Sexual Abuse In Females Research Articles

Childhood trauma is associated with early-onset but not late-onset suicidal behavior in late-life depression.

To examine the relationship between childhood traumatic experiences and early and late-onset suicidal behavior among depressed older adults. Cross-sectional study. Inpatient and outpatient psychiatric services in Pennsylvania. Our sample included 224 adults aged 50+ (M ± SD = 62.5 ± 7.4) recruited into three depressed groups: (1) 84 suicide attempters, (2) 44 suicide ideators, and (3) 58 non-suicidal comparisons, and a non-psychiatric healthy comparison group (N = 38). The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire measured experiences of childhood trauma such as emotional abuse, physical abuse, emotional neglect, physical neglect, and sexual abuse. Attempters were separated into early- and late-onset based on age of first attempt using a statistical algorithm that identified a cutoff age of 30 years old. Overall, we found group differences in emotional and physical abuse and neglect in both genders and sexual abuse in females, but not in males. Early-onset attempters experienced more childhood emotional abuse and neglect than late-onset attempters and were more likely to have experienced multiple forms of abuse. They also experienced more emotional abuse and neglect than all comparison groups. Consistently, early-onset attempters more often met criteria for current or lifetime PTSD relative to late-onset attempters and most comparison groups. Late-onset attempters had similar levels of childhood trauma as other depressed groups. Our study reaffirms that there are distinct pathways to suicidal behavior in older adults based on their age of first suicide attempt and that trauma experienced in childhood has long-lasting emotional and behavioral consequences, even into late life.

Gender differences in risk factors and psychosocial functioning in children with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures

ObjectiveFemale predominance is evident in childhood-onset psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES). Understanding gender-specific vulnerability to PNES may provide a unique insight into its cause and management. We aimed to investigate gender differences in demographic characteristics, triggering factors and psychosocial functioning in children and youth with PNES. MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed patients who were evaluated in the PNES clinic at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta from July 2019 to March 2020 and completed questionnaires to assess adverse life events, psychosocial function (Pediatric Symptom Checklist-17 [PSC-17]), and somatic symptoms (Children’s Somatic Symptom Inventory-8, [CSSI-8]). ResultsForty-nine consecutive patients (38 girls, 11 boys) with a median age of 15.0 (9–19) years were included in the study. We performed univariate analysis and evaluated significant variables related to PNES according to sex. Majority of both genders experienced daily to weekly PNES, came from dysfunctional families, scored high on PSC-17, were treated for neuropsychiatric illnesses, and experienced bothersome somatic symptoms. The variables significantly different between genders were suicidal thoughts, history of trauma, and learning disability. Suicidal thoughts and trauma, particularly sexual abuse, were significantly more prevalent in girls (p = 0.03) whereas learning disability was more common in boys (p = 0.03). ConclusionFemales predominated in our PNES clinic (F:M = 3.5:1). Gender differences in predisposing factors were sexual abuse in females and learning disability in males. Our data highlight the gender-specific risk factors and vulnerability to PNES. The awareness of gender difference may guide more targeted intervention for children and youth with PNES.

Unprotected In an Islamic Country; Experiences of Childhood Sexual Abuse among Pakistani Women

This study qualitatively explored the experiences of childhood sexual abuse in females. Semi structured interviews with open ended questions were used to obtain in-depth information about various aspects of this experience, ; perpetrator characteristics, type and frequency of abuse, victim’s response/reaction, reporting to family or other adults, treatment seeking treatment and perceived effects on mental and physical health. The participants were approached through snow ball sampling. 5 females of different backgrounds and ages who gave consent to share personal information were interviewed. Their verbatim were transcribed and content analyzed. The results of the interviews after content analyzed were that their current age, ages at time of abuse, reporting experiences, relationship with abuser, psychological reactions and counseling sought of or not. To lend support to findings of first study, as a next step, three anonymous stories were selected from the internet and content analyzed. The findings of the study revealed that incident of abuse at home have higher frequency then outside. Three out of five participants were abused by their close relatives, 2 were abused by family friends. Most common form was kissing, touching body parts and showing pornography. The reaction of the family mostly was not supportive. The emotional effects were: sad mood and feeling of unhappy and isolation, worthless and crying episodes. Physical effects ere palpitation, trembling and increasing heart beat immediately after abuse. Some victims of sexual abuse felt sexual repulsion and have difficulty accepting closeness to men. 3 out of 5 participants sought counseling but 1 of 3 participants took counseling after very long time. Two women reported taking sleeping pills for the quality of sleep. So, collectively, from interviews and stories, it was found that the impact of sexual abuse remains same across cultures.

Gender Differences in Psychosocial Predictors of Attitudes Toward Reporting Child Sexual Abuse in the United Kingdom

ABSTRACTThere is a dearth of research investigating psychosocial correlates of attitudes toward reporting child sexual abuse in males and females and a lack of such studies drawing on participants from the United Kingdom. Therefore, the main objective of this article is to examine gender differences in social and psychological predictors of attitudes toward reporting child sexual abuse. Participants drawn from the United Kingdom general population were recruited via an opportunistic sampling method. Cross-sectional design using a self-report questionnaire was utilized. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed that social support, masculinity, and age form significant associations with attitudes toward reporting child sexual abuse in females (total variance explained by the model was 25%). In the male sample, the only significant predictor of attitudes toward reporting child sexual abuse was interpersonal manipulation (total variance explained by the model was 9%). This study provides an important insight into psychosocial barriers and facilitators to reporting child sexual abuse. Such knowledge is crucial for the early detection and prevention of abuse.

Risk of sexual abuse among ecstasy users differs by gender and other drug use

Aims: Ecstasy users espouse PLUR (peace, love, unity, and respect) and may have lower risk for sexual abuse than other drug users. We hypothesized that among ecstasy and marijuana users, those who use other illicit drugs have a higher likelihood of experiencing lifetime sexual abuse, especially females. Methods: Data come from the Tri-City study which recruited 644 recent ecstasy users, 16–59 years of age, from three sites in Florida,Missouri and Australia. Self-reported lifetime alcohol,marijuana, and other drug use (cocaine, heroin, sedatives, stimulants, opium, PCP, inhalants, hallucinogens, and steroids), lifetime sexual abuse, sex with a same sex partner, exchanging club drugs for sex, and number of sex partners were among the variables assessed. Analysis was restricted to 18–35 year olds (n=608) to reduce variance in years at risk. Results: Overall, 38% endorsed ecstasy and marijuana use only, of which 12% reported lifetime sexual abuse. Among 62% who endorsed additional illicit drug use, 20% reported lifetime sexual abuse. Multivariate analysis showed an increased risk of lifetime sexual abuse for females, those havingmore sex partners, and same sex partners, and for those who used additional drugs. Separate logistic regression analyses showed that among women, having 3 or more sex partners versus less than 3 increased the odds of reporting sexual abuse (OR=3.0). Among men, additional drug use (OR=4.1) and exchanging club drugs for sex (OR=3.2) increased the risk of sexual abuse compared to their counterparts. Conclusions: The risk of lifetime sexual abuse is higher among ecstasy and marijuana users who use additional illicit drugs than ecstasy and marijuana users alone. Gender differences in lifetime sexual abuse indicate a possible need for gender-specific interventions to reduce the riskof sexual abuseamongecstasyusers. Further studies are needed to assess temporality. Financial support: NIDA R01 DA-14854 (Cottler, PI).

The acquisition of coping skills from computerized cognitive behavioral therapy for substance use disorders: It's all where you start

Aims: Ecstasy users espouse PLUR (peace, love, unity, and respect) and may have lower risk for sexual abuse than other drug users. We hypothesized that among ecstasy and marijuana users, those who use other illicit drugs have a higher likelihood of experiencing lifetime sexual abuse, especially females. Methods: Data come from the Tri-City study which recruited 644 recent ecstasy users, 16–59 years of age, from three sites in Florida,Missouri and Australia. Self-reported lifetime alcohol,marijuana, and other drug use (cocaine, heroin, sedatives, stimulants, opium, PCP, inhalants, hallucinogens, and steroids), lifetime sexual abuse, sex with a same sex partner, exchanging club drugs for sex, and number of sex partners were among the variables assessed. Analysis was restricted to 18–35 year olds (n=608) to reduce variance in years at risk. Results: Overall, 38% endorsed ecstasy and marijuana use only, of which 12% reported lifetime sexual abuse. Among 62% who endorsed additional illicit drug use, 20% reported lifetime sexual abuse. Multivariate analysis showed an increased risk of lifetime sexual abuse for females, those havingmore sex partners, and same sex partners, and for those who used additional drugs. Separate logistic regression analyses showed that among women, having 3 or more sex partners versus less than 3 increased the odds of reporting sexual abuse (OR=3.0). Among men, additional drug use (OR=4.1) and exchanging club drugs for sex (OR=3.2) increased the risk of sexual abuse compared to their counterparts. Conclusions: The risk of lifetime sexual abuse is higher among ecstasy and marijuana users who use additional illicit drugs than ecstasy and marijuana users alone. Gender differences in lifetime sexual abuse indicate a possible need for gender-specific interventions to reduce the riskof sexual abuseamongecstasyusers. Further studies are needed to assess temporality. Financial support: NIDA R01 DA-14854 (Cottler, PI).

