The impact of sexual abuse on female development: Lessons from a multigenerational, longitudinal research study

Abstract

This is a report on the research design and findings of a 23-year longitudinal study of the impact of intrafamilial sexual abuse on female development. The conceptual framework integrated concepts of psychological adjustment with theory regarding how psychobiological factors might impact development. Participants included 6- to 16-year-old females with substantiated sexual abuse and a demographically similar comparison group. A cross-sequential design was used and six assessments have taken place, with participants at median age 11 at the first assessment and median age 25 at the sixth assessment. Mothers of participants took part in the early assessments and offspring took part at the sixth assessment. Results of many analyses, both within circumscribed developmental stages and across development, indicated that sexually abused females (on average) showed deleterious sequelae across a host of biopsychosocial domains including: earlier onsets of puberty, cognitive deficits, depression, dissociative symptoms, maladaptive sexual development, hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal attenuation, asymmetrical stress responses, high rates of obesity, more major illnesses and healthcare utilization, dropping out of high school, persistent psottraumatic stress disorder, self-mutilation, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders diagnoses, physical and sexual revictimization, premature deliveries, teen motherhood, drug and alcohol abuse, and domestic violence. Offspring born to abused mothers were at increased risk for child maltreatment and overall maldevelopment. There was also a pattern of considerable within group variability. Based on this complex network of findings, implications for optimal treatments are elucidated. Translational aspects of extending observational research into clinical practice are discussed in terms that will likely have a sustained impact on several major public health initiatives.

Sexual abuse in very young children: a psychological assessment in the Amsterdam Sexual Abuse Case study

“…Secure attachment and parental support have been shown to protect against consequences of stress (Beaudoin, Hébert, & Bernier, 2013; Domhardt et al, 2015). Limited-scale longitudinal studies have indicated, however, that 10–20% of asymptomatic children develop symptoms later, an outcome called the sleeper effect (Kendall-Tackett et al, 1993; Putnam, 2003; Trickett, Noll, & Putnam, 2011). Hence, ongoing follow-up assessment in our population is crucial.…”

Peritraumatic reactions in relation to trauma exposure and symptoms of posttraumatic stress in high school students

“…For example, girls are more likely than boys to experience traumatic events that are highly related to dissociation, such as sexual abuse (Bernier, Hebert, & Collin-Vezina, 2013; Collin-Vezina, Daigneault, & Hebert, 2013; Trickett, Noll, & Putnam, 2011). In the current study, we did not examine results by trauma type.…”

Effects of Home-Based Intervention Program to Prevent Child Abuse for Parents: A Meta Analysis

“…Child maltreatment is associated with short-term and long-term negative consequences. Victims have an increased risk for physical, behavioral, and psychological problems, also up into adulthood (e.g., [8][9][10][11]), and benefit less from treatment compared to non-maltreated individuals [12], leading to high costs for individuals and society. Given the high prevalence rates and serious consequences of maltreatment, effective prevention and reduction of child maltreatment is essential.…”