title: Persistent Complications of Child Sexual Abuse: Sexually Compulsive Behaviors, Attachment, and Emotions.
abstract: Child sexual abuse has the potential to cause distress for the victim across the lifespan. Romantic relationships may be particularly difficult for victims of child sexual abuse. This retrospective study examined differences in adult romantic attachment, sexually compulsive behaviors, and emotion regulation by history of child sexual abuse in a large, nonclinical sample. Those with a history of child sexual abuse reported more attachment anxiety in romantic relationships and engaged in more sexually compulsive behaviors. Overall, males displayed more sexually compulsive behaviors than females regardless of history of sexual abuse. Males with a history of sexual abuse displayed the greatest number of sexually compulsive behaviors. Surprisingly, no differences were observed in emotion regulation or attachment avoidant behaviors by history of child sexual abuse. Future research should seek to replicate current findings and examine emotion regulation difficulties experienced as a result of trauma.
authors.affiliation: a Family and Community, Medicine School of Medicine , Saint Louis University , St. Louis , Missouri , USA.
authors.forename: Dixie
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.affiliation: a Family and Community, Medicine School of Medicine , Saint Louis University , St. Louis , Missouri , USA.
authors.forename: Aaron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cohn
authors.affiliation: a Family and Community, Medicine School of Medicine , Saint Louis University , St. Louis , Missouri , USA.
authors.forename: Brittany
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.affiliation: a Family and Community, Medicine School of Medicine , Saint Louis University , St. Louis , Missouri , USA.
authors.forename: Fatima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Muse
authors.affiliation: a Family and Community, Medicine School of Medicine , Saint Louis University , St. Louis , Missouri , USA.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hughes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D054523:Adult Survivors of Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology*; D003192:Compulsive Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009769:Object Attachment; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: children; gender issues; mental health; sexual abuse