Prevalence of sexually abusive experiences in childhood and adolescence among a community sample of Latinas: a descriptive study.
This study examined the prevalence, severity, and circumstances of self-reported sexually coercive and abusive experiences in childhood and adolescence in a community sample of Latina women (N=204) ages 18 to 34 years. Results from structured phone interviews indicated that 35% of the women reported experiencing some form of sexual abuse, 31% of the reported perpetrators were family members, and 52% were boyfriends, friends, or acquaintances. Of those who reported an abusive experience, 44% had not disclosed the abuse to anyone; for those who did disclose, 74% reported feeling supported. Findings highlight the importance of including peer and dating-partner abuse in the assessment of CSA and the necessity for outreach to Latina women who may have never disclosed their experiences of abuse.
Department of Psychiatry, University of California-San Diego, San Diego, California, USA. mulibarri@ucsd.edu
Monica D
MD
Ulibarri
Emilio C
EC
Ulloa
Lizeth
L
Camacho
D000328:Adult; D054523:Adult Survivors of Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D015995:Prevalence; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000208:ethnology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014342:Truth Disclosure; D016387:Women's Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D055815:Young Adult