Journal of Child Sexual Abuse最新文献

We explored whether nostalgia (i.e. sentimental longing) for life lived prior to sexual assault (SA) is associated with better or worse well-being. In Study 1 (N_T1 = 237; N_T2 = 134), a one-month prospective study, nostalgia was negatively associated with well-being at both timepoints (i.e. more PTSD symptoms and negative affect; less self-compassion, positive affect, and acceptance). These results held when controlling for searching and finding meaning in the SA. Additionally, decreased nostalgia over time predicted (reduced) PTSD symptoms. In Study 2 (N = 196; n_manip = 96, n_control = 100), participants manipulated to feel continuous with their pre-trauma self (compared to a control condition) reported less nostalgia and negative affect, and more positive affect, self-compassion, and acceptance compared to those in the control condition. Nostalgia mediated the relation between condition and measures of well-being. Results suggest that nostalgia's effect on well-being may depend on what people are nostalgic about.

Depression in sexually abused youth has a complex etiology involving various mechanisms related to adverse familial psychosocial factors and the severity of childhood sexual abuse (CSA). This study aimed to identify mediating mechanisms between CSA severity, adverse familial psychosocial factors and depressive symptoms in Turkish children and adolescents who have experienced sexual abuse. The files of 340 CSA cases, aged 6-18, who applied to the forensic outpatient clinic between 2014-2020 were retrospectively evaluated. Psychiatric diagnoses were made according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition criteria. Depressive symptoms were evaluated through clinical examinations and Children's Depression Inventory (CDI). Sexual abuse severity was measured with the Sexual Abuse Severity Score (SASS) algorithm based on the information obtained from files. Both intrafamilial violence (IFV) (B = 2.67, 95%CI [0.56-4.77]) and chaotic family environment (CFE) (B = 2.57, 95%CI [0.43-4.72]) had significant effects on CDI scores under significant and full-mediating effects of verbal/physical coercion (B = 1.16, 95%CI [0.17-2.81] for IFV→CDI; B = 1.44, 95%CI [0.24-3.34] for CFE→CDI) and qualitative severity of sexual abuse (B = 0.91, 95%CI [0.17-2.06] for IFV→CDI; B = 1.04, 95%CI [0.14-2.44] for CFE→CDI). However, total SASS had no significant mediation in the relationship between adverse familial psychosocial factors and CDI scores. These findings provide evidence that both IFV and CFE appear to have significant associations with depressive symptoms, within the significant mediating roles of both verbal/physical coercion and qualitative severity of sexual abuse.

This study explores whether components of lifestyle exposure theory can operate as predictors of adolescent sexual violence perpetration. Multivariate logistic regression models for rare events were used to assess the impact that risky behaviors, victimization, and sexual activity have on adolescent sexual violence perpetration and to explore sex differences in offending. In a sample of 85,004 U.S. adolescents' responses to the 2022 minnesota Student Survey, multivariate logistic analyses for rare events revealed that older students and males were more likely to engage in sexual violence. Several risky behaviors (i.e. fighting, drug use, running away from home), exposure to domestic violence, parental and sexual abuse, and sexual behaviors increased the risk of adolescent sexual violence perpetration. Interestingly, some factors had slightly similar effects across sex (i.e. age, running away, parental and sexual abuse, early sexual initiation, and transactional sex). The findings are discussed in the context of existing research on adolescents who commit sexual assault, with recommendations for policy and future research areas.

Research comparing penetrative technology-assisted child sexual abuse (TA-CSA) and penetrative child sexual abuse (CSA) is limited. Existing studies indicate similarities among victims and the consequences of their abuse. This study investigates the experiences of victims of penetrative TA-CSA and penetrative CSA, examining their sociodemographic characteristics, the nature of the abuse, and mental health and psychosocial consequences. Data was derived from the German Sexual Abuse Telephone Helpline between 2020 and 2023, with information gathered anonymously during calls with the caller's consent. The sample consisted of N = 302 callers reporting experiences of penetrative CSA or penetrative TA-CSA. Exact Chi-Square tests and Mann-Whitney-U tests were used to compare both groups in terms of demographics, characteristics of the abuse, and reported consequences. Logistic regression analyses were performed to explore the relationship between consequences and technology use. Results show that penetrative TA-CSA is objectively associated with more severe abuse circumstances, including multiple perpetrators, higher frequency of abuse, and earlier age of onset. The latter contributed to the specific consequences being reported by victims. No differences in terms of gender, living environment, or education were found between both groups. While the involvement of technology in penetrative abuse is related to its severity, it does not directly affect reported consequences. Future research should further examine the nuanced impact of technology use.