Polydrug Use Typologies and Childhood Maltreatment in a Nationally Representative Survey of Danish Young Adults

Substance use and childhood maltreatment experience are linked, but little is known about the association with polydrug use patterns. Latent class analyses (LCA) were performed on eight illicit drugs in a random population sample of young Danes separated by sex (males: n = 1,555; females: n = 1,425). Logistic regressions explored associations of polydrug use patterns and childhood maltreatment. A three-class solution best described patterns of polydrug use in both the male and female samples. Across all LCA models, Class 1 was characterized by individuals who represented wide-range polydrug users, endorsing many of the drug types (males = 8%; females = 2%). Class 2 was characterized by amphetamine, cannabis, cocaine, and amyl nitrate users (males = 18%; females = 7%). Class 3 was characterized by individuals who endorsed either low-level use of cannabis only or no drug use (males = 74%; females = 91 %). For males, having been a child-protection case was associated with Classes 1 and 2 and for females with Class 2, compared with Class 3. Alcohol problems were associated with Classes 1 and 2 for both sexes. Sexual abuse was associated with Classes 1 and 2 for females but not males, whereas physical abuse was associated with Classes 1 and 2 for males but not females, as compared with Class 3. Separate sex analyses are important; although patterns of polydrug use are broadly similar, females are less frequently polydrug users. In addition, different relationships exist for the sexes, such that polydrug use patterns are associated with sexual abuse in females, whereas such patterns are associated with physical abuse in young males.

P03-207 - Gender differences in risks and pattern of drug dependence in Egypt

ObjectiveTo identify possible differences in the ways that women and men are first texposed to drugs, in thier risks of abuse and the pattern of drug dependence.MethodsFour hundreds and fifty seven of drug dependence who attended Outpatient clinic of Neuropsychiatry Department in Tanta University Hospital along the period from june 2006 to june 2009 were classified into two groups according to gender. The two groups (319 males and 138 females) were assessed using DSM IV structured interview and compared together regarding; age, age of starting drug use, duration of abuse, educational level in years, occupation, marital status, first drug used, number of abused drugs, route of use, possible risk factors, causes of asking help, numer of previous treatment trials and comorbid psychiatric disorders.ResultsMales started drug abuse earlier in age than females with longer duration of addiction. Single males are more vunerable to abuse specially in illitrate group. Drug abuse is more common in female students and in male workers. Drugs that are more commonly abused by males are cannabis followed by opiates then alcohol while in females Tramadol ranked first followed by followed by anticholinergics then cannabis. Peer pressure was the most common motivating factor for drug abuse in males contrary to family troubles and sexual abuse in females. Anxiety disorders are more common in females while depressive disorders were common in males.ConclusionGender differences in drug abuse stresses the importance of strategies of treatment, motives for treatment and prevention of drug abuse in females.

Ambroise Tardieu: The man and his work on child maltreatment a century before Kempe

Ambroise Tardieu was an outstanding French forensic physician of the 19th century. A century before American physicians discovered child abuse as a pediatric and public health problem, Tardieu studied and described almost all forms of child maltreatment. In his Dictionnaire d’hygiène et de salubrité (Dictionary of hygiene and salubrity, 1862a, 1862b), Tardieu described the terrible working conditions of children in factories and mines. He also reported the ill consequences of theses conditions on the children's physical and mental health. In his Étude médico-légale sur les attentats aux mœurs (Forensic study on offenses against morals, 1857), he analyzed 632 cases of sexual abuse in females (mostly children) and 302 cases in males, describing physical signs according to the severity of the abuse. His Étude médico-légale sur les sévices et mauvais traitements exercés sur des enfants (Forensic study on cruelty and the ill-treatment of children, 1860) is a classical description of the battered-child syndrome. Thirty-two cases, 18 of which resulted in death, are described in detail. He also published Étude médico-légale sur l’infanticide (Forensic study on infanticide, 1868), a book of his observations on infanticide, based on the study of 555 cases, of which 60 are discussed in detail. Unfortunately, Ambroise Tardieu was unable to convince the physicians of his time of the prevalence of the maltreatment of children in their own family. Furthermore, his successors in forensic medicine did not believe children's allegations of physical and sexual abuse. Child victims were condemned to suffer abuse and neglect for another century without the support of the medical community, despite the fact that a clear-sighted and renowned physician devoted a significant part of his career to trying to open the eyes of physicians and society to this horrendous reality.

Pseudoseizures And Epilepsy In Neurocysiticercosis: Some Advice For Family Doctors

We studied 32 rural patients from the poorest regions in South Africa, diagnosed as epilepsy due to neurocysticercosis presenting pseudoseizures. We found that the common clinical characteristics of this series and its psychological profile such as: duration of events, history of sexual abuse in females, absent of focal neurological signs, vocalization in the middle of the seizures, and lack of post-ictal symptoms were very useful for its differential diagnosis, and the possible difference between the clinical features and psychological profile of those patients and others without PS. Finally, some advices for the management of this condition by family doctors are suggested.

