NCJ Number
170936
Journal
Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health Volume: 7 Issue: 4 Dated: (1997) Pages: 327-338
Date Published
1997
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This study examined the relationships between childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and other adverse development factors, as well as a range of adverse adult psychological and socioeconomic outcomes.
Abstract
Questionnaires were mailed to a random community sample of women, with a screen included for CSA. A total of 254 women who reported CSA were interviewed, as well as a control group of the same size that had not experienced CSA. Findings show that a range of negative outcomes in adulthood were more likely to occur in women who reported CSA compared with controls. These outcomes included psychiatric disorder, lowered self-esteem, deliberate self-harm, increased sexual problems, adolescent pregnancy, difficulties in intimate relationships, decline in socioeconomic status, and increased likelihood of separation or divorce. After logistic regression modeling, the results showed that a variety of childhood risk factors contributed to negative adult outcomes. These risk factors included poor parental mental health, poor quality of relationship with parents, and being physically punished, as well as CSA. The study concluded that CSA is best conceptualized as a non-specific risk factor for a wide range of adverse psychological and social adult outcomes. It is often found in families that also have other risk factors for adverse outcomes. 3 tables and 16 references