title: Does a history of childhood sexual abuse affect sexual outcomes in breast cancer survivors?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Little is known about a history of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) in breast cancer survivors and its relationship to sexual functioning after cancer. As part of a larger survey study examining sexuality and intimacy in breast cancer survivors, we conducted in-person interviews with a subsample of participants.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 147 women in Los Angeles, CA, and Washington, DC, completed a structured interview that addressed sexual socialization and a history of sexual abuse. Trained female interviewers conducted the interviews. Descriptive statistics and regression analyses were used to examine the prevalence of CSA, and its potential impact on sexual health and functioning.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One in three women reported at least one CSA incident. Among women who had experienced CSA, 71% reported a single incident, and 22% reported a penetrative form of sexual contact. In multivariate regression analyses examining physical and psychological aspects of sexuality and body image, CSA was not a significant predictor of physical discomfort. However, a history of penetrative CSA was a significant predictor of psychological discomfort (P = .02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of CSA in this sample was similar to the general population literature on this topic. In this small sample, a past history of CSA did not contribute significantly to the physical discomforts associated with sexual intimacy after breast cancer; however, our findings suggest that a past history of penetrative CSA is associated with increased psychological discomfort, and may warrant additional examination in future research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, Division of Cancer Prevention and Control Research, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095-6900, USA.
authors.forename: Gail E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Wyatt
authors.forename: Tamra Burns
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Loeb
authors.forename: Katherine A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Desmond
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Ganz
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*