In their own voices: Report of a study on the later effects of child sexual abuse

The purpose of this American study was to explore the later effects of sexual abuse in females. in pre or early adolescence. Based on interviews mith a sexually abused group and a comparison group. the study found that incidents of sexual abuse led to numerous harmful later outcomes for their victims. In contrast to a similar but non abused sample, the victim of abuse were characterized by: harboring thoughts of depression. death and suicidal ideation; experiencing lower self-esteem; having fewer close friends; experiencing more verbal altercatfons with their parent or parents; running away from home; having multiple sexual partners; engaging in sexual acti vity a t an earlier age; not using birth control; having an increased chance of becoming pregnant. andor an increased risk of contracting sexually transmitted disease, including HIV and AIDS. Based on these harmful later outcomes. there are many serious implications for child weUm policy and practice. The study's respondents valued assfstance that had helped them recover from the profound emotional trauma. However, they also indlcated that longer term services based in a multi-disciplinary setting, a one-stop facility in essence, would have provided them with more sensltive and effMtive assistance at the point of dfsclasure and subsequently.

The relation between early abuse and adult sexuality

One thousand and thirty‐two (566 non‐Asian; 466 Asian) undergraduates were assessed in a confidential laboratory setting regarding levels of physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, and a wide range of sexuality variables. The purpose was to examine relationships between specific forms of early abuse and later adult sexuality, and to assess potential gender and ethnic differences in these associations. Independent of other forms of abuse, sexual abuse in females was significantly positively related to sexual drive and experience, range of sexual fantasies, liberal sexual attitudes, frequency of intercourse and masturbation, and likelihood of engaging in unrestricted sexual behaviors and fantasies, and was negatively related to virginity status. Among males, emotional abuse was significantly associated with poor body image and sexual dissatisfaction, independent of the other forms of abuse. There were no significant differences in associations between early abuse and sexuality between persons of Southeast Asian and European ancestry.

Long-term effects of childhood maltreatment history on gender-related personality characteristics

Objective: The aim of the study was to test the hypothesis that different types of gender-related personality attributes are associated with a past history of different types of childhood maltreatment. Method: A survey was administered to 1,060 male soldiers and 305 female soldiers in the U.S. Army. The survey instrument included the Extended Personal Attributes Questionnaire (EPAQ) which is a self-assessment instrument of personality characteristics associated with gender, and includes measures of positive masculinity (self-assertive/instrumental traits), positive femininity (expressive/interpersonal traits), negative masculinity (hyper masculine/macho traits), and negative femininity (subordination of self to others). The survey instrument also included the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), which contains scales measuring sexual abuse, physical-emotional abuse, physical neglect, and emotional neglect, and four questions on childhood sexual abuse developed for a national survey of U.S. adults. Results: Negative masculinity was predicted by male gender, younger age, and childhood physical-emotional abuse. Negative femininity was predicted by physical-emotional abuse and sexual abuse. The relationship to sexual abuse was mainly evident for males. Positive femininity was positively correlated with sexual abuse for females and negatively correlated with sexual abuse for males. Positive masculinity was negatively correlated with emotional neglect for males but not for females. Positive femininity was negatively correlated with emotional neglect for both genders. Conclusions: Childhood abuse was associated with the presence of negative gender-related attributes; childhood neglect was associated with absence of positive gender-related attributes. Childhood physical abuse was associated with negative masculine attributes in both genders. Childhood sexual abuse was associated with positive feminine attributes in females, and negative feminine attributes in males. The finding for females is counterintuitive, and is discussed in the light of the clinical literature on certain types of adaptation to incest.

The relationship of childhood physical and sexual abuse to adult illness behavior

A sample of 275 undergraduate subjects reported (i) their history of sexual and physical abuse in childhood and (ii) their health care utilization, somatization, and hypochondriasis as an adult. Physical and sexual abuse were recalled by largely separate groups, physical abuse predominating in males and sexual abuse in females. Both types of abuse were followed by a greater number of hospital admissions and surgical procedures in adulthood. Although sexual, and especially physical, abuse were associated with recall of emotionally disturbed parenting, this could not explain their influence on health care utilization because this was unrelated to parenting. Similarly, although abuse was followed by greater somatization and hypochondriasis, these also were unrelated to health care utilization. Physical and sexual abuse in childhood are risk factors, independent of their association with poor parenting, in the development of separate aspects of adult illness behavior.

Unwanted sexual experiences during childhood: Australian continuum data

In order to place child sexual abuse in the broader conceptual framework of unwanted sexual experiences in childhood, this study explores a continuum of intrusive behaviours as reported in questionnaire data gathered from 345 first and second year Australian university students. The data provide evidence which is supportive of other findings on the nature and extent of child sexual abuse for females and males, including age of occurrence, identity of perpetrators, most commonly occurring behaviours, and gender differences in disclosure and prevalence.