Researchers

Method

Controls

Results

Boney-McCoy & Finkelhor (1995)

Random, nationally representative probablity sample of 2,000 youths age 10-16 years

Social class, race, and quality of parent-child relationship

Reports of CSA were associated with increased levels of psychological and behavioral symptoms, including PTSD symptoms and school difficulties. In addition, abused boys reported significantly more sadness than other children.

Boney-McCoy & Finkelhor (1996)

Longitudinal: Re-interviewed sample from 1995 study 15 months later

Prior symptoms and quality of parent-child relationship

Reports of sexual abuse during a 15-month interim were associated with PTSD-related symptoms and depression not present prior to the assault.

Dinwiddie et a1. (2000) 

Cotwin: Examined twins discordant for CSA drawn from 5,995 Australian male and female twins

Family dysfunction and genetic predisposition

The twin reporting CSA consistently displayed more psychopathology than the non-abused co-twin. However, only a single outcome reached statistical significance: the association between CSA and suicidal ideation in males.

Fergusson et a1. (1996)

Prospective study of a birth cohort of 1,019 male and female youths

Family, social, and individual factors (e,g., family functioning, intelligence, adolescent life events, school achievement, etc,)

Reports of CSA were associated with higher rates of major depression, anxiety disorder, conduct disorder, substance use disorder, and suicidal behavior, with those reporting the most severe CSA involving intercourse having the highest risk of disorder.

Johnson, Cohen, Brown, Smailes, & Bernstein (1999)

Prospective study of a representative community sample of 639 youths

Age, parental education, parental psychiatric disorders, and other types of childhood maltreatment

Reports of CSA were associated with higher incidence of a variety of personality disorders during early adulthood including borderline, histrionic, and depressive disorders, along with higher total numbers of disorders.

Fleming et al. ( 1999)

Subsample of 710 women selected from a larger study involving 3,958 women randomly selected from electoral rolls in Australia

Family dysfunction and socioeconomic background

Reports of CSA were associated with higher Reports of experiencing domestic violence, rape, sexual problems, mental health problems, low self- esteem, and problems with intimate relationships. More severe CSA involving intercourse was associated with the highest risk of disorder.

Kendler et a1. (2000)

Cotwin: Examined twins discordant for CSA drawn from a sample of 1,411 adult female twins

Family dysfunction, parental psychopathology, genetic predisposition, and reporting bias

The twin reporting CSA was consistently at higher risk for lifetime psychiatric and substance use disorders compared with the non-abused co-twin, with odds ratios generally increasing with the severity of the abuse.

Mullen et al. (1993)

Stratified, random community sample of 1,376 adult women in New Zealand

Family dysfunction and socioeconomic background

Reports of CSA were associated with greater levels of psychopathology on a range of measures, along with higher rates of substance abuse and suicidal behavior. A dose-response relationship was found, with those suffering the most severe forms of abuse having the greatest level of psychopathology.

Stein, Golding, Siegel, Burnam, & Sorenson (1988)

Random community sample of 3,132 male and female adults. Included various ages and ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds

Gender, ethnicity, age, education, and abuse during adulthood

Over 75% of respondents with CSA experienced symptoms of distress, with anxiety, anger, guilt. and depression the most commonly reported. Significant associations were also found between reporting CSA and meeting diagnostic criteria for at least one lifetime psychiatric disorder, especially substance abuse disorders, major depression, phobia, panic disorder, and antisocial personality.