The effects of child sexual abuse in later family life; mental health, parenting and adjustment of offspring

Child Abuse Negl. 2004 May;28(5):525-45. doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2003.07.006.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate links between child sexual abuse (occurring before 13 years), later mental health, family organization, parenting behaviors, and adjustment in offspring.

Method: The present study investigates a subsample of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children an ongoing study of women and their families in the area of Avon, England. A sample of 8292 families met inclusion criteria for identifiable family type and completed self-report data on prior sexual assault. Further data were collected on life course variables, socioeconomic variables, psychological well-being, relationship quality, parent-child relationship quality, and children's adjustment.

Results: After adjustment for other childhood adversity, prior child sexual abuse was associated with a range of outcomes in adulthood, including current membership of a nontraditional family type (single mother and stepfather) poorer psychological well-being, teenage pregnancy, parenting behaviors, and adjustment problems in the victim's later offspring. The relationship of child sexual abuse with aspects of the parent-child relationship in later life and with the offspring's adjustment difficulties were mediated in part by mother's mental health--chiefly anxiety.

Conclusion: Findings indicate that child sexual abuse has long-term repercussions for adult mental health, parenting relationships, and child adjustment in the succeeding generation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological*
  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Child Abuse, Sexual / psychology*
  • Child, Preschool
  • England
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Mental Health*
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Parenting*
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy in Adolescence
  • Self Concept
  • Survivors / psychology*