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The present research examined the direct and indirect relationship between distress tolerance, self-compassion, and cognitive fusion with posttraumatic growth in a sample of Iranian individuals that had childhood abuse experience. Participants included 190 Iranian individuals with childhood abuse experience (126 women and 64 men). Questionnaires were administered and all of the participants gave written informed consent at the pre-assessment. Results showed that there is a positive relationship between distress tolerance, self-compassion, and posttraumatic growth. Another result showed that there is a negative relationship between cognitive fusion and posttraumatic growth. We tested, via structural equation model, whether distress tolerance and self-compassion predicted posttraumatic growth through cognitive fusion. Results showed cognitive fusion mediates the relationship between distress tolerance and posttraumatic growth but could not predict posttraumatic growth via self-compassion. In sum, the results of the present research showed that cognitive fusion is an important mediator factor in the relationships of distress tolerance with posttraumatic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continued research regarding the effects of experiencing multiple types of childhood maltreatment is necessary in gauging the impact of such experiences on survivors. In an effort to contribute to this area of study, the authors investigated the relationship between multitype childhood maltreatment and adult spirituality and compared three established methods of assessing the these effects to investigate the degree to which a researcher's choice of method might affect their findings. Surveys were completed by 254 university students that included data on childhood maltreatment and current spirituality. Findings suggest the presence of a dose response between multitype childhood maltreatment and adult spirituality and that the researcher's assessment method choice can affect findings of the research. In addition, the authors report their findings on the unique effects of five types of childhood maltreatment on adult spirituality. Emotional neglect and emotional abuse were found to be associated with lower levels of spirituality; no significant relationships were found between sexual abuse, physical abuse, and physical neglect and spirituality. The findings suggest the need for further study regarding the effects of experiencing multiple types of childhood maltreatment, the most accurate methods of assessing those effects on survivors, and the relationship between multitype maltreatment and spirituality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The objective was 1) to describe the clinical characteristics of children referred for an urgent psychiatric consult with and without, a history of abuse; 2) to study differences in demographic and clinical variables between the groups; and 3) to examine the relationship between different types of abuse and disposition after assessment. Methods This is a 2-year retrospective cohort study of all patients aged 12 to 17 years referred to a hospital urgent psychiatric clinic. Patients were divided into two groups, those with a history of abuse and those without. Study variables included demographics, reason for referral, history of emotional, physical, sexual abuse, substance use, bullying victimization, DSM-5 diagnoses, and disposition. The study population was described using means, frequencies, and percentages, while relationships between types of abuse and clinical and demographic variables were assessed using Mann–Whitney U statistics, Spearman correlations, and logistic regression. Results The prevalence of any type of abuse was 30.4% (227 of 746 referrals). The abused group were older, more likely to be female, to have a history of substance use, bullying victimization, diagnosis of an externalizing disorder, and more likely to be admitted. Among the abused group, males were significantly more likely to report physical/emotional abuse, and female sexual abuse. There was no difference between different kinds of abuse and final diagnoses. Conclusions Almost one-third of children and adolescents referred for urgent psychiatric consultation reported a history of abuse. Awareness of the association between abuse and emergency visits may assist physicians in triaging for urgent psychiatric assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disclosing child sexual abuse (CSA) is a necessary first step to access the legal, health, and psycho-social services that survivors and their families need. However, disclosure rates are low: of young women who experienced CSA in Zimbabwe, only 9% disclosed the first incident. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore and describe perceived barriers to disclosing CSA in Zimbabwe. We conducted focus group discussions with children aged 10–14 years (n = 40) and their parents/caregivers aged 20–62 years (n = 40), participating in an intervention trial in Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe. We found that potential retaliation against survivors and their families is a major barrier to disclosing CSA. These retaliatory acts, which we refer to as "re-victimization," arise from stigma or the victim feeling blamed or doubted and manifest through physical violence, emotional violence, and deprivation of family life and education. Our findings suggest that addressing social and cultural norms related to sex and strengthening legal protection for CSA survivors and their families could encourage CSA disclosure and could help end this violence. Our findings also highlight a need to increase children's awareness of their rights and to create safe systems for disclosure of sexual abuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With evidence suggesting that females are more likely to be victims of child sexual abuse (CSA), much of the literature – including that on disclosure – focuses on females. Thus, male victims remain "under-studied". Given this, the aim here is to contribute to the scant knowledge base on the sexual abuse of males and disclosure by focusing on males whose voices are even more rarely heard than those in the general male population: those who have perpetrated CSA. The men whose stories are told here had been convicted of, and imprisoned for, CSA in the United Kingdom (UK). They were part of a sample of 101 incarcerated males, 40 of whom reported at interview that they had been sexually abused in childhood. Eighteen of those 40 men are focused on here as they provided some detail as to whether they had disclosed that abuse in childhood or adulthood, the responses they had received, and also why they had not disclosed. Their narratives shed some much-needed light on the nature of sexual abuse experienced by males, its onset and duration, sexual re-victimization, relationships with perpetrators, the diverse nature of disclosure, the extent to which victims disclose and when, the responses received, and why they do not tell. Little is known of these aspects of male CSA. The implications of the findings are considered together with future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many studies focusing on childhood sexual abuse (CSA) may have neglected the consequences related to experiencing other types of childhood maltreatment, such as psychological maltreatment. Moreover, the literature has focused more on negative consequences related to CSA, hence potentially leaving out more adaptive and resilient trajectories. This qualitative study aimed to explore childhood psychological maltreatment and CSA, mindfulness, sexuality, and intimate relationships in adult survivors. The interview data from 19 individuals who experienced CSA and psychological maltreatment were analyzed using conventional content analysis. Four conceptual categories developed: (a) an unsafe family environment that hindered the development of positive experiences and relationships; (b) impaired mindfulness dispositions: the reliving of trauma, the avoidance of suffering, and feeling engulfed; (c) impaired intimacy: instability, codependence, emotional distance, and self-silencing; and (d) mindfulness dispositions and posttraumatic growth (PTG) in participants' intimate lives. These findings highlight that mindfulness, sexuality, and intimate relationships are often poor among survivors of psychological maltreatment and CSA. Yet opportunities to develop mindfulness dispositions appear to enhance PTG in survivors' intimate relationships, significantly contributing to survivors' healing processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The issue of institutional abuse (IA) in out-of-home care services is a difficult one, which we struggle to think about and which is slow to find attention and recognition: the victims are those children who, after experiencing maltreatment and abuse in the family, still suffer violence in the residential care services that should protect them. It represents the failure of the public system in protecting children, and it is often the result of institutions and professionals who allow, collude, cover, justify and minimise violence against children. Starting from a recent and paradigmatic Italian story and from the contribution of experience and thought of those who, as the first author, survived it, as well as from the analysis of the existing literature, this article examines the specific characteristics and dynamics of IA that motivate the extreme difficulty of its emergence. This article aims to improve professionals' awareness concerning the phenomenon and their responsibilities in the prevention and early detection. For professionals and services to see institutional maltreatment implies questioning themselves, their own methodological tools and their own professional practices, as well as opening themselves to the concrete possibility of being able—at least—to make serious mistakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

History of childhood maltreatment is common among military veterans, particularly those with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD). Childhood maltreatment is associated with negative psychosocial outcomes, including use of aggression during adulthood. Prior research has identified maladaptive cognitions as a key mediating variable in the association between early life trauma and aggression. Given the high rates of comorbid PTSD and AUD among veterans and the increased risk of aggression when these conditions co-occur, it is critical to examine malleable intervention targets, such as maladaptive cognitions, for this population. The current secondary analyses examined the mediating role of hostile cognitions on the associations between childhood maltreatment and adulthood aggression in a sample of dually diagnosed veterans. Participants were veterans with co-occurring PTSD and AUD (N = 73) who were enrolled in a larger randomized controlled laboratory trial. Participants completed self-report measures of childhood maltreatment, hostile cognitions, and aggressive behavior. Three models were tested to examine the mediating effect of hostility on the associations between childhood maltreatment, abuse, and neglect on aggression. Results indicated that hostility fully mediated the effect of maltreatment on aggression and partially mediated the effect of childhood abuse on aggression. The effect of childhood neglect on aggression was nonsignificant. Hostile cognitions may be a critical intervention target for veterans with co-occurring PTSD and AUD and history of childhood maltreatment, particularly for those who have experienced higher levels of childhood abuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This systematic review aims to estimate the extent to which childhood maltreatment influences self-compassion in later life. Method: Four English databases (Web of Science, PsycINFO, PubMed, and PsycARTICLES) and three Chinese databases (China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, and Weipu) were systematically searched. We extracted data related to the associations between child maltreatment and self-compassion and pooled them using random effect models. Findings: A total of 20 eligible studies were included involving 6,877 participants in the analyses. Overall child maltreatment was negatively related to self-compassion (r = −.28, p <.001); emotional abuse and neglect were negatively related to self-compassion (r = −.28, p <.01; r = −.31, p <.01, respectively) at a moderate level; and physical abuse, sexual abuse, and physical neglect were negatively related to self-compassion (r = −.12, p <.01; r = −.10, p <.01; and r = −.22, p <.001, respectively) at a small level. Conclusion: The results indicate that overall and subtypes of maltreatment are associated with decreased self-compassion, and child intervention programs focused on self-compassion should be designed to protect the well-being of individuals with a history of childhood maltreatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adolescents experience alarmingly high rates of sexual violence, higher than any other age-group. This is concerning as sexual violence can have detrimental effects on teens' personal and relational well-being, causing long-term consequences for the survivor. Still, adolescents are hesitant to report the assault or seek out services and resources. When an adolescent survivor does seek out services, they may interact with a provider who is a mandatory reporter. This scoping review sought to synthesize the current U.S.-based research on the role, challenges, and impact of mandatory reporting (MR) in the context of adolescent sexual assault. Database searches using key words related to MR, sexual assault, and adolescence identified 29 peer-reviewed articles. However, none of these articles reported on empirical investigations of the phenomenon of interest and instead consisted of case studies, commentaries, and position papers. The scoping review was expanded to provide a lay of the land of what we know about the intersection of adolescent sexual assault and MR. Results of the review indicate that though implemented broadly, MR policies vary between individuals, organizations, and states and have historically been challenging to implement due to this variation, conflicts with other laws, tension between these policies and providers' values, and other factors. Based on the available literature, the impact of MR in the context of adolescent sexual assault is unknown. There is a critical need for research and evaluation on the implementation and impact of MR policies, especially in the context of adolescents and sexual violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have examined the associations between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), a measure of childhood trauma, and multiple mental health outcomes in adult life. ACEs have been linked to adult health risks such as violence, aggression, sexual behavior, and problem substance use. Substance use may be a strategy for coping with the psychological effects of early trauma. Archival data from inpatient and outpatient treatment programs included the following information for approximately 2,300 participants: gender, ACEs, the primary substance used, and the number of previous treatment episodes. The data set included 970 females (42.2%) and 1,326 males (57.8%). Females obtained significantly higher ACEs scores than males. In addition, the females in the current sample exhibited significantly higher ACEs scores than females in a general, non-clinical population. Other findings indicated a small significant positive correlation between ACEs score and the number of treatment episodes. ACEs scores also differed by participants reported primary substance of choice with significantly higher ACEs scores for methamphetamine/ other opiates/synthetics and other amphetamines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the pregnancy and childbearing experiences of women-survivors of childhood sexual abuse [CSA]. We aimed to generate a theory explaining those experiences for this population (women), this phenomenon (pregnancy and childbirth), and this context (those who have survived CSA). Participants (N=6) were recruited to semi-structured interviews about their experiences of CSA and subsequent pregnancy and childbirth. Data saturated early, and were analysed using Grounded Theory (appropriate to cross-disciplinary health research). Coding was inductive and iterative, to ensure rigour and achieve thematic saturation. Open and focused coding led to the generation of super-categories, which in-turn were collapsed into three distinct, but related themes. These themes were: Chronicity of Childhood (Sexual) Abuse; Pregnancy and Childbirth as Paradoxically (Un)safe Experiences; Enduring Nature of Survival Strategies. The relationship between these themes was explained as the theory of: (Re)activation of Survival Strategies during Pregnancy and Childbirth following Experiences of Childhood Sexual Abuse. Pregnancy and childbirth can be triggering for women-survivors of CSA. Survival strategies learnt during experiences of CSA can be (re)activated as a way of not only coping, but surviving (the sometimes unconsented) procedures, such as monitoring and physical examinations, as well as the feelings of lack of control and bodily agency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intrafamilial child sexual abuse (IFCSA) is a social problem with longstanding effects on victims' lives. While scholarly literature has focused on the adverse aftermath of sexual abuse, only a few studies have acknowledged older women's perspectives on their experience of IFCSA and their journey of healing and recovery. The aim of the present study was to explore how older survivors of IFCSA construct and shape their experience of healing in later life and the meaning they assign to this process. Narrative inquiry was selected to explore the narratives of 11 older women survivors of IFCSA. Participants were interviewed using a biographical narrative interviewing method. The narratives were then transcribed and analyzed using thematic, structural, and performance analyses. Four major themes emerged from the participants' narratives: Achieving closure; Spiritual framing of IFCSA as a platform for self-growth; Becoming whole in old age; and Looking to the future after IFCSA. During the aging years, IFCSA survivors may redefine their identity and their place in the world. Using life review processes, older women in this study were striving to heal and reconcile with their past. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is an issue of epidemic proportions in the United Kingdom (UK) and an international public health problem. Evidence suggests that in the UK one in 20 children have been sexually abused, with one in three not telling anyone about it at the time of the abuse. Conservative estimates suggest that around one in six men have experienced sexual abuse before the age of 18. CSA has been correlated with the development of numerous mental health problems, abused men often displaying externalizing behaviours, including substance misuse, 'risky' sexual behaviours, anti‐social behaviour, and offending. This article reports on one aspect of a research study focusing specifically on male survivors of CSA and its effect on their mental health. Using narrative research, face‐to‐face interviews were used to collect the stories of four men who participated in the research. Interviews were audio‐recorded and transcribed verbatim. Analysis used a two‐phase approach; initially, each narrative was analysed as a whole, with an across transcripts analysis then being carried out identifying shared themes emerging from the individual stories. Whilst findings from the second phase of the analysis identify four themes, it is the theme of 'Blocking the Memories' that is the focus for this article. Making a valuable contribution to existent knowledge regarding the experiences of men who were sexually abused as children, this article will help to inform mental health practitioners who are likely to deliver care to male survivors of CSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is associated with long-lasting and pervasive impacts on survivors' sexual health, particularly on their sexual satisfaction. Dispositional mindfulness has been found to be associated with greater sexual satisfaction among adult CSA survivors. However, the mechanisms involved in this association remain understudied. The present study examined the role of sexual self-concept (i.e., sexual esteem, sexual preoccupation, and sexual depression) in the relationship between dispositional mindfulness and sexual satisfaction among CSA survivors. A total of 176 adult CSA survivors (60.6% women, 39.4% men) completed an online survey assessing dispositional mindfulness, sexual self-concept, and sexual satisfaction. Path analyses revealed that dispositional mindfulness was positively related to sexual satisfaction through a significant indirect effect of higher sexual esteem and lower sexual depression. The integrative model explained 66.5% of the variance in sexual satisfaction. These findings highlight the key roles that dispositional mindfulness and sexual self-concept play in CSA survivors' sexual satisfaction. Implications for interventions based on trauma-sensitive mindfulness targeting the sexual self-concept are discussed, as they may promote sexual satisfaction in adult CSA survivors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child sexual abuse (CSA) has serious short‐term and long‐term effects, including non‐suicidal self‐injury (NSSI) and suicidal ideation (SI). One possible thread linking CSA to NSSI and suicide risk is emotion dysregulation. The current study assessed whether facets of emotion dysregulation mediated relations of NSSI behaviours and functions, and SI. Participants (N = 121; Mean age = 18.69, age‐range 18–22; 78 per cent female), college students with a history of childhood trauma, completed an online survey. Results indicated that facets of emotion dysregulation (i.e. clarity, non‐acceptance) mediated the relationship between CSA and SI. CSA was associated with automatic negative reinforcement, social negative and social positive reinforcement NSSI functions, but was not associated with NSSI behaviours. Emotion dysregulation facets did not mediate the relationship between CSA and NSSI functions. Findings highlight the need to help CSA survivors have clarity and acceptance of emotional experiences to reduce SI risk. This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial or not‐for‐profit sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global estimates suggest 5% to 10% of men report experience of childhood sexual abuse (CSA). However, male CSA is significantly underreported, with men being reluctant to disclose due to vulnerability, stigmatisation, homophobic responses and fearing a loss of masculinity. A lack of research and service provision targeted towards men suggests male survivors of CSA are marginalised. This qualitative study, using a narrative approach, focussed on four adult male survivors of CSA. The aim of the study was to explore their experiences of engaging in counselling and support services for CSA from nonstatutory and voluntary organisations. Face‐to‐face narrative interviews were audio‐recorded and transcribed verbatim. Analysis was undertaken using a two‐phase approach; first, each narrative was analysed as a whole; second, an across‐transcripts analysis was carried out to identify shared themes and divergences that emerged from the individual stories. In this paper, findings from the second phase of the analysis are presented. Three themes regarding male survivors' experiences of specialist counselling services were identified: "Trust Me, I'm a Doctor," "Trust me, I'm a Counsellor" and "Counsellor or Mother?" This is the first academic study focussing specifically on men's experience of support for CSA in the UK from a service user perspective. Making an original contribution to the knowledge base regarding counselling experiences and the effectiveness of therapy for male CSA survivors, it will help to inform professional counselling services which are likely to come into contact with male survivors of CSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was a quasi-experimental design that was aimed at understanding the impact of interactive television-based art therapy for treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among school children who have experienced abduction. Participants took part in a 12-week art therapy delivered through interactive television. The result showed that art therapy was effective in reducing PTSD symptoms. A follow-up assessment after 6 months showed a steady decline in PTSD symptoms among participants in the treatment group when compared with their counterparts in the non-treatment group. The implications of these results have been discussed and recommendations made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When adults allege childhood victimization, their long-term memory comes under scrutiny. This scrutiny can extend to the adults' memory of childhood interviews. The concerns raise important theoretical and applied issues regarding memory for long-past discussions of child maltreatment and trauma. In this longitudinal study, 104 adults, who as children (ages 3–15 years) were interviewed in child maltreatment investigations (Time 1), were questioned 20 years later (Time 2) about the Time 1 interviews. Verbatim documentation from Time 1 permitted scoring of memory accuracy. A subset of the participants (36%) reported no memory for the Time 1 interviews. Of the 64% who remembered being interviewed at Time 1, those who had been adolescents at Time 1 remembered the forensic interview discussion about abuse incidents better than discussion about general psychological issues. Adult trauma symptoms were associated with more accurate memory for interview content that directly concerned abuse experiences but not for non–abuse-specific information. Findings indicate that the veracity of adults' long-term memory for clinical/forensic conversations about childhood maltreatment depends on age at interview, interview content, and traumatization factors. Implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present psychobiography took up the three main psychoanalytic conceptions of love to illuminate the psychological development of famed experimental writer William Seward Burroughs (1914–1997). The study found evidence of all three concepts of love in the subject's life strategies: (1) Love as cathexis was present in Burroughs' fascination with centipedes and other vermin that appeared in his dreams and which symbolised, in part, his terror over early childhood traumas as well as his concomitant struggle to integrate sex with intimacy. (2) Love as eroto-philiac fusion was observed in Burroughs' unstable and even exploitative relationships with others. This tendency was most salient in Burroughs' abortive attempts to seduce straight men, as well as in his failed efforts to be a traditional husband and father. (3) Reparative love became the subject's primary mode of interaction late in life. The study showed that, in his declining years, Burroughs was able to overcome partially the maladaptive strategies of his early life through his numerous pet cats, upon whom he projected aspects of his past romantic partners and friends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a complex and often traumatic experience that can impact youth's emotional and psychological well-being. Many clinicians do not feel adequately prepared to work with youth around topics of sexuality. In this qualitative study, we examine how licensed therapists treat youth between ages 5 and 16 who have experienced CSA. We asked participants how they incorporate sexuality into trauma work with this population. Although all participants discussed themes commonly reported in clinical work with survivors (i.e., working on trust, self-image challenges, the brain-body connection, confusion around touch and boundaries) additional themes arose that could impede the provision of sexually-competent treatment for the survivor including: considerations for gender identity and sexual orientation, youth being sexually invisible until puberty, and an inaccurate/narrow use of the term "sexuality." We discuss the need for further training on youth sexual development and the ways youth experience the many topics within the concept of sexuality in their therapeutic treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child sexual abuse is a prevalent phenomenon worldwide. However, a gap exists between its incidence and its disclosure rate. Furthermore, assessment tools and techniques capable to identify the source of symptoms are lacking. This study investigates the extent to which the validated Medical Somatic Dissociation Questionnaire (MSDQ) can differentiate between sexually and non-sexually abused children. A total of 794 children and youth between the ages of 8 and 18 (mean age: 12.2 (SD = 2.3); 42% female, 58% male) were recruited from the general population; other participants were residents of boarding schools and children who were referred to medical treatment. The anonymous online questionnaire included queries about demographics, a condensed version of the Traumatic Life Events Questionnaire, and the MSDQ. Findings indicate strong internal consistency, reliability, incremental validity, and predictive validity of the instrument, indicating the superiority of the MSDQ's ability to predict sexual abuse compared to physical abuse or the loss of a family member. It is concluded that the MSDQ can be integrated into the evaluation process performed by healthcare professionals in the diagnosis of minors with unexplained symptomatology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shame has been recognized as a barrier to child sexual abuse (CSA) disclosures, but there has been less focus on the impact of shame on post-disclosure. This study explores how shame is experienced by CSA survivors following disclosure. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eleven CSA survivors aged 14–25 years on their CSA disclosure experiences. Thematic analysis of the transcripts produced four themes that highlight the various impacts of shame post-disclosure: 1) struggles with identifying as a sexual abuse survivor; 2) manifestations of shame; 3) shaming responses to disclosures; and 4) strategies to overcome shame. Clinical implications are presented using a social ecological perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Childhood maltreatment increases risk for sexual and physical revictimization in adulthood. The goal of the current study was to examine whether this risk is associated with specific maltreatment types (i.e., sexual vs. physical vs. emotional maltreatment vs. neglect) and perpetrators (i.e., mother vs. father). Participants included 720 adult women from North America and the United Kingdom, recruited through the online platform Prolific Academic. The severity of childhood maltreatment and adult physical and sexual victimization were assessed in two separate sessions through self-report questionnaires. All maltreatment types were modeled together to account for their co-occurrence. Greater severity of sexual maltreatment was significantly and independently associated with greater risk for sexual, physical, and sexual + physical revictimization. Further, in the full sample, risk of revictimization was predicted by greater severity of father-perpetrated emotional and physical maltreatment. In contrast, in subgroup analyses focusing on plurisexual (i.e., bi/pansexual) women, risk of revictimization was predicted by greater severity of mother-perpetrated emotional and physical maltreatment. These results suggest that girls with sexual and emotional maltreatment histories are at highest risk for revictimization. Future research identifying the biological, psychological, and social sequelae of these specific exposures may enable the development of specific intervention programs that have the potential for maximum efficacy in preventing further violence against women most at risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although sexual minority men experience elevated rates of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and equal or greater rates of intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization compared to heterosexual individuals, little research has examined mechanisms linking these forms of victimization in this high-need population. We examined general (i.e., emotion regulation difficulties) and sexual minority specific (i.e., internalized homophobia) mediational pathways between CSA and IPV victimization in a longitudinal sample of 940 sexual minority men. Path analyses revealed significant associations between CSA and internalized homophobia, between internalized homophobia and emotion regulation difficulties, and between emotion regulation difficulties and IPV victimization. No indirect effects of CSA on IPV via general or minority specific pathways were observed. Findings suggest that minority stress specific (i.e., internalized homophobia) and general psychological risk factors (i.e., emotion regulation difficulties) co-occur and may function along independent pathways to link CSA to IPV revictimization. Future work is needed to investigate how mitigation of these modifiable pathways may be targeted to inform violence prevention interventions for sexual minority men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this qualitative study was to examine the process of surviving child abuse in people with a mental illness in order to develop an explanatory theory. The study utilized the grounded theory approach. Seventeen community-dwelling adults with a mental illness who had experienced child abuse were interviewed. For the in-depth interview, the lifeline interview method was used. Data were collected from July 14, 2019, to February 28, 2020. The constant comparative method was used for analysis, to identify similarities and differences between different statements, and similar phenomena or theories were compared and analyzed continuously. The central phenomena were "losing oneself" and "in a precarious state." Participants used "expressing," "standing on one's own feet," and "avoiding" as coping strategies. Observed outcomes were "making life work for them" and "living with others." The core category was "losing myself, embracing myself as someone in a precarious state, and being reborn as the master of my life." Positive religious coping, having a supportive network, and emotional or physical distance from difficult situations played a major role in surviving participants' experiences of child abuse and being victimized because of their mental illness. Our findings provide a theoretical basis for understanding people with mental illness who have survived child abuse, and suggest that opportunities for sharing their stories, facilitating self-reliance, and avoiding the causes of their difficulties all play a role in their healing process. Based on this study, it is expected that clinical experts and policy developers will be able to formulate evidence-based interventions and policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the impact of child sexual abuse (CSA) is well documented in the international literature, little is known about the critical points of recovery across the life course for survivors of institutional CSA. The aim of this study was to identify critical points, or events across the life course that may increase, or decrease, a survivor's vulnerability to the complex traumatization of institutional CSA (ICSA). The sample consisted of two hundred and forty-eight witness statements extracted from the 56 publicly available case studies presented to the Australian Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse during 2013–2016 (Commonwealth of Australia, 2017). A content analysis and thematic coding of the statements identified seven main themes in the witness statements (Gender, Organization, Triggers, Trauma, Mental Health, Intervention and Compensation), that appeared to be critical events across the life course. The themes were transformed into variables for further analysis using SPSS. Significant Likelihood Ratios were found between associations with the organization where the abuse occurred and between triggers and breastfeeding/sensory, breast feeding/childcare, emotional and physical distress, and mental health (p < 0.01). Significant associations were also found between receiving compensation for the CSA and triggers, trauma, breast feeding-sensory and childcare (p < 0.05) and gender and breast feeding (p < 0.05). Overall, the findings showed that triggers can be random across the life course occurring mainly through indirect association, or in situations that evoke memories of the CSA, and that receiving compensation can assist survivors in their recovery journey. The findings also indicate the need for health care professionals to be aware of the critical points in a CSA survivor's recovery and how triggers may impact on their mental welling throughout the life course. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Very little is known in Haiti and the Caribbean regarding child and lifetime sexual victimization. Using a nationally representative sample of adolescents and young adults aged 15–24, this study aimed to document the prevalence, risk factors and mental health correlates of lifetime and child sexual violence in Haiti. A national cross-sectional surrvey was conducted in Haiti, using a multistage sampling frame, stratified by geographical department, urban or rural setting, gender, and age groups (15–19 and 20–24 years). The final sample included 3586 household participants (47.6% female). A weighted sample of 3945 individuals was obtained and used in the following analyses. Overall rate of lifetime and child sexual violence was, respectively, 27.44% (95% CI 25.94–28.94) and 11.27% (95% CI 10.18–12.35). Lifetime sexual violence rate was significantly higher among female participants (29.02%; 95% CI 27.5–30.55) compared to male (25.73%, 95% CI 24.26–27.2), χ 2 = 4.63, p <.05, but there was no significant gender difference for child sexual victimization. Experiences of family physical violence, emotional abuse by mother and father, divorce of parents, and other physical violence were strongly associated with higher odds of sexual victimization. Participants who reported having experienced sexual violence are more at risk to meet criteria of PTSD (OR = 1.96, 95% CI 1.66–2.32; p <.0001), depression (OR = 1.73, 95% CI 1.47–2.02; p <.0001), psychological distress (OR =1.72, 95% CI 1.47–2.02; p <.0001), and substance abuse (OR = 1.33, 95% CI 1.13–1.57; p <.0001). Findings demonstrate that sexual violence is a public health emergency in Haiti. They provide evidence for the development of prevention and intervention programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All forms of family violence may negatively affect a child's development. However, research on child maltreatment is primarily focused on the child who is directly maltreated and does not often account for how other children in the family experience the abuse. The central aim of our study was to better understand how children's direct experience of physical abuse and exposure to physical abuse influence their academic outcomes. Data were taken from the Minnesota Departments of Education and Human Services. The sample was developed from a population-level cohort of 8–10 years old children (N = 1740) from two groups: Child Protective Service (CPS)-involved (a child who allegedly experienced physical abuse or a child who was exposed to the alleged physical abuse of another child in their household) and the matched comparison. Exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) was also measured for CPS-involved children. School attendance and academic achievement were examined over 4 years. Descriptive statistics and Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) were used to answer the three research questions. Over time, declines in attendance for children exposed to physical abuse were significantly greater than those of their matched peers. Exposure to IPV for CPS-involved children resulted in further declines in attendance. Math proficiency of children who experienced physical abuse declined at a significantly faster rate than their matched peers. The decline in reading proficiency of both children who experienced physical abuse and children exposed to physical abuse was more significantly pronounced than that of their matched peers. Differences in math and reading proficiency were eliminated when IPV exposure was taken into account. Child protection workers and school professionals should be aware of negative effects of experiences of and exposures to child maltreatment and work collaboratively to provide academic support, counseling, and other interventions to support children's academic stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Childhood trauma is associated with poor health outcomes in adulthood. Mechanisms for these associations are not well understood because past studies have focused predominantly on populations that have already developed physical and mental health problems. The present study examined the association between childhood trauma and stress‐related vulnerability factors in a healthy adult sample (n = 79; 68% female, mean age = 27.5, SD = 6.5). Emotion regulation difficulties were examined as a potential mediator. Participants completed baseline laboratory assessments of reported childhood trauma, emotion regulation difficulties, prior month sleep quality, baseline impedance cardiography and behavioural tests of executive functioning (EF) and a three‐day experience sampling assessment protocol that included sleep diary, reported and objective pre‐sleep arousal, daily hassles and reported EF difficulties. Reported history of childhood abuse was significantly associated with difficulties in emotion regulation, self‐report and objective pre‐sleep arousal, diary‐assessed sleep quality, daily hassles and reported EF difficulties. Reported history of childhood neglect was associated with greater pre‐sleep arousal and poorer EF‐behavioural control. Emotion regulation difficulties mediated the relationship between childhood abuse and reported pre‐sleep arousal, daily hassles and reported EF difficulties. In conclusion, history of childhood trauma is associated with a variety of stress‐related vulnerability factors in healthy adults that may be viable early intervention targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child sexual abuse (CSA) has been strongly associated with a range of psychological and physical problems in childhood and adulthood, such as anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and infectious diseases. Despite the strength of these associations, no studies to date have investigated psychobiological processes that might underlie the relationship between CSA and physical health problems occurring during childhood, such as infectious diseases. The goal of the current study is to evaluate PTSD as a potential mediator between CSA and the occurrence of infectious diseases among children and adolescents. Furthermore, we postulate that PTSD plays a specific role as an indicator of chronic stress during childhood, in comparison to other mental disorders, such as anxious and non-anxious disorders (e.g., depression). Via a prospective matched-cohort design, administrative data were used to document PTSD, anxious and non-anxious disorders, and infectious diseases. The sample size was 882 persons with a substantiated report of sexual abuse and 882 matched controls. Negative binomial regressions revealed that CSA is associated with a greater number of anxious diseases diagnoses that, in turn, predict more infectious diseases diagnoses. These findings highlight the importance of preventing and intervening among sexually abused youth with anxious disorder symptoms to limit negative outcomes on physical health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the systematic review described in this article was to determine the outcome of child maltreatment in long-term childcare and the scope of the evidence base in this area. Searches of 10 databases were conducted. Forty-nine documents describing 21 primary studies and 25 secondary studies were selected for review. Searches, study selection, data extraction, and study quality assessments were independently conducted by two researchers, with a high degree of interrater reliability. Participants in the 21 primary studies included 3,856 abuse survivors and 1,577 nonabused controls. In six primary studies, survivors were under 18 years, and participants in the remaining primary studies were adults with a mean age of 54 years. Reviewed studies were conducted in the United Kingdom, the United States, Finland, Romania, Tanzania, Canada, Ireland, Australia, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Participants were abused in religious and nonreligious residential care centers and foster care. There were significant associations between the experience of child abuse in long-term care and adjustment across the life span in the domains of mental health, physical health, and psychosocial adjustment. Evidence-based trauma-focused treatment should be offered to child abuse survivors. Future research in this area should prioritize longitudinal studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Establishing trust is an important part of building the therapeutic relationships and achieving the goal of effective trauma treatment for individuals who have experienced childhood sexual abuse. The current study explored the associations between attachment style, therapeutic bond, distress, and interpersonal problems. This study investigated whether attachment style and therapeutic bond mediated the association between the level of early treatment emotional distress and later treatment interpersonal problems among two groups: clients reporting histories of childhood sexual abuse and clients not reporting histories of childhood sexual abuse. Research indicates that disruption of attachment security as well as the therapeutic relationship is common in survivors of childhood sexual abuse. We explored the mediating role of insecure attachment and the therapeutic bond on the predictive relationship between early treatment emotional distress and the interpersonal difficulties that one experiences in their daily life. For clients with histories of child sexual abuse, the model showed that anxious attachment and avoidant attachment mediated the associations between emotional distress and interpersonal relations. Therapeutic bond was not a significant mediator. For clients without histories of sexual abuse, results showed significant association between emotional distress and interpersonal relations, but insecure attachment or therapeutic bond did not mediate this relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intimate partner violence (IPV) among college students is an ongoing, serious social problem in South Korea (Korea). Despite its high prevalence, little attention has been paid to this issue. This study fills a gap in the existing literature by collecting data from six universities in Korea to examine factors associated with IPV and with survivors' help-seeking behaviors. Independent variables included IPV consequences, childhood victimization (CV), depression, and alcohol consumption; the two dependent variables were IPV victimization and help-seeking. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were conducted. IPV was found to occur in every student group in college. Students suffering the psychological consequences of IPV sought help less often than those who did not, and CV increased the risk of IPV. Implications for research and practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) survivors are at high risk of sexual revictimization. At the same time, some survivors report positive transformations resulting from the traumatic experience, a phenomenon known as post-traumatic growth (PTG). Although one might expect PTG to be related to reduced risk of revictimization, the link between PTG and revictimization has not been investigated. Furthermore, mixed findings regarding the associations between PTG and distress imply that the effects of PTG are multifaceted. One potential explanation may be that dissociation shapes the implications of PTG, making it more like denial than adaptive processing of traumatic experience. This longitudinal study explores (a) the associations between PTG and sexual revictimization and (b) the moderating role of dissociation within the associations between PTG and revictimization. Method: Participants were 111 female CSA survivors who participated in a 6-month efficacy trial evaluating the effectiveness of group psychotherapy for CSA survivors with HIV risk factors. Results: Dissociation moderated the associations between PTG and revictimization: Whereas PTG had nonsignificant effects on revictimization in participants with low dissociation, it predicted elevated levels of revictimization in participants with high dissociation. Conclusions: Reports of PTG among some CSA survivors might mirror dissociative beliefs that increase their risk of revictimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article contextualizes new knowledge about forensically interviewing and assessing children when there are concerns about child abuse. The article references the impact of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act and the circumstance in the 1980s where investigators and clinicians had little guidance about how to interview children about alleged sexual abuse. It further speaks to the consequences of lack of interview guidelines and how videotaped interviews in the McMartin Pre-school cases served as the catalyst for the backlash against child interviewers and their interview techniques. Painful as the backlash was, it led to research and evidence-based practice in interviewing children about child sexual and other abuse. Principal among the practice innovations were forensic interview structures to be used when there is alleged child sexual and other abuse and the strong preference for one interview by a skilled interviewer, who is nevertheless a stranger to the child. Although these innovations satisfied many professionals in the child maltreatment field and critics of child interviewers, the new practices did not address a number of abiding issues: 1) how to meet the needs of children who are unable to disclose maltreatment in a single interview, 2) how to determine which children are suggestible in a forensic interview, and 3) how decisions are made about the likelihood of abuse, based upon the child's information during the interview. The articles in this special section address these cutting-edge issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While child sexual abuse is recognized as a global challenge in need of attention, all too often it takes years before sexual abuse is disclosed. We therefore need to understand more of the process leading to disclosure of child sexual abuse. The purpose of this study was to investigate how adult survivors of child sexual abuse came to understand that they had been sexually abused. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 8 women and 3 men (18–57 years old) and analyzed the interview transcripts using a hermeneutic-phenomenological approach to thematic analysis. Our analysis resulted in three main themes: The ambiguity of memory: "To remember the catastrophic"; The language of the body: "Let the body speak"; and Encountering an observant other: "The significance of being seen and recognized". The findings highlighted the complexity of the individual process of understanding that one has been sexually abused. The availability and intrusiveness of traumatic memories, bodily sensations and symptoms, and encounters with others proved to be contributing factors in the process. The findings give insights into why disclosure of sexual abuse can be difficult and have important implications for health professionals and policy makers working to help victims of child sexual abuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the assessment approach interviewers use while conducting interviews to assess truth as narratives are gathered in children's disclosure statements by examining 100 forensic interviews completed at a Children's Advocacy Center. A descriptive review was used to examine the steps engaged by interviewers as they followed a protocol and content analysis was used to identify interviewers' questioning strategies as they assessed children's disclosure narratives during interviews. Findings indicate that interviewers apply a protocol in order to support advancing to a phase of eliciting details in children's narratives. Questioning strategies included using a variety of question types to progress from general to specific, incorporating interview aids sparingly as necessary, and integrating multidisciplinary team feedback. Findings suggest that an assessment approach is inherent to the process of actively conducting a forensic interview. Rather than assessment beginning strictly upon completion of children's narratives, this paper describes how interviewers incorporate an assessment framework throughout interviewing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Although the associations between religion and spirituality and mental health and trauma have been studied extensively across various populations, relatively few studies have focused on the postpartum period. This study aimed to shed light on specific domains of religiosity and spirituality that may be resiliency factors for positive postpartum adjustment defined as low depression and high quality of life in mothers oversampled for childhood trauma histories. Methods: We examined several religion and spirituality variables among 108 women at 6 months postpartum as well as prospective relations from religion and spirituality to postpartum depression and quality of life at 12 and 15 months postpartum. Results: We found that the personal aspects of self-forgiveness and forgiveness for others were most relevant as resiliency factors predicting lower postpartum depression and better quality of life even when controlling for other risks (trauma and demographics). Surprisingly, no other religion and spirituality domain had associations with postpartum depression or quality of life, with the exception of a significant negative association for organizational religiousness with quality of life at 12 months postpartum. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that forgiveness, especially to self and to others, in women who have been physically and mentally hurt as children may be associated with mental wellness and quality of life in the late postpartum period. Further, our results point to the need to study specific religion and spirituality aspects in the context of specific populations and conditions instead of generally studying religion and spirituality as a common marker for coping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Although the use of coping strategies is recognized as playing a vital role in predicting the development of trauma-related symptoms, little research has identified what factors may contribute to the utilization, and perceived efficacy of, coping strategies following childhood sexual abuse (CSA). Research has not determined whether aspects of the CSA (e.g., duration, severity) and CSA-related factors such as abuse stressors (e.g., coercion, threats), abuse-related events (e.g., familial disruptions, legal system involvement), and maternal emotional support and blame/doubt correspond with children's coping use and perceived effectiveness. Methods: The current study investigated whether CSA characteristics, abuse stress, and maternal support were related to children's utilization and perceived efficacy of active/social, internalized, angry, and avoidant coping strategies among 141 sexually abused children aged 7–12 (M= 9.72, SD= 1.50). Results: Children used nearly 7 types of coping strategies (M= 6.71, SD = 1.63). Longer CSA duration was associated with utilization of internalized and avoidant coping, and maternal blame/doubt predicted the use of avoidant coping. Girls utilized angry coping more frequently than boys. CSA characteristics and abuse stress were largely unrelated to children's perceived coping efficacy. Minority children reported higher levels of perceived efficacy of internalized strategies than white children. Conclusions: CSA duration may be important in understanding children's utilization of internalized and avoidant coping strategies and maternal blame/doubt may be related to children's use of avoidant coping. However, CSA characteristics and abuse stress may ultimately have little bearing on sexually abused children's use and perceived efficacy of coping strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child sexual abuse (CSA) represents a significant public health problem. While CSA is associated with several adverse outcomes, recent attention has been given to its effect on maternal parenting. Despite a growing literature on this topic, a comprehensive systematic review has not been conducted. Thus, this review aimed to fill this gap. Several search strategies were used, including searches in academic databases. Two reviewers completed screening, full-text review, data extraction, and quality determinations. Extracted qualitative data were synthesized for the 108 studies meeting inclusion criteria. The primary themes emerging from women's accounts of the effects of CSA on their current parenting included abuse of child, breastfeeding, child-rearing practices, coping related to parenting, mother–child relationship, perceptions of child, perceptions of motherhood, and protection of children from abuse. Given the current lack of interventions designed for these mothers, the results of this review may aid in the development of evidence-based interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although substantial literature exists on child sexual abuse (CSA), little is known about abuses children encounter in northern Uganda, a post-conflict area. Media reports have indicated a high incidence for CSA. The study, firstly, explored boys' and girls' experiences of sexual abuse by adults in this post-conflict region and secondly, interventions directed at improving the current situation of children at risk of child abuse and the survivors were investigated as well. The study was guided by radical feminism and nested ecological framework theories. Semi-structured interviews were conducted involving 43 sexually abused children. Narrative responses were audio recorded and transcribed. Content qualitative analysis was used to understand sexual offenses from children's perspectives. Participants mentioned the following as the most perilous situations; laxity in parental roles, cultural norms, and practices, patriarchal attitudes, child sexual desires and attitudes, family breakdown and alcoholism. The study found many reported cases of CSA in the region. The results imply the exigent need of separate units specifically for reporting and handling child sexual offenses, need for personnel training on gender issues and filing system in child protection agencies and family programs for both fathers and mothers on child protection strategies for prevention and mitigation of CSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Spain, a country of great cultural diversity, there is an increasing demand for psychosocial care for victims of gender-based violence. The objective is to describe the psychosocial profile of these women residing in the Autonomous Community of Galicia. In a sample (n = 40) of victims of intimate partner violence, it was found a high incidence of PTSD, depression, and low self-esteem associated with greater severity of PTSD and depression. A prolonged relationship increases the types of violence experienced, which is associated with particular psychosocial conditions that are analyzed quanti-qualitatively in order to recommend interventions consistent with the problems detected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article highlights the prevalence and denial of child abuse in less developed societies, particularly focusing on the case of the former Soviet Union. Topics discussed include the scarcity of literature, prevalence rates, normalization of violence, and the challenges in detecting and addressing abuse.

This integrative review aimed to synthesize both qualitative and quantitative research on the (re)experiencing of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms during the perinatal period for childhood sexual abuse (CSA) survivors. Whittemore and Knafl's framework, which includes problem identification, literature review, data evaluation, data analysis, and results dissemination, was used. A search in four databases (i.e., PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Scopus, and ProQuest Dissertations and Thesis Global) yielded an initial sample of 3420 articles. After screening and deduplication, 16 articles met our inclusion criteria (i.e., history of CSA, minimum 8 weeks pregnant, reported quantitative statistics or qualitative findings, discussed PTSD symptoms) and were retained in the final sample. CSA survivors (re)experienced PTSD symptoms as a result of (1) aspects of their medical care (vaginal examinations, male medical providers, lack of control, and restraint), (2) physical sensations during pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding, and (3) sex of the child (worries over child becoming an abuser/abused, male genitalia). CSA survivor's PTSD symptoms of intrusion, dissociation, avoidance, and hyperarousal were significantly greater throughout the perinatal period compared with individuals without CSA or with other traumas. CSA survivors are at increased risk of (re)experiencing PTSD symptoms throughout the perinatal period, which may be due to several internal and external triggers. Further research is needed to understand external triggers outside of medical care, and how the unique context of pregnancy may differ from other life contexts for survivors of CSA. Findings point to the relevance of adopting trauma-informed practices with CSA survivors during their perinatal period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Histrionic personality pathology is among the most common forms of personality pathology, although little is known about its potential risk factors. One possible factor that may influence histrionic personality pathology is childhood trauma, most notably sexual abuse and physical/emotional neglect. However, there is little research on how these and other forms of childhood trauma may influence histrionic personality pathology relative to each other. To address this, in this study we examined the relative effects of different forms of child abuse and neglect on histrionic personality pathology in a sample of women and men from Amazon's Mechanical Turk (N = 399) using a Bayesian approach to structural equation modeling. Results suggest that child sexual abuse is the strongest predictor of histrionic personality pathology in adulthood. However, this differs between women and men such that physical neglect also predicts histrionic personality pathology for women, whereas physical and emotional abuse as well as emotional neglect predict histrionic personality pathology for men. These findings provide insight into the developmental precursors to histrionic personality pathology and have implications for research on and clinical intervention with people exhibiting histrionic personality pathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child maltreatment is a well-known risk factor that threatens the well-being and positive development of adolescents, yet protective factors can help promote resilience amid adversity. The current study sought to identify factors at the family, school, and neighborhood levels associated with resilience outcomes including positive functioning and social skills, among adolescents who have experienced maltreatment. Using longitudinal data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, the analytic sample was limited to 1729 adolescents who experienced maltreatment before age 9. Family-, school-, and neighborhood-level predictors were assessed at age 9, and youth resilience was measured at age 15. We conducted a series of multiple regression analyses to examine multi-level protective factors at age 9 as predictors of positive adolescent functioning and social skills at age 15. The study found that mothers' involvement was significantly and positively associated with positive adolescent functioning and social skills. Additionally, school connectedness and neighborhood social cohesion were significantly associated with higher levels of adolescent social skills. Our findings suggest that positive environmental contexts such as maternal involvement in parenting, school connectedness, and socially cohesive neighborhoods can serve as important protective factors that promote resilient development among adolescents who have experienced maltreatment as children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite extensive documentation of the adverse impacts of child sexual abuse (CSA), less is known about long-term effects of CSA, that is, the impact in middle and late adulthood, when one is further removed from the CSA. This study describes coping strategies and positive outcomes reported by adult female survivors of child sexual abuse ages 50+ (n = 58). Responses came from an anonymous online survey of adult survivors of CSA. We conducted a qualitative "RADaR" rapid analysis on the survey's open-ended questions. Survivors employed both internal attitudes and specific activities to cope with their childhood CSA. Most (n = 55) reported positive outcomes from CSA: self, others, and relational and/or emotive strengths. Due to survey limitations, we were unable to identify factors that contributed to survivors reporting positive outcomes and survivors who reported negative or no positive outcomes. This study suggests CSA survivors in middle and late adulthood may feel stronger as a result of abuse. More research is needed to identify factors that contribute to resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) can result in devastating and long lasting consequences. Differences in the nature of the abuse differ for males and females and this difference potentially influences recovery. However, studies of recovery from CSA, especially among men, are relatively few, especially for ethnic minority men. The study explored the lived experience of recovery from CSA among African-Caribbean Black male survivors of CSA living in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. The theoretical framework was the transactional model of stress and coping, which proposes that stress is an ongoing transaction between the demands of life and a person's psychological ability to address those demands. The study was qualitative in design, using an interpretive phenomenological approach, involving purposeful sampling, in-depth semi-structured interviews, and interpretive phenomenological analysis of the data informed by a critical race theory lens. The results showed that Black male survivors are situated in unique historical/sociocultural interrelationships that complicate recovery from CSA, including institutional racism and discrimination, restrictive narratives of masculinity, and other cultural norms. These findings can be used to influence policy makers, service providers, and communities, to more effectively support and address the needs of CSA survivors and their affected families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]