Childhood sexual abuse and attachment insecurity

Associations with child psychological difficulties

Datos Bibliográficos

ID9050847
AutoresKarin Ensink (0000-0002-3351-0475, Laval Mayenne Technopole), Jessica L Borelli (0000-0001-8471-6732, University of California, Irvine), Lina Normandin (Laval Mayenne Technopole), Mary Target (Anna Freud Centre), P Fonagy (0000-0003-0229-0091, Anna Freud Centre)
Año2020
Volumen90
Número1
Páginas115-124
Fecha de publicación2020-01-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessNo
TipoARTICLE
RevistaAmerican Journal of Orthopsychiatry (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0002-9432 • E-ISSN: 1939-0025
EditorialAmerican Psychological Association (APA) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1037/ort0000407
PMID30829518
OpenAlexW2999447014
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas19
Referencias citadas36

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is considered an important public health concern that can derail the developmental course of children. Given that children rely upon their attachment figures when they experience upsetting events, attachment organization may play a critical role in predicting victims' adaptation to CSA. To date, no studies have delineated the unique and interactive contributions of these two risk factors in the prediction of psychopathology. The aims of this study were to examine attachment in CSA victims and a comparison group and to assess the contributions of each risk factor to child psychological difficulties. Participants included 111 children aged 7-13, of whom 43 were CSA victims. Children completed an attachment interview and reported on their depressive symptoms. Their mothers reported on children's externalizing symptoms, internalizing symptoms, dissociation, and sexualized behavior. Our key findings showed that child victims of CSA were more likely to be classified as having insecure and disorganized attachment. Further, insecure attachment was the primary factor associated with higher self-reported depressive symptoms in all children and that CSA was associated with more parent-reported child externalizing problems, sexualizing problems, and dissociation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved)

Child abuse · Developmental psychology · Medical emergency · Poison control · Sexual abuse · Attachment and Relationship Dynamics · Child Abuse and Trauma · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Clinical Psychology · Human Factors and Ergonomics · Medicine · Psychology