THE IMPACT OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE - A STUDY OF A RANDOM SAMPLE OF NORWEGIAN STUDENTS

The long-term impact of child sexual abuse (CSA) has most typically be en concentrated on the psychological outcomes. The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between CSA and self-reported co mplaints including both psychological and psychosomatic problems as we ll as absenteeism. A random sample of 510 female and 486 male students completed a questionnaire that included questions about CSA. The over all response rate was 75.3%. A symptom scale was constructed by asking the respondents to rate themselves on a three-category scale for 13 i tems concerning both psychological and somatic health problems. They w ere also asked to indicate how many days the problem had caused them t o be absent from class or work during the year prior to the study. CSA was reported by 116 of the students (I 1.7%). CSA was associated with a broad range of health problems; including genital pain/infections a nd headache/abdominal/muscular pain as well as psychological disorders such as anxiety and suicidal ideations. A linear relationship was dem onstrated between the severity of CSA and the symptom score, as well a s between the severity of CSA and days absent from work. Postpubertal onset of abuse and close relationship with the offender were positivel y associated with the number of sick-leave days.