Summary
Forty-one female volunteers, sexually abused in childhood, were compared to 56 women who had not been sexually abused. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and the Fear Survey Interview (FSI) were utilized to assess the long-term effects of childhood sexual abuse on 41 female volunteers. The abused women's scores were compared to the scores of 56 women who had not been sexually abused. Information was also obtained subjectively from the abused group in the areas of sexuality and interpersonal relationships. Sexually abused women were found to be more depressed, anxious, and fearful than the controls. Fear and distrust of men, and difficulty with sexual functioning were the most common long-term problems cited by the sexually abused women.
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Gorcey, M., Santiago, J.M. & McCall-Perez, F. Psychological consequences for women sexually abused in childhood. Soc Psychiatry 21, 129–133 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00582682
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00582682