Although some studies have investigated personality pathology in individuals who have committed sexual contact offenses against children, few examined whether personality pathology relates to different groups, including individuals who have committed child sexual exploitation material (CSEM) offenses. This study compared four male groups, namely a CSEM (n = 33), sexual contact (n = 30), non-sexual violent (n = 64), and community group (n = 143) using self-report questionnaires assessing personality pathology, including impairments in personality functioning (i.e. self-control, identity integration, responsibility, relational capacities, and social concordance), and pathological personality traits (i.e. psychopathic and narcissistic traits). Correlational and multivariate analyses of variance were conducted to examine group differences. No significant differences were found between the CSEM and sexual contact groups. Compared to the community group, the other three groups showed more impairments in personality functioning. The violent group reported higher levels of psychopathic and narcissistic traits than the other groups. The community group showed more overt narcissistic traits compared to the other groups. This study indicates no differences in personality pathology between the CSEM and sexual contact groups, suggesting that interventions may not need to vary between these groups. Replication and exploration of additional constructs are necessary before drawing definitive conclusions.

Chilean studies show high levels of sexual victimization among adolescents. Despite this, there is little research exploring differences between adolescents belonging to Indigenous communities and the general population. This is relevant because 12.8% of the Chilean population is from an Indigenous community. In this study, data from 13,385 adolescents all over the country (15.8% indigenous) were analyzed. The prevalence of seven forms of sexual victimization throughout life was examined. Adolescents from Indigenous communities presented a higher prevalence of statutory rape, sexual abuse by an unknown adult, sexual abuse by a known adult, and rape although the effect size was small in all cases and the difference in prevalence rates was less than 2.5%. The results suggest that although attention should be paid to these differences, factors that may contribute to the vulnerability of adolescents from both groups should be explored. For example, in this study, adolescents from Indigenous communities came from a lower income segment compared to their non-Indigenous peers. In Chile, extreme poverty is associated with vulnerability factors for abuse in adolescents of any ethnic origin, so public programs and policies should consider not only ethnicity, but also other factors such as gender, socioeconomic level, and social support network.

This study assesses the impact of group therapy on young survivors of sexual abuse at a youth clinic in Sweden, focusing on self-reported outcomes and implications for primary health care. Interviews with 12 female participants aged 17-24 provided insights into the benefits of group therapy, including reduced feelings of loneliness and shame, enhanced understanding of abuse reactions and trajectories, and improved coping mechanisms. The findings support integrating group therapy into primary care settings alongside individual counseling, emphasizing the need for accessible, youth-oriented services with robust referral systems to effectively address the comprehensive psychosocial and health needs of young survivors.

This qualitative study examined the perceptions of law enforcement officers who work with Children's Advocacy Centers (CACs) in Texas, utilizing anonymous phone interviews with 20 participants to better explain their views on resources, funding, training, and stakeholder collaboration with Child Protective Services, the district attorney's office, medical personnel, and CAC staff. Five themes emerged: lack of funding, specialized caseload, high turnover and personnel needs, emotional toll, and communication. These themes are discussed, and recommendations are made for law enforcement administration, CAC practitioners, and CAC stakeholders. Key practitioner recommendations include administration understanding the time and specialization required for child abuse cases, smaller and more frequent trainings provided by the CACs to facilitate improved communication and collegiality between stakeholders, and increased funding for additional personnel and resources to benefit officer emotional wellbeing. Limitations of this study and recommendations for future studies are also discussed.

The current study examined whether in-person social reactions to disclosure of sexual violence vary as a function of sexual identity (heterosexual vs. bisexual+ survivors) and gender (women vs. nonbinary survivors). A secondary aim of the current study was to examine whether sexual identity and/or gender moderated the relation between social reactions to disclosure and various negative psychological/behavioral outcomes. (i.e. symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), heavy episodic drinking, cannabis use). Participants were 472 bisexual+ or heterosexual survivors who identified as women (cisgender and transgender women) or gender nonbinary. Independent sample t-tests and three simple linear regressions were used to examine the study aims. Nonbinary survivors reported higher levels of social reactions that involved turning against the survivor and providing unsupportive acknowledgment of the sexual violence experience, compared to women survivors. Both bisexual+ and nonbinary survivors reported higher levels of PTSD symptoms and greater cannabis use compared to heterosexual and women survivors, respectively. For bisexual+ survivors, reactions that turned against the survivors were associated with lower levels of PTSD symptoms and higher levels of heavy episodic drinking. For bisexual+ survivors, reactions involving unsupportive acknowledgment were associated with higher levels of PTSD symptoms and lower heavy episodic drinking. The current study highlights how identification as bisexual+ or as nonbinary may influence in-person social reactions received upon disclosure of sexual violence as well as psychological outcomes following sexual violence.

This study drew on the resilience perspective to investigate whether connection to culture and social support moderated the relationship between Indigenous caregivers' history of child sexual abuse (CSA) victimization and outcomes critical to child development (i.e. caregivers' parenting practices). Participants were 119 Indigenous caregivers in the Northern Great Plains region in the U.S. The study found that social support was associated with aspects of parenting practices and that connection to culture was a significant moderator. These findings highlight the protective role of connection to culture in mitigating potentially negative effects of CSA on parenting practices, particularly within Indigenous communities. The results also underscore the importance of recognizing and drawing on cultural strengths in interventions designed to support survivors of CSA.