Inconsistent retrospective self-reports of childhood sexual abuse and their correlates in the general population

The experience of sexual abuse in childhood is very common (Jehu, 1988). The highest estimate from the USA (Wyatt & Peters, 1986) suggests that 42% of girls up to the age of 17 have experienced abuse, and the best estimate from Britain (Baker & Duncan, 1985) would give a prevalence of between 12 and 20%. Mullen et al (1993) found in a general population of women in New Zealand an overall prevalence of abuse before the age of 16 of 32%, with 20% reporting genital contact and 3% penetrative sex. In the American series half of those abused (21% of the respondents) reported that the abuse was by a family member: the figure for intra-familial abuse in the British series was 14% of those reporting abuse, and thus about 3–5% of all the women who responded. There may be many explanations for the large international variations, including differences in definition, sampling and other aspects of methodology, but it is also possible that abuse is indeed more common in some countries than others.

Download Full-text

Self-reports of forgetting and remembering childhood sexual abuse in a nationally representative sample of US women

Child Abuse & Neglect ◽

10.1016/s0145-2134(01)00313-1 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 26 (2) ◽

pp. 139-147 ◽

Cited By ~ 31

Author(s):

Sharon C Wilsnack ◽

Stephen A Wonderlich ◽

Arlinda F Kristjanson ◽

Nancy D Vogeltanz-Holm ◽

Richard W Wilsnack

Keyword(s):

Sexual Abuse ◽

Childhood Sexual Abuse ◽

Representative Sample ◽

Self Reports ◽

Nationally Representative

Download Full-text

DISSOCIATION, COMORBIDITY OF DISSOCIATIVE DISORDERS, AND CHILDHOOD ABUSE IN A COMMUNITY SAMPLE OF WOMEN WITH CURRENT AND PAST BULIMIA

Social Behavior and Personality An International Journal ◽

10.2224/sbp.2000.28.3.279 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 28 (3) ◽

pp. 279-292 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Gary Groth-Marnat ◽

Naomi Michel

Keyword(s):

Sexual Abuse ◽

Childhood Sexual Abuse ◽

General Population ◽

Childhood Abuse ◽

Community Sample ◽

Clinical Interview ◽

Dissociative Disorders ◽

Dissociative Disorder ◽

Dsm Iv

Dissociation and childhood sexual abuse were examined in a community sample of current bulimics (N=47), past bulimics (N=29), and non-bulimic controls (N=37). All respondents completed questionnaires requesting information relating to bulimia, dissociation, and incidence and severity of childhood sexual abuse. Participants scoring high on the measure of dissociation (N=21) were further assessed with a structured clinical interview to determine the proportion who would fulfill the formal criteria for a DSM-IV dissociative disorder. Results indicated that dissociation was highest among current bulimics, and that past bulimics had lower levels of dissociation than current bulimics (although higher than non-bulimic controls). However, there was no association between level of dissociation and incidence of reported childhood sexual abuse. In addition, the incidence of childhood sexual abuse was no higher among bulimics than among the general population – although the severity of the abuse was reported to have been higher. The severity of self-reported childhood sexual abuse was also found to be higher among current bulimics than among past bulimics. Comorbidity of DSM-IV dissociative disorders among current bulimics was found to be 10%.

Download Full-text

Stigma as a barrier to addressing childhood trauma in conversation with trauma survivors: A study in the general population

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0258782 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (10) ◽

pp. e0258782

Author(s):

Georg Schomerus ◽

Stephanie Schindler ◽

Theresia Rechenberg ◽

Tobias Gfesser ◽

Hans J. Grabe ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sexual Abuse ◽

Childhood Sexual Abuse ◽

General Population ◽

Physical Abuse ◽

Childhood Trauma ◽

Social Distance ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Equation Modeling ◽

Childhood Physical Abuse ◽

Negative Stereotypes

Victims of childhood trauma report shame and anticipation of stigma, leading to non-disclosure and avoidance of help. Stigma is potentially aggravating the mental health consequences of childhood trauma. So far there is no comprehensive study examining stigma toward adult survivors of various forms of childhood trauma, and it is unclear whether stigma interferes with reaching out to affected individuals. In a vignette study based on a representative sample of the German general population (N = 1320; 47.7% male) we randomly allocated participants to brief case vignettes pertaining to past childhood sexual/physical abuse or accidents, and adult physical abuse. Stigma was elicited by applying the Social Distance Scale, assessing respondents’ attitudes/stereotypes toward the persons in the vignette and their reluctance to address the specific trauma in conversation. While one aim was to establish the prevalence of stigma toward persons with CT, we hypothesized that attitudes differ according to type of trauma. Of the respondents, 45% indicated they were unlikely to reach out to a victim of childhood sexual abuse, 38% to a victim of childhood physical abuse, 31% to someone reporting a childhood accident and 25% to someone reporting adult physical abuse. Contrary to our expectations, childhood sexual abuse did not consistently elicit more stigma than childhood physical abuse in Krukall-Wallis tests. Equally, childhood interpersonal trauma did not consistently elicit more stigma than childhood accidental trauma. Structural equation modeling revealed social distance as mediator of the relationship between negative stereotypes and reluctance to address childhood trauma in conversation. Our analyses further revealed an ambiguous role of negative stereotypes in addressing childhood trauma in conversation with trauma victims, which has yet to be examined. There is evidence for stigma associated with having survived childhood trauma, which is interfering with offering help.

Download Full-text

Influence of Concept, Definitions, Assessments Methods, and Sources of Data on Prevalence of Sexual Abuse

Advances in Psychology, Mental Health, and Behavioral Studies - Social, Psychological, and Forensic Perspectives on Sexual Abuse ◽

10.4018/978-1-5225-3958-2.ch001 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 1-12

Author(s):

Rejani Thudalikunnil Gopalan

Keyword(s):

Sexual Abuse ◽

General Population ◽

Data Collection ◽

Prevalence Rates ◽

Individuals With Disabilities ◽

Prevalence Studies ◽

Special Groups ◽

Self Reports ◽

Interview Methods ◽

Different Dimensions

The focus of this chapter is to examine how the conceptual differences influence the definition and prevalence of sexual abuse among children, adolescence and adults. Attempting to understand measures, sources of data and special groups influences on prevalence rates is a challenge. It was observed that the prevalence of sexual abuse varies according to the type of concept and definitions, legal criteria, method of data collection, like interview methods, questionnaires, or self reports, and the source of data such as general population or specific groups such as prisoners, and individuals with disabilities are used for the study. In some studies, the rates are exaggerated because of the definitions. The chapter concludes that is important to evaluate prevalence studies of sexual abuse on different dimensions and criteria to make final conclusions.

Download Full-text

Therapists' Self-Reported Training and Success Rates in Treating Clients with Childhood Sexual Abuse

Psychological Reports ◽

10.2466/pr0.1998.82.2.579 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 82 (2) ◽

pp. 579-582 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Susan M. Winkelspecht ◽

Sangeeta Singg

Keyword(s):

Sexual Abuse ◽

Childhood Sexual Abuse ◽

Social Workers ◽

Response Rate ◽

Training Programs ◽

Graduate Programs ◽

Success Rates ◽

Self Reports

In this two-part study, three groups of therapists (16 psychologists, 11 counselors, and 14 social workers) were compared with regard to their success rates with clients presenting with childhood sexual abuse, and 43 graduate programs were asked whether they offered courses covering counseling techniques with such clients. Therapists' self-reported success rates were not significantly related to therapists' training, but type of therapy was. Given a response rate of 18.6%, self-reports should be treated cautiously. Over two-thirds of the training programs (45% response rate) offered courses covering issues in childhood sexual abuse and 67% offered courses covering counseling techniques with such clients. However, in 85% of these courses, treatment of childhood sexual abuse was a topic covered under more general course headings.

Download Full-text