Assessing the Long-term Impact of Child Sexual Abuse: A Review and Conceptualization (From Family Abuse and Its Consequences: New Directions in Research, P 270-284, 1988, Gerald T Hotaling, et al, eds. -- See NCJ-114483)

• NCJ Number: 114500
• Author(s): D Finkelhor; A Browne
• Date Published: 1988
• Length: 15 pages
• Sale Source: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Type: Literature Review
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

Empirical research on the long-term effects of child sexual abuse is reviewed and used to develop and explain a conceptual framework with four components showing the psychological impacts of this abuse: traumatic sexualization, stigmatization, betrayal, and powerlessness.

Abstract

At least six studies have found more sexual problems in women who have been victims of child sexual abuse than in nonvictims. Five studies have also found higher rates of subsequent rape among sexual abuse victims than among nonvictims. Depression and related behavior and later substance abuse have also been shown to be associated with child sexual abuse. However, most studies have been better at showing that sexual abuse constitutes a risk factor than at determining how great the risk is. Research has also focused on the effects of different kinds of abuse. Thus, sexual abuse involving fathers and stepfathers has been shown to have greater effects than abuse by someone outside the family. Evidence also indicates that sexual abuse involving intercourse is more traumatic than other abuse. Male perpetrators, adult perpetrators, and lack of family support are also associated with more trauma. The research suggests the usefulness of a model that shows how specific factors distort a child's self-concept, world view, and affective capacities. The model can be used to develop hypotheses and to make clinical assessments of victims. Further research is recommended. Note and 41 references.