Posttraumatic symptom profiles among adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse: A longitudinal study.
In the present study, our aim was to examine longitudinal posttraumatic stress symptom (PTSS) trajectories in a Norwegian sample of adults who had experienced sexual abuse during childhood, and to identify predictors of PTSS-trajectory belongingness. The sample consisted of 138 adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse (96.4% women, mean age=42.9years, mean age at the first abuse=5.9 years), recruited from support centers for sexual abuse survivors. The majority (78.3%) reported penetrative abuse, and a large proportion of the sample reported that the perpetrator was a biological parent (38.4%) or someone they trusted (76.1%), reflecting a high severity level of the abusive experiences. Latent Profile Analyses revealed the best overall fit for a two PTSS-trajectories model; one trajectory characterized by sub-clinical and decreasing level of PTSS (54.9%), and the other by high and slightly decreasing level of PTSS (45.1%). Increased odds for belonging to the trajectory with clinical level symptoms was found among those who reported higher levels of exposure to other types of childhood maltreatment (OR=3.69, p=0.002), sexual abuse enforced by physical violence (OR=3.04, p=0.003) or threats (OR=2.56, p=0.014), very painful sexual abuse (OR=2.73, p=0.007), or who had experienced intense anxiety, helplessness or fear during the abuse (OR=2.97, p=0.044). Those in the trajectory with clinical level PTSS reported lower levels of perceived social support and more relational difficulties compared to those in the sub-clinical PTSS trajectory. In conclusion, different longitudinal PTSS trajectories can be found among adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Significant predictors of PTSS-trajectory belongingness are discussed alongside their potential implications for preventive efforts and clinical interventions.
Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Bergen, Christiesgate 12, 5015 Bergen, Norway; Visiting Scholar, UC Berkeley, Department of Psychology, 4123 Tolman Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720-1690, USA. Electronic address: iris.steine@uib.no.
Iris M
IM
Steine
Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Bergen, Christiesgate 12, 5015 Bergen, Norway.
Dagfinn
D
Winje
Department of Public Mental Health, Division of Mental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Christiesgate 13, 5020 Bergen, Norway.
Jens Christoffer
JC
Skogen
Clinical Neuroscience Division, VA National Center for PTSD, 950 Campbell Avenue West Haven, CT 06516, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, 300 George Street, Suite 901, New Haven, CT 06511 USA.
John H
JH
Krystal
Regional Centre for Child and Youth Mental Health and Child Welfare, Postbox 7810, 5020 Bergen, Norway; Department of Biological and Medical Psychology, University of Bergen, Jonas Lies vei 91, 5009 Bergen, Norway.
Anne Marita
AM
Milde
Department of Global Public Health and Primary Health Care, University of Bergen, Kalfarveien 31, 5018 Bergen, Norway; Norwegian Competence Center of Sleep Disorders, Haukeland University Hospital, PO Box 1400, 5021 Bergen, Norway.
Bjørn
B
Bjorvatn
Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Bergen, Christiesgate 12, 5015 Bergen, Norway; Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, PO Box 1110 Blindern 0317 Oslo, Norway.
Inger Hilde
IH
Nordhus
Department of Biological and Medical Psychology, University of Bergen, Jonas Lies vei 91, 5009 Bergen, Norway; Washington State University, PO BOX 1495 Spokane, WA 99210-1495, USA.
Janne
J
Grønli
Norwegian Competence Center of Sleep Disorders, Haukeland University Hospital, PO Box 1400, 5021 Bergen, Norway; Department of Psychosocial Science, University of Bergen, Christiesgate 12, 5015 Bergen, Norway.
Ståle
S
Pallesen
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D054523:Adult Survivors of Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway; D010290:Parents; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000209:etiology*
Adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse; Childhood sexual abuse; Longitudinal symptom outcomes; Posttraumatic stress symptom trajectories