Factors influencing the development and severity of consequences

The consequences of sexual violence, whether experienced in childhood, adolescence or adulthood, can vary from one person to another. Many factors can influence their development and severity, as well as affect victims' recovery. These include1–10:

  1. The characteristics of the sexual violence (e.g., nature of the acts, severity, frequency, duration, age at the time of the violence, relationship to the perpetrator).
  2. Victim characteristics (e.g., age, sex, gender, personality, personal skills, mental health disorders, substance use, sexual risk behaviours).
  3. Other experiences of abuse (e.g., neglect, physical, emotional and psychological abuse, exposure to domestic violence).
  4. Family characteristics (e.g., stressful family events, quality of parent-child relationship, family functioning, socio-economic status).
  5. Sources of informal support (e.g., parental and family support, peer support) and formal support (e.g., use of support services, consulting a mental health professional).
  6. The disclosure of sexual violence and the reactions of those around the victim and other sources of support after the disclosure (e.g., social workers, health personnel, police).

Several studies show that the positive support offered by loved ones following a disclosure (e.g., listening, being receptive, providing emotional or tangible support) is one of the most important conditions for helping them adapt and recover, and for minimizing the risk of developing consequences associated with sexual violence11–13.

References

  1. Hu, Z., A. C. Kaminga, J. Yang, J. Liu et H. Xu (2021). « Adverse childhood experiences and risk of cancer during adulthood: A systematic review and meta-analysis », Child abuse & neglect, vol. 117, p. 105088.
  2. Mitchell, J. M., K. A. Becker-Blease et R. N. Soicher (2021). « Child Sexual Abuse, Academic Functioning and Educational Outcomes in Emerging Adulthood », Journal of child sexual abuse, vol. 30, n° 3, p. 278‑297.
  3. Fletcher, K. (2021). « A systematic review of the relationship between child sexual abuse and substance use issues », Journal of Child Sexual Abuse: Research, Treatment, & Program Innovations for Victims, Survivors, & Offenders, vol. 30, n° 3, p. 258‑277.
  4. Denis, I., M. Brennstuhl et C. Tarquinio (2020). « The consequences of sexual trauma on the sexuality of victims: A systematic review of the literature », Sexologies: European Journal of Sexology and Sexual Health / Revue européenne de sexologie et de santé sexuelle, vol. 29, n° 4, p. 198‑217.
  5. Jacobsen, S. A., L. Frostholm, C. B. Buhmann, M. W. Petersen, E. Ornbol, T. M. Dantoft, A. A. Bjerregaard, L. F. Eplov et T. B. W. Carstensen (2023). « Are Sexual Assaults Related to Functional Somatic Disorders? A Cross-Sectional Study », International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 20, n° 20.
  6. Tasharrofi, S., et J. Barnes (2019). « Carrying the misery to adulthood: The impact of childhood sexual abuse on adulthood impulse control through depression and suicidal thoughts », Criminal Justice Studies, vol. 32, n° 3, p. 239‑263.
  7. Fix, R. L., L. C. Assini-Meytin et P. D. Le (2019). « Gender and race informed pathways from childhood sexual abuse to sexually transmitted infections: A moderated mediation analysis using nationally representative data », Journal of Adolescent Health, vol. 65, n° 2, p. 267‑273.
  8. Lee, C. G., J. Kwon, H. Sung, I. Oh, O. Kim, J. Kang et J. W. Park (2020). « The effect of physically or non-physically forced sexual assault on trajectories of sport participation from adolescence through young adulthood », Archives of Public Health, vol. 78, p. 54.
  9. McTavish, J. R., N. Santesso, A. Amin, M. Reijnders, M. U. Ali, D. Fitzpatrick-Lewis et H. L. MacMillan (2021). « Psychosocial interventions for responding to child sexual abuse: A systematic review », Child Abuse & Neglect, vol. 116, p. 104203.
  10. Hartman, D. T., Y. Wang, Y. Wu, D. Goldfarb, D. Vidales, J. Qin, M. L. Eisen et G. S. Goodman (2023). « Childhood Sexual Abuse: A Longitudinal Study of Disclosures and Denials », Child Maltreatment, vol. 28, n° 3, p. 462‑475.
  11. Therriault, C., N. Bigras, M. Hébert et N. Godbout (2020). « All involved in the recovery: Disclosure and social reactions following sexual victimization », Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, vol. 29, n° 6, p. 661‑679.
  12. Guyon, R., M. Fernet, É. Dussault, A. Gauthier-Duchesne, M.-M. Cousineau, M. Tardif et N. Godbout (2021). « Experiences of disclosure and reactions of close ones from the perspective of child sexual abuse survivors: A qualitative analysis of gender specificities », Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, vol. 30, n° 7, p. 806‑827.
  13. Elliott, S. A., K. L. Goodman, E. S. Bardwell et T. M. Mullin (2022). « Reactions to the disclosure of intrafamilial childhood sexual abuse: Findings from the National Sexual Assault Online Hotline », Child Abuse & Neglect, vol. 127.

Authors: Maude Lachapelle, Scientific Advisor, and Claudia Savard, Specialized Scientific Advisor, INSPQ

External review: Roxanne Guyon, Sexologist and Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Université Laval | Malorie Comtois, Social Worker and Clinical Specialist in sexual violence at Juripop

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