The short and long-term impacts on psychopathology in childhood sexual abuse.

• Main Author: Tan, Wen Er.
• Other Authors: School of Humanities and Social Sciences
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2012
• Subjects: DRNTU::Humanities; DRNTU::Social sciences
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/49076
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Over the past few decades, there has been an increasing amount of research indicating that interpersonal and psychological problems are prevalent amongst those who were sexually abused, versus those who were not. Although it is discouraged to state that correlation leads to causality, there have been recurring findings in many research literature that have found that childhood sexual abuse is a major contributing factor for the development of psychopathological problems in victims of sexual abuse. Thus, adults facing problems related to perception and acceptance of the self, interpersonal relationships usually can be accepted to be possible consequences of the presence of maltreatment or parental negligence during one’s childhood. Studies have also indicated that the extent to which an individual exhibiting distress related to the childhood sexual abuse could also be influenced by individual differences and environmental factors that existbefore, and even after experiencing the sexual abuse event. This article strives to summarise what are the common short and long-term psychopathological impacts of child sexual abuse, and what are currently being studied on the potential effects of childhood sexual abuse. Some of the various problems and symptoms describedhere, and in many child sexual abuse literature includes: post-traumatic stress, avoidance, emotional distress, impairment in sense of self and interpersonal difficulties. Implications of the researches mentioned here will be reviewed, as well as suggestions for future research work.