The persistence of shame following sexual abuse: a longitudinal look at risk and recovery.
This study investigated persistence in abuse-related shame during a 6-year period. One-hundred-eighteen sexually abused youth were interviewed at the time of discovery, and again both 1 and 6 years later. Individuals high in shame 1 year following discovery were especially at risk for persistently high levels of shame 6 years later. Youth with high shame for the abuse at 1 and 6 years were the most likely to report clinically significant levels of intrusive recollections at 6 years. Persistent shame may explain failure to process the abuse and the maintenance of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. The findings from this longitudinal study suggest that shame as a consequence of childhood sexual abuse should be a focus of treatment.
Feiring
Candice
C
The College of New Jersey, P.O.Box 7718, Ewing, New Jersey 08628, USA. feiring@tcnj.edu
Taska
Lynn S
LS
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009515:New Jersey; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011613:Psychotherapy; D012307:Risk Factors; D012752:Shame; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology