title: Childhood disclosure of sexual abuse: Necessary but not necessarily sufficient.
abstract: Prevention programs often encourage sexually abused children to disclose without fully considering the potential for adverse consequences. This study examined the impact of disclosure on abuse cessation and later adult symptomatology. A clinical sample of 301 adult survivors completed the Impact of Event Scale (IES/IES-R), and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II). Participants were divided into 3 groups: Nondisclosure (n=221), Disclosure/Abuse Ended (n=25), and Disclosure/Abuse Continued (n=55). Multivariate analyses of covariance, adjusting for abuse characteristics (age of onset, penetration, and number of perpetrators) and other trauma exposure, revealed significant differences in psychiatric symptom severity among the three groups, Wilks' λ=0. 95, F (6, 584)=2.69, p=0.014, ηp2=0.03. Specifically, those in the Disclosure/Abuse Continued group scored significantly higher on the IES/IES-R Intrusion subscale (p=0.04) and the BDI-II (p=0.01), as compared to the Nondisclosure group. The Disclosure/Abuse Ended group did not differ significantly from the other groups. Results suggest that disclosure may be detrimental unless adequate steps are taken to ensure abuse cessation and appropriate treatment.
authors: Center for Psychological Studies, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA.
authors: Janine M
authors: JM
authors: Swingle
authors: Center for Psychological Studies, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA.
authors: Mischa
authors: M
authors: Tursich
authors: Center for Psychological Studies, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA.
authors: Jonathan M
authors: JM
authors: Cleveland
authors: Center for Psychological Studies, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA. Electronic address: gold@nova.edu.
authors: Steven N
authors: SN
authors: Gold
authors: Center for Psychological Studies, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA.
authors: Sue Fields
authors: SF
authors: Tolliver
authors: Center for Psychological Studies, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA.
authors: Landon
authors: L
authors: Michaels
authors: Center for Psychological Studies, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA.
authors: Laura N
authors: LN
authors: Kupperman-Caron
authors: Center for Psychological Studies, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Garcia-Larrieu
authors: Center for Psychological Studies, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA.
authors: Nicole A
authors: NA
authors: Sciarrino
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D054523:Adult Survivors of Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D030881:Disclosure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012650:Self Disclosure; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: CSA; Childhood sexual abuse; Disclosure; Intervention; Outcome