CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE AND WOMENS SUBSTANCE-ABