763 A History of Sexual Abuse and Catastrophizing Have An Impact On IBS Symptom Severity That Is Unrelated to Psychological Distress

The effects of child sexual abuse (CSA) have been found to surpass generations as maternal history of CSA is associated with increased difficulties in sexually abused children. However, little is known about the mechanisms underlying this association. The present study aimed to test maternal mental health symptoms including psychological distress, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and dissociation as mediators of the relationship between maternal CSA and children’s internalizing, externalizing, and dissociation symptoms in a large sample of sexually abused children. A total of 997 sexually abused children aged 3-14 years old and their mothers were recruited at five specialized intervention centers offering services to sexually abused children and their families. The children were divided into two groups depending on their mothers’ self-reported history of CSA. Mothers completed a series of questionnaires assessing their mental health and children’s functioning. Maternal history of CSA was associated with increased maternal psychological distress, PTSD symptoms, and dissociation following children’s disclosure of CSA. In turn, maternal psychological distress and maternal dissociation were associated with increased child internalizing, externalizing, and dissociation symptoms. Maternal PTSD symptoms were associated with child internalizing symptoms. Maternal mental health difficulties mediated the association between maternal CSA and sexually abused children’s maladaptive outcomes. Clinicians should assess for possible history of CSA in mothers of sexually abused children and determine how best to support them to cope with the aftermaths of their child’s disclosure and with their own traumatic past.

Download Full-text

Mental Health in the Cree Peoples of Northern Quebec: Relationships Among Trauma, Familial Psychological Distress, and Mood or Anxiety Disorders

The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/0706743718784938 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 64 (3) ◽

pp. 180-189

Author(s):

Laura M. Heath ◽

Jill Torrie ◽

Kathryn J. Gill

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Sexual Abuse ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Mood Disorder ◽

Mood Disorders ◽

Emotional Abuse ◽

Substance Dependence ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Parental History ◽

History Of

Objective: This study examined the physical and mental health of Cree adults, as well as the personal, clinical, and environmental factors associated with the presence of lifetime anxiety and mood disorders. Methods: Mental health was assessed using the computerised version of the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (CDIS-IV), and standardised instruments were used to assess physical health, addiction severity, and psychological distress in 506 randomly selected participants from 4 Northern Cree communities in Quebec. Results: Overall, 46.1% of participants reported chronic medical problems, 42.1% were current smokers and 34.5% met the DSM-IV criteria for an anxiety or mood disorder. Individuals with an anxiety or mood disorder were younger, predominantly female, and with higher educational levels, and a large proportion (47.7%) met the lifetime criteria for substance dependence. Hierarchical regression determined that anxiety or mood disorders were associated with serious problems getting along with parents, a history of physical and sexual abuse, and a lifetime diagnosis of substance dependence. Overall, 29.7% of Cree adults reported sexual abuse, 47.1% physical abuse, and 52.9% emotional abuse. Conclusions: This study highlights the high rates of physical and mental health problems in Cree communities and the association among parental history of psychological problems, history of abuse, and psychological distress. Participants expressed a desire for additional medical and psychological treatments to address the patterns of abuse, trauma, and mental disorders that are burdening the Cree communities in Northern Quebec.

Download Full-text

Maladaptive Daydreaming Is Associated With Intensified Psychosocial Problems Experienced by Female Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse

Violence Against Women ◽

10.1177/1077801219845532 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 26 (8) ◽

pp. 825-837 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Hisham M. Abu-Rayya ◽

Eli Somer ◽

Hikmat Knane

Keyword(s):

Sexual Abuse ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Childhood Sexual Abuse ◽

Social Isolation ◽

Psychosocial Problems ◽

Clinical Services ◽

Female Survivors ◽

History Of ◽

Maladaptive Daydreaming

We measured maladaptive daydreaming (MD) and psychosocial indices among 194 participants, aged 18-56 years: 99 female survivors of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and 95 control respondents with no reported history of sexual abuse. Our data show that survivors of CSA scored higher on MD compared to controls. Survivors of CSA with probable MD scored higher on psychological distress, social phobia, and social isolation compared to survivors of CSA without suspected MD, implying that MD might exacerbate the psychosocial problems linked with CSA. MD psychological screening of female survivors of CSA and the development of a treatment module for MD could improve the quality of clinical services provided to survivors.

Download Full-text

Exacerbation of Symptom Severity of Pelvic Floor Disorders in Women Who Report a History of Sexual Abuse

Archives of Surgery ◽

10.1001/archsurg.2012.1144 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 147 (12) ◽

pp. 1123 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Laurel R. Imhoff ◽

Loriel Liwanag ◽

Madhulika Varma

Keyword(s):

Sexual Abuse ◽

Pelvic Floor ◽

Symptom Severity ◽

Pelvic Floor Disorders ◽

History Of

Download Full-text

Prevalence of Childhood Sexual Abuse and Timing of Disclosure in a Representative Sample of Adults from Quebec

The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/070674370905400908 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 54 (9) ◽

pp. 631-636 ◽

Cited By ~ 110

Author(s):

Martine Hébert ◽

Marc Tourigny ◽

Mireille Cyr ◽

Pierre McDuff ◽

Jacques Joly

Keyword(s):

Sexual Abuse ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Posttraumatic Stress ◽

Representative Sample ◽

First Episode ◽

Adult Women ◽

Adult Men ◽

History Of ◽

Abuse Disclosure ◽

Delayed Disclosure

Objective: Our study sought to explore patterns of disclosure of child sexual abuse (CSA) in a sample of adult men and women. Method: A telephone survey conducted with a representative sample of adults ( n = 804) from Quebec assessed the prevalence of CSA and disclosure patterns. Analyses were carried out to determine whether disclosure groups differed in terms of psychological distress and symptoms of posttraumatic stress, and a logistic regression was used to examine factors associated with prompt disclosure. Results: Prevalence of CSA was 22.1% for women and 9.7% for men. About 1 survivor out of 5 had never disclosed the abuse, with men more likely not to have told anyone, than women. Only 21.2% of adults reported prompt disclosure (within a month of the first abusive event), while 57.5% delayed disclosure (more than 5 years after the first episode). CSA victims who never disclosed the abuse and those who delayed disclosure were more likely to obtain scores of psychological distress and posttraumatic stress achieving clinical levels, compared with adults without a history of CSA. In the multivariate analysis, experiencing CSA involving a perpetrator outside the immediate family and being female were factors independently associated with prompt disclosure. Conclusion: A significant number of adult women and men reported experiencing CSA, and most victims attested to either not disclosing or significantly delaying abuse disclosure.

Download Full-text