NCJ Number
105475
Date Published
1986
Length
30 pages
Annotation
Random surveys of childhood sexual abuse among adult females in California indicate that as many as 48 percent may have experienced some form of sexual abuse before age 18.
Abstract
While a majority of these women recover from the abuse, a substantial percent continues to suffer psychological and emotional impairment, including depression, low self-esteem, substance abuse, interpersonal problems, revictimization, and self-destructive tendencies. Adequate treatment for adult victims of childhood sexual abuse requires outreach and identification, available and affordable treatment, and adequate professional training. At present, outreach services in California, while effective, are insufficient. Treatment is available through child welfare services if the adult victim has an abused or neglected child. Adults also may find help through community mental health services, community counseling programs, private therapists, or support groups. Despite this, the available and affordable treatment in California is not adequate to the demand. 54 references.