the relationship between childhood sexual abuse and compulsive sexual behaviors has yet to be tested. We investigated whether symptoms of depression and anxiety mediate the relationship between childhood sexual abuse and compulsive sexual behaviors in 222 men seeking treatment for such behaviors. Participants completed the Sexual Compulsivity Scale, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory, and Beck Anxiety Inventory. A cross-sectional parallel mediation analysis was conducted. The prevalence of childhood sexual abuse in our sample was 57%. Significant correlations were found between childhood sexual abuse and compulsive sexual behaviors, depression, and anxiety. The results of the mediation analyses suggested that depression (B = 0.07, standard error [SE] = 0.03, 95%CI 0.02 to 0.15), but not anxiety (B = 0.02, SE = 0.02, 95%CI -0.2 to 0.07), mediated the link between childhood sexual abuse and compulsive sexual behaviors. The pattern of our results remained the same when controlling for other types of childhood trauma. Depression, not anxiety, appears to mediate the relationship between childhood sexual abuse and compulsive sexual behaviors in men. Future research that tests our mediation analyses using a prospective longitudinal study would be highly informative.