Release Date: May 19, 2005
BOYS, TOO,
SUFFER LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES OF CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE
By Laura Kennedy, Contributing Writer
Health Behavior News Service
Children of both genders are frequently victims of sexual abuse, and
the long-term consequences are nearly identical in men and women, according
to a broad-based new report in the June 2005 issue of American Journal
of Preventive Medicine.
Among participants in the
study of more than 17,000 California adults, 25 percent of females
and 16 percent of males reported experiencing
childhood sexual abuse. Moreover, say the authors, sexual abuse significantly
increases the risk of developing health and social problems — such
as drug and alcohol abuse, mental illness, and marital strife — in
both men and women.
A history of suicide attempt was more than twice as likely among both
male and female victims as among nonvictims. Similarly, sexually abused
adults of both genders faced a 40 percent greater risk of marrying
an alcoholic.
Until now, most research
on the effects of child sexual abuse has focused on female survivors,
and little information was available on
male victims. The new study shows that being male offers little protection. “All
children are vulnerable to this form of abuse, and the burden is similar
for both men and women later in life,” says lead author Shanta
Dube of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The findings are based on confidential questionnaires completed by
more than 17,000 adult members of a health maintenance organization
in California.
The respondents represent a fairly general population, says Dube,
because each visited the clinic for a wellness assessment rather than
for treatment of a health problem. In addition, statistical methods
allowed the authors to isolate the effects of sexual abuse from those
of other childhood stressors that may occur simultaneously, such as
emotional or physical abuse.
The questionnaire asked participants if the sexual abuse involved
intercourse or inappropriate touching only. The findings show that
the risk of negative health outcomes was slightly higher for both genders
if the abuse included attempted or completed intercourse.
The study also looked at the gender of perpetrators. Women reported
that males committed the abuse 94 percent of the time. However, among
men, abusers were divided more evenly between both genders with females
accounting for up to 40 percent of the abuse.
Child sexual abuse had similar
effects on males regardless of whether the perpetrator was a man
or woman. “Thus, the vulnerability
of boys to perpetration of [childhood sexual abuse] by both males and
females deserves increased national attention,” notes the study.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Health Behavior News Service: (202) 387-2829 or www.hbns.org.
Center for the Advancement of Health
Contact: Ira R. Allen
Vice President of Public Affairs
202.387.2829
press@cfah.org
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