An examination of the relationship between psychopathology and the sociodemographic, clinical, and abuse characteristics in children who have experienced sexual abuse

Abstract

Background: Sexual abuse in children can have significant long-term psychiatric consequences. The type of abuse (penetrative vs. non-penetrative) and the relationship to the perpetrator, including incest, may influence these outcomes. Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of children who have experienced sexual abuse, the types of abuse they were exposed to, and to evaluate the psychiatric effects of these experiences. Participants and setting: The study included 90 children who were referred to the Istanbul Forensic Medicine Institute. Methods: Evaluations were made of the sociodemographic information, the type of abuse, the relationship of the perpetrator, and psychiatric status before and after the event. The data were analyzed using DSM-5-based psychiatric interviews and various scales (Post-Trauma Stress Scale, Depression Scale, Anxiety Scale). Results: The study participants comprised 94.4 % female and 5.6 % male children. The most common type of sexual abuse was determined to be touching/stroking (42.7 %). Repeated abuse was seen in 72 % of the incest cases. Depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were determined to be more common in cases of penetrative abuse. The perpetrators in incest cases were older than those in non-incest cases. PTSD was seen in 71.9 % of the children after sexual abuse, depression in 33.7 %, anxiety disorder in 11.2 %, and adjustment disorder in 15.7 %. Conclusion: Sexual abuse leaves severe psychiatric and social effects on the victims. Penetrative and incest abuse cases, in particular, were associated with more destructive outcomes compared to non-penetrative and non-incest abuse. Informative studies and early intervention are of critical importance in reducing these situations.