Understanding the Impact of Clergy Sexual Abuse

Abstract Background Intersectional stigma is based upon co-occurring and intersecting identities or conditions and occurs at multiple levels of influence. Intersectional stigma has been repeatedly associated with poor health behaviors and outcomes. The effect of intersectional stigma among older adults are particularly challenging due to issues related to ageism, loss of social support, and comorbidities. We examined the impact of multiple stigmas on older adults living with HIV who are victims of childhood sexual abuse. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposefully selected heterogeneous sample of 24 adults living with HIV who are 50 years and older in South Carolina. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and coded using thematic analysis. Results Participants shared experiences and perceptions of stigma and discrimination most commonly related to their HIV status and sexuality at the interpersonal/familial and community levels. Four themes emerged to explain the impact of intersectional stigma: depression, lack of HIV disclosure, limited support, and reduced intimacy. Conclusion The complexity of multiple stigmas profoundly shapes life experiences, opportunities, and mental health of older adults living with HIV. This study highlights that public health programs need to consider the impact of intersectional stigma in order to promote the wellbeing of and improve quality of life for older adults living with HIV. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

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Book Review and Note: The Congregational Response to Clergy Betrayal of Trust, Recovering the Lost Self: Shame-Healing for Victims of Clergy Sexual Abuse

Journal of Pastoral Care ◽

10.1177/002234099805200325 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 52 (3) ◽

pp. 319-319

Keyword(s):

Sexual Abuse ◽

Clergy Sexual Abuse

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Sexual Health in Spanish People with Intellectual Disability: the Impact of the Lockdown due to COVID-19

Sexuality Research and Social Policy ◽

10.1007/s13178-021-00621-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

M. Dolores Gil-Llario ◽

Irene Díaz-Rodríguez ◽

Vicente Morell-Mengual ◽

Beatriz Gil-Juliá ◽

Rafael Ballester-Arnal

Keyword(s):

Sexual Abuse ◽

Sexual Behavior ◽

Sexual Health ◽

Intellectual Disabilities ◽

Sexual Activity ◽

Policy Implications ◽

The People ◽

People With Intellectual Disabilities ◽

Technological Improvements ◽

The Impact

Abstract Introduction The lockdown due to COVID-19 affected the sexual health of the people with intellectual disabilities by differentially modifying the frequency and characteristics of people’s sexual activity depending on whether or not they lived with a partner during this period. The aim of this study was to analyze the extent to which the sexual behavior of people with intellectual disabilities (with and without a partner) was affected during the lockdown. Methods The sample consisted of 73 people with intellectual disabilities between 21 and 63 years old (M = 39.63; SD = 10.11). The variables analyzed were the physical, social, and technological environment during the lockdown, sexual appetite, sexual behavior, online sexual activity, and sexual abuse. The data were collected between the months of May and June of 2020. Results The lockdown increased the sexual appetite of a third of the sample (38%), especially the youngest participants. Sexual activity focused on autoeroticism and online behavior, particularly sending nude images of oneself (88%) and viewing pornography (83.6%). Rates of sexual abuse during this period were relatively high (6.8%). Conclusions The sexual activity of people with ID was important during the lockdown, and they had to adapt to the circumstances of isolation in a similar way to the general population. Technological improvements in terms of devices and connection quality at home allowed their sexual behavior to be reoriented, opening the door to new risks for the sexual health of people with ID. Policy Implications Cybersex and the increase in sexual abuse due to confinement are aspects that should be included in programs to improve the sexual health of this group.

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Childhood adversity and psychosis: generalised or specific effects?

Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences ◽

10.1017/s204579601500044x ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 25 (4) ◽

pp. 349-359 ◽

Cited By ~ 47

Author(s):

E. Longden ◽

M. Sampson ◽

J. Read

Keyword(s):

Sexual Abuse ◽

Physical Abuse ◽

Negative Symptoms ◽

Childhood Adversity ◽

Clinical Intervention ◽

Current Data ◽

Psychotic Symptoms ◽

Multiple Exposures ◽

Specific Effects ◽

The Impact

Background.This study examines relationships between childhood adversity and the presence of characteristic symptoms of schizophrenia. It was hypothesised that total adversity exposures would be significantly higher in individuals exhibiting these symptoms relative to patients without. Recent proposals that differential associations exist between specific psychotic symptoms and specific adversities was also tested, namely: sexual abuse and hallucinations, physical abuse and delusions, and fostering/adoption and delusions.Method.Data were collected through auditing 251 randomly selected medical records, drawn from adult patients in New Zealand community mental health centres. Information was extracted on presence and subtype of psychotic symptoms and exposure to ten types of childhood adversity, including five types of abuse and neglect.Results.Adversity exposure was significantly higher in patients experiencing hallucinations in general, voice hearing, command hallucinations, visions, delusions in general, paranoid delusions and negative symptoms than in patients without these symptoms. There was no difference in adversity exposure in patients with and without tactile/olfactory hallucinations, grandiose delusions or thought disorder. Indication of a dose–response relationship was detected, in that total number of adversities significantly predicted total number of psychotic symptoms. Although fostering/adoption was associated with paranoid delusions, the hypothesised specificity between sexual abuse and hallucinations, and physical abuse and delusions, was not found. The two adversities showing the largest number of associations with psychotic symptoms were poverty and being fostered/adopted.Conclusions.The current data are consistent with a model of global and cumulative adversity, in which multiple exposures may intensify psychosis risk beyond the impact of single events. Implications for clinical intervention are discussed.

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