NCJ Number
113276
Journal
Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 3 Issue: 2 Dated: (June 1988) Pages: 131-144
Date Published
1988
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This study examines the association between a history of childhood sexual abuse and an unusual number of medical complaints in adult women using 27 women who had been sexually abused as children and 33 who had not.
Abstract
The 60 subjects were women from a rural area in the midwestern region of the United States. Subjects were administered a 6-page questionnaire of their medical complaints, which was comprised of an adaptation of the rating scale for psychosomatic problems, and demographic questions. Results revealed that the women with a history of sexual abuse had significantly more frequent complaints of a variety of medical problems, some of which, such as pelvic pain, have been noted in previous literature, and some of which, such as asthma, represent new findings. (Author abstract modified)