NCJ Number
176625
Journal
Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health Volume: 7 Issue: 4 Dated: 1997 Pages: 327-338
Date Published
1997
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This British 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
Mail questionnaires were sent to a random community sample of women, with a screening included for CSA. A total of 254 women who reported having experienced CSA were interviewed, along with an equal number of those in a control group with no CSA. 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. The results after logistic regression modeling showed that a variety of childhood risk factors -- such as poor parental mental health, relationship to parents, and being physically punished, as well as CSA -- contributed to negative adult outcomes. The precise patterns varied for each negative outcome. It was concluded that CSA is best conceptualized as a non-specific risk factor for a wide range of adverse psychological and social adult outcomes. 3 tables and 16 references