NCJ Number
162561
Journal
Child Maltreatment Volume: 1 Issue: 1 Dated: (February 1996) Pages: 6-16
Date Published
1996
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This article describes a meta-analytic review of the relationship between a history of child sexual abuse and psychological problems in adult women in 38 studies.
Abstract
Across all symptoms, a significant association was found between history of child sexual abuse and adult symptomatology. Analysis of the role of moderating variables indicated the associations were stronger among subjects recruited from clinical populations. When individual symptom domains were examined, anxiety; anger; depression; revictimization; self-mutilation; sexual problems; substance abuse; suicidality; impairment of self-concept; interpersonal problems; obsessions and compulsions; dissociation; post-traumatic stress responses; and somatization all yielded significant associations with sexual abuse. These results are discussed in light of their relevance to research methodology and clinical intervention. This study suggests that there is merit in the assumption of many in the child abuse field: child sexual abuse is related to a variety of symptomatic outcomes in adulthood. Further theory-based research is needed to resolve the issue of whether such outcomes arise from or merely correlate with child sexual abuse. Tables, appendix, notes, references