[p.164] Summarizing, then, from studies of clinical and nonclinical populations, the finding concerning the trauma of child sexual abuse appear to be as follows: In the immediate aftermath of sexual abuse, from one-fifth to two-fifths of abused children seen by clinicians manifest some noticeable disturbace (Tufts, 1984). When studied as adults, victims as a group demonstrate more impairment than their nonvictimized counterparts (about twice as much) but less than one-fith evidence serious psychopathology.
[p.178] Political Pressures. The current priority for many in the field is to convince policymakers that sexual abuse has serious immediate and long-term consequences, which then contribute to other public and menthal health pathologies for its victims. However, it is important that advocates not exaggerate or overstate the intensity or inevitability of these consequences. In addition to policymakers, victims and their families wait for research findings on the effects of sexual abuse and they may be further victimized by exaggerated claims about the effects of sexual abuse. It is not possible to maintain two sets of conclusions about the effects of sexual abuse: a dire one for political purposes, and a hopeful one for family members. Thus the presence of both auditories requires that those who conduct and interpret research in this field maintain a posture of objectivity and balance.
Preoccupation with Long-Term Effects. Finally, there is an unfortunate tendency in interpreting the effects of sexual abuse (as well as in studies of other childhood trauma) to overemphasize long-term impact as the ultimate criterion. Effects seem to be considered less "serious" if their impact is transient and disappears in the course of development. However, this tendency to assess everything in term of its long-term effects betrays an "adultocentric" bias. Adult traumas such as rape are not assessed ultimately in terms of whether or not they will have an impact on old age: They are acknowledged to be painful and alarming events, whether their impact lasts for one year or ten. Similarly, childhood traumas should not be dismissed because no "long-term effects" can be demonstrated. Child sexual abuse needs to be recognized as a serious problem of childhood, if only for the immediate pain, confusion, and upset that can ensue.