Skip to main content
Log in

Family characteristics and long-term consequences associated with sexual abuse

  • Published:
Archives of Sexual Behavior Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

As opposed to father—daughter incest, little attention has been paid to the long-term consequences and family dynamics associated with child sexual abuse of females perpetrated by extended family members or extrafamilial contacts. Female undergraduates (n = 586) completed questionnaires on family history, sexual experiences, and current functioning. Results confirmed other research suggesting that father—daughter incest is associated with a traditional patriarchal family structure. However, sexual abuse overall, regardless of perpetrator, was associated with certain uniform family characteristics. Moreover, sexual abuse had certain long-term consequences, regardless of perpetrator. These results suggest the importance of attention to family characteristics in all cases of child sexual abuse.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alexander, P. (1985). A systems theory conceptualization of incest.Fam. Proc. 24: 79–88.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blick, L. C., and Porter, F. S. (1982). Group therapy with female adolescent incest victims. In Sgroi, S. M., (ed.),Handbook of Clinical Intervention in Child Sexual Abuse. Lexington Books, Lexington, MA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Finkelhor, D. (1979).Sexually Victimized Children. The Free Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fitts, W. H. (1964).The Tennessee Self-Concept Scale. Counselor Recordings and Tests, Nashville, TN.

    Google Scholar 

  • Herman, J. L. (1981).Father—Daughter Incest. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hollingshead, A. B., and Redlich, F. C. (1958).Social Class and Mental Illness. Wiley, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • James, B., and Nasjleti, M. (1983).Treating Sexually Abused Children and Their Families. Consulting Psychologists Press, Palo Alto, CA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levinson, D., and Huffman, P. (1955). Traditional family ideology and its relation to personality.J. Pers. 23: 251–273.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Meiselman, K. C. (1978).Incest. Jossey-Bass, San Francisco.

    Google Scholar 

  • Olson, D. H., Russell, C. S., and Sprenkle, D. H. (1983). Circumplex model of marital and family systems: VI. Theoretical update.Fam. Proc. 22: 69–83.

    Google Scholar 

  • Russell, D. (1984).Sexual Exploitation: Rape, Child Sexual Abuse and Workplace Harassment. Sage Publications, Beverly Hills.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tierney, K. H., and Corwin, D. L. (1983). Exploring intrafamilial child sexual abuse: A systems approach. In Finkelhor, D., Gilles, R. J., Hotaling, G. T., and Strauss, M. S. (eds.),The Dark Side of Families. Sage Publications, Beverly Hills.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Alexander, P.C., Lupfer, S.L. Family characteristics and long-term consequences associated with sexual abuse. Arch Sex Behav 16, 235–245 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01541611

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01541611

Key words

Navigation