title: Child sexual abuse and psychological impairment in victims: results of an online study initiated by victims.
abstract: Sexual abuse of children has been a topic of scientific investigation for the past few decades. Research in this area, however, is rarely initiated, conceptualized, and conducted by victims themselves. Apart from possibly having painted a one-sided picture of sexual abuse, this presumed dominance of nonvictims might also have marginalized victims in a research area central to their lives. This study was conducted by a victims interest group as an effort to meet the need to add victims' perspectives to our current understanding of this topic. The online survey focused on investigating victims' psychosocial impairment, which was found to be extensive. Results indicated that an intact social support system facilitates better health, especially when offered early on.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sexual Psychology, Berlin, Germany. gerard.schaefer@berlin.de
authors.forename: Gerard A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Schaefer
authors.forename: Ingrid A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Mundt
authors.forename: Christoph J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Ahlers
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bahls
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D030881:Disclosure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004291:Dominance-Subordination; D004882:Erotica / Q000523:psychology; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D035846:Law Enforcement; D008297:Male; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D012737:Sex Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology