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Sexual Abuse in Childhood and Physical and Mental Health in Adulthood: An Australian Population Study

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Abstract

Although childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is associated with a wide range of health problems later in life, there is also evidence of substantial individual differences. This study describes the mental and physical health of a population sample of Australians, randomly selected from the Commonwealth electoral roll, who have reported their CSA histories. Some 58% of those located from the electoral roll agreed to a telephone interview (n = 1,784). Health status was measured using the Short Form 36 questionnaire. Men who had experienced non-penetrative and penetrative sexual abuse in childhood had 2.25 (95% CI = 1.32–3.82) and 5.93 (95% CI = 2.72–12.95) times respectively the rate of impaired mental health, but no higher rates of impaired physical health. Women who had experienced non-penetrative and penetrative sexual abuse in childhood had 1.87 (95% CI = 1.19–2.95) and 3.15 (95% CI = 1.87–5.33) times respectively the rate of impaired mental health and 1.87 (95% CI = 1.19–2.92) and 2.31 (95% CI = 1.34–3.97) times respectively the rate of impaired physical health. However, participants who had experienced CSA were no less likely than those who had not experienced CSA to be in optimum physical and mental health. None of the possible confounding or moderating variables tested appeared to mitigate the impact of CSA on health outcomes. Those with the highest levels of mental and physical health appear to be unaffected by the experience of CSA.

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Notes

  1. We performed sensitivity analyses by using different percentage cut-offs (e.g., 10% at the upper and lower extremes of health) to designate good and poor health outcomes. The results of the sensitivity analyses were identical to those presented in this article. These data are available from the corresponding author.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Social Science, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

    Jake M. Najman & My Linh T. Nguyen

  2. School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

    Jake M. Najman & Frances M. Boyle

  3. School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Herston, QLD, 4006, Australia

    Jake M. Najman

Authors
  1. Jake M. Najman
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  2. My Linh T. Nguyen
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  3. Frances M. Boyle
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jake M. Najman.

Appendix A Sexual Abuse Items

Appendix A Sexual Abuse Items

Childhood Sexual Abuse

  1. 1.

    Before age 16, did someone masturbate in front of you when you didn’t want them to?

  2. 2.

    Before age 16, did someone try to sexually arouse you when you didn’t want them to?

  3. 3.

    Before age 16, did someone touch or fondle your body, including genitals, or make you touch or fondle their body when you didn’t want them to?

  4. 4.

    Before age 16, did someone rub their genitals against your body in a sexual way when you didn’t want them to?

  5. 5.

    Before age 16, did someone touch your genitals with their mouth or make you touch their genitals with your mouth when you didn’t want them to?

  6. 6.

    Before age 16, did someone try to have vaginal intercourse with you when you didn’t want them to but intercourse did not occur?

  7. 7.

    Before age 16, did someone have vaginal intercourse with you when you didn’t want them to?

  8. 8.

    Before age 16, did someone try to have anal intercourse with you when you didn’t want them to but intercourse did not occur?

  9. 9.

    Before age 16, did someone have anal intercourse with you when you didn’t want them to?

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Najman, J.M., Nguyen, M.L.T. & Boyle, F.M. Sexual Abuse in Childhood and Physical and Mental Health in Adulthood: An Australian Population Study. Arch Sex Behav 36, 666–675 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-007-9180-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-007-9180-5

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