Characteristics of Abuse That Influence When Adults Molested as Children Seek Treatment

Abstract

The present study explores the relationship between characteristics of abuse and time before seeking treatment for adults molested as children. Data were collected from intake interviews of 364 adults molested as children and were analyzed using stepwise multiple linear regression. The results indicated that four factors (age at onset of abuse, duration of abuse, whether the abuse was reported to law enforcement, and number of sexual acts) were significantly related to the number of years between the end of molestation and seeking treatment, with child sexual abuse as the presenting problem. These four factors accounted for 36% of the variance (R² =.358). The directions of the correlations indicated that those who came to treatment early had reported their abuse to law enforcement, were older when abuse began, had an abuse of long duration, and experienced more sexual acts. These findings are discussed in the context of past studies on the impact of sexual abuse, amnesia in sexual abuse survivors, and patterns of early and late presentation into treatment.

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