The Effects of Sexual Abuse on Children

Abstract

Data were collected at the Sexual Assault Center in Seattle on 369 sexually abused children and a community comparison sample of 318 not-abused children. Data describing the behavior of these children were collected from the child's parent and for the abused children from the social worker. Samples differed on a number of variables and these variables were used as control variables in the analysis. Results indicate that abused and not-abused children appear behaviorally different on a set of factors and clinical dimensions constructed from the parent-completed measure. Suggestions for future research are provided.

Relationship of personal, familial, and abuse-specific factors with outcome following childhood sexual abuse

“…Additionally, it was the dysfunctional environment, rather than the abusive experience itself, that was hypothesized, but not investigated, by some of the authors reviewed (i.e., Clausen & Crittenden, 1991 as cited in Kendall-Tackett et al, 1993) to produce the trauma and symptomatology following CSA, while other authors (i.e., Conte & Schuerman, 1987) have research evidence that the environment plays a large role in the way an abusive experience contributes to the child's symptomatology. In general, it is suggested that outcomes are related to the abuse experience and how that experience interacts with the family environment and the response of others to the abuse, with victims in a family with little dysfunction and adequate support having better recovery than those in families with much dysfunction and little support (Kendall-Tackett et al, 1993).…”

“…Multifaceted models of traumatization have been proposed by researchers (Conte & Schuerman, 1987;Finkelhor & Browne, 1985;Kendall-Tackett et al, 1993) as an explanation for outcomes following CSA. Specifically, Finkelhor and Browne (1985) hypothesize that there are four components to the trauma that a victim experiences following CSA: powerlessness, traumatization related to early sexualization, stigmatization, and betrayal.…”

“…Specifically, Finkelhor and Browne (1985) hypothesize that there are four components to the trauma that a victim experiences following CSA: powerlessness, traumatization related to early sexualization, stigmatization, and betrayal. Conte and Schuerman (1987) postulate based on their research results that both factors of the sexual abuse and other family dysfunction contribute to the trauma that the victim experiences. Further, Conte and Schuerman (1987) hypothesize that the family dynamics will surpass the abuse-related factors in their impact on the victim's outcomes following CSA.…”

“…Conte and Schuerman (1987) postulate based on their research results that both factors of the sexual abuse and other family dysfunction contribute to the trauma that the victim experiences. Further, Conte and Schuerman (1987) hypothesize that the family dynamics will surpass the abuse-related factors in their impact on the victim's outcomes following CSA. Kendall-Tackett et al (1993) suggest that the pattern of outcomes following CSA is directly related to areas of functioning in which the victim showed prior vulnerability.…”

Interpersonal functioning among women reporting a history of childhood sexual abuse: empirical findings and methodological issues

“…There is consistent evidence that familial responses and social support following the initial disclosure of abuse serve to aggravate or mitigate the trauma experienced by children (Conte & Schuerman, 1987;Everson, Hunter, Runyon, Edelsohn, & Coulter, 1989;Gomes-Schwartz, Horowitz, & Cardarelli, 1990). As important as these immediate interactions appear to be, the potential for long-term interpersonal functioning to hinder or promote the psychological wellbeing and recovery of adult survivors is largely unknown.…”