The nature and long-term effects of childhood sexual abuse (CSA)
were examined in 775 women survivors who responded to a survey in a
women's magazine. Compared to existing research, there was a high rate
of CSA involving sexual intercourse (46%), a high rate of
intra-familial abuse (80%), a younger age of onset of abuse (8.5
years), and a longer duration of abuse (5.2 years). In univariate
analyses, the reporting of a range of long-term psychological effects
was significantly related to experience of abuse involving sexual
intercourse or sexual contact, abuse perpetrated by a father or
stepfather, abuse which was repeated or prolonged, presence of threats
or violence, blaming of the child, saying disclosure would split the
family, and a younger age of onset. In logistic and multiple
regression analyses, the most important predictor variables were
presence of threats or violence, and verbal coercion, followed by
abuse being repeated or prolonged. It is suggested that future
researchers should use a range of assessment instruments and
multivariate analyses to examine the nature and long-term effects of
child sexual abuse in both women and men.