NCJ Number
215370
Journal
Journal of Child Sexual Abuse Volume: 15 Issue: 2 Dated: 2006 Pages: 43-54
Date Published
2006
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This study explored how victims of childhood sexual abuse defined their abusive experiences.
Abstract
Results indicated that 82 percent of the participants defined their childhood sexual experience as abuse. Three main factors significantly predicted the labeling of childhood sexual abuse experiences as abuse: (1) intercourse; (2) abuse frequency by the initial perpetrator; and (3) paternal overprotection. Other factors associated with the labeling of abuse were abuse activities, use of force or threats, duration of abuse, and race/ethnic background. Several factors that were not associated with the labeling of abuse included the number or relationship of perpetrators, family-of-origin characteristics, and participant demographics other than race/ethnicity. The findings suggest that clinicians probing for histories of childhood sexual abuse should explain to clients that sexual abuse can take many forms and should avoid asking questions that include abstract terms such as “abuse.” Participants were 481 patients recruited from a primary health care clinic population who completed structured assessments including the Child Sexual Abuse and Assault Survey, the Family-of-Origin questionnaire, and the Parental Bonding Instrument. Statistical data analysis included the use of bivariate analyses with chi-square, t-test, and Wilcoxon Signed Rank Tests. Tables, references