Differences in childhood sexual abuse experience between adult Hispanic and Anglo women in a primary care setting.
The literature on racial and ethnic factors in childhood sexual abuse is limited. The purpose of this exploratory study was to document Hispanic-Anglo differences in childhood sexual abuse experiences and assess whether these differences may be explained by socio-demographic and family environmental differences. Adult Hispanic (n = 69) and Anglo (n = 19) women from a family medicine clinic waiting room reporting a history of childhood sexual abuse completed an in-depth survey concerning the sexual abuse experience and their childhood environment. In this study, Hispanics were more likely to report a family member as the perpetrator and to experience more self-blame as a result of the abuse. Hispanics were also more likely to take action in response to the abuse, especially those who were more acculturated to U.S. culture. However, most of the observed differences in this study could be explained by socio-demographic or family environment variables, not by ethnic background. Qualitative research on the family environments of Hispanic victims of child sexual abuse may further explicate the dynamics and risk factors for abuse by family members.
Katerndahl
David A
DA
Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Texas health Science Center at San Antonio, TX 78229, USA. katerndahl@UTHSCSA.cdu
Burge
Sandra K
SK
Kellogg
Nancy D
ND
Parra
Juan M
JM
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012931:Social Environment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016387:Women's Health