EFFECTS OF CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE ON FEMALE ADULTS
Childhood sexual abuse continues to be prevalent and prevention or intervention efforts are considered a failure ("Child," 1999; Gelles, 1998). Childhood sexual abuse results in effects that continue into adulthood. Relationships between this sexual abuse and adult problems such as depression, anxiety, drug abuse, attempted suicide, and psychiatric disorders, have been found (McCauley, Kern, Kolodner, Dill, Schroeder, DeChant, Ryden, Derogatis, & Bass, 1997). In addition, effects of this abuse on college students has been indicated by increased drop-out rates for this population (Duncan, 2000). Studies with clinical populations appear to be more prevalent than those with nonclinical populations. A study is needed to investigate specific effects of depression and anxiety for the nonclinical female adult population, and use of the college population will be of particular interest.
The purpose of this study will be to investigate the effects of childhood sexual abuse on female adults, in a nonclinical college population.
The research questions are as follows: What are the effects of childhood sexual abuse on levels of depression and anxiety in adults?
Hypothesis 1: There will be a significant difference the childhood sexual abuse group and the non-sexual abuse group, regarding scores on the IDD.
Hypothesis 2: There will be a significant difference the childhood sexual abuse group and the non-sexual abuse group, regarding scores on the CAS.
Childhood Sexual Abuse. Any lewd or lascivious act upon or with the body, or any part or member thereof, of a child (up to 14 years), with the intent of arousing, appealing to, or gratifying the lust or passions or sexual desires of such person or of such child by an adult (Schneider, 1997).
Effects of Childhood Sexual Abuse. For this study effects of childhood sexual abuse will be depression, measured by the Inv...