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Long‐term effects of intrafamilial sexual abuse in childhood
Author(s) -
Bushnell J. A.,
Wells J. E.,
OakleyBrowne M. A.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1992.tb01458.x
Subject(s) - sexual abuse , comorbidity , psychiatry , depression (economics) , anxiety , population , psychology , clinical psychology , poison control , injury prevention , medicine , medical emergency , environmental health , economics , macroeconomics
This study reports results from follow‐up interviews with 301 women aged 18–44 years who were first identified 2 years earlier in a cross‐sectional study of 1498 adults in the general population of the city of Christchurch, New Zealand. The prevalence of intrafamilial sexual abuse was 13%. This incestuous sexual abuse in childhood was associated with an increase in many adult mental symptoms, particularly symptoms of depression, bulimia and generalized anxiety. In this community study the consequences associated with sexual abuse within the family appear to be widespread and not very specific, and show as additional comorbidity rather than as increased severity within a disorder. These results do not support the strong direct causal effects postulated in some theories derived from clinical studies.