Factors protecting against the development of adjustment difficulties in young adults exposed to childhood sexual abuse

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Abstract

Objective: The aims of this study were to identify the factors which discriminated young people exposed to childhood sexual abuse (CSA) who developed psychiatric disorder or adjustment difficulties in young adulthood from those young people exposed to CSA who did not develop psychiatric disorder or adjustment difficulties by age 18.

Method: Data were gathered on a birth cohort of 1,025 New Zealand children studied from birth to the age of 18 on (a) exposure to CSA; (b) patterns of psychiatric disorder and adjustment difficulties at age 18 years; (c) factors that may have influenced responses to CSA including characteristics of the abuse, parental bonding, parental characteristics, and adolescent peer affiliations.

Results: Just over 10% of the cohort reported CSA. Those reporting CSA were at increased risks of a range of difficulties at age 18 (depression, anxiety, conduct disorder, alcohol abuse/dependence, other substance abuse/dependence, post sexual abuse trauma, attempted suicide). However, not all of those exposed to CSA developed difficulties and approximately a quarter of those exposed to CSA did not meet criteria for any adjustment difficulty. Further analysis suggested that the extent of adjustment difficulties in those exposed to CSA was influenced by two additional factors: (a) the extent of affiliations with delinquent or substance using peers in adolescence; and (b) the extent of paternal care or support in childhood.

Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that while young people exposed to CSA are at increased risks of psychiatric disorder and adjustment difficulties in young adulthood, not all individuals exposed to CSA will develop adjustment difficulties. Important factors protecting against the development of adjustment difficulties in young people experiencing CSA appear to be the nature and quality of peer and family relationships.

Résumé

Objectif: Cette étude avait pour but de relever les facteurs qui distinguent les jeunes ayant des troubles psychiatriques ou des problèmes d'adaptation suite á des abus sexuels durant l'enfance, de ceux qui, ayant atteint l'âge de 18 ans, n'ant pas souffert de ces désordres.

Méthode: Á partir d'une cohorte de 1025 enfants Néo-Zélandais, on a collecté des données á compter de la naissance jusqu á l'âge de 18 ans, concernant: (a) les abus sexuels vécus; (b) les types de troubles psychiatriques ou d'adaptation á l'âge de 18 ans; (c) les facteurs ayant pu influencer les réactions aux abus sexuels, y compris la nature des agressions, les caractéristiques des parents, l'attachement parental et l'appartenance á des groupes de leur âge.

Résultats: Un peu plus de 10 p.c. des juenes ont divulgué avoir été abusés. Ils présentaient de plus grands risques pour une gamme de difficultés (la dépression, l'angoisse, les désordres de comportement, la dépendance sur les drogues, l'alcool ou autres substances, les traumatismes suivant l'agression, les tentatives de suicide). Toutefois, tous n'ont pas éprouvé de troubles. Pour 25 p.c. des jeunes, aucun signe de difficulté n'apparut. Une analyse approfondie démontre que l'ampleur des troubles d'ajustement chez les victimes dépendent de deux facteurs: (a) l'étendue de leurs relations avec des paires abusant de substances toxiques durant l'adolescence; et (b) l'ampleur des soins et de l'appui paternels.

Conclusions: Les constats portent á croire que meme si les jeunes victimes d'agressions sexuelles vivent de plus grands risques de troubles psychiatriques ou d'adaptation durant leur jeune vie adulte, tous ne connaîtront pas ces difficultes. La nature et la qualité des relations avec leurs paires et avec les membres de leur famille sont les facteurs importants qui semblent les protéger contre les problèmes d'adaptation.

Resumen

Objetivo: El propósito de est e estudio fue identificar los factores que discriminaban a los jóvenes expuestos al abuso sexual en la infancia (CSA) quienes desarrollaron desórdenes psiquiátricos o dificultades de ajuste a la edad de 18 años.

Método: Se recolectaron los datos sobre un compañero de nacimiento de 1,025 niños de Nueva Zelandia estudiados desde el nacimiento hasta la edad de 18 años en: (a) exposición al CSA; (b) patrones de desorden psiquiátrico y dificultades de ajuste a los 18 años; (c) factores que pueden haber influído respuestas al CSA incluyendo características del abuso, vínculo parental, características parentales y relaciones con adolescentes de su edad.

Resultados: Un poco más del 10% de los compañeros reportaron CSA. De los que reportaron CSA estaban en mayor riesgos de una gama de dificultades a la edad de 18 años (depresión, ansiedad, desórdenes conductuales, abuso del alcohol/dependencia, abuso de otras sustancias/dependencia, post trauma del abuso sexual, intentos de suicidio). Sin embargo, no todos los expuestos al CSA desarrollaron dificultades y aproximadamente a un cuarto de los expuestos al CSA no les aplicaban los criterios de cualquiera de las dificultades de ajuste. Análisis posteriores sugierieron que la intensidad de las dificultades de ajuste en aquellos expuestos al CSA estaba influenciada por dos factores adicionales: (a) la cantidad de relaciones con compañeros delincuentes o ue usaban sustancias en la adolescencia y: (b) la cantidad de cuidado o apoyo parental en la niñez.

Conclusiones: Los resultados de este estudio sugieren que, a pesar de que los jóvenes expuestos al CSA están en mayor riesgo de desórdenes psiquiátricos y dificultades de ajuste como jóvenes adultos, no todos los sujetos expuestos al CSA desarrollarán dificultades de ajuste.

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    This research was funded by grants from the Health Research Council of New Zealand, the National Child Health Research Foundation, the Canterbury Medical Research Foundation, and the New Zealand Lottery Grants Board.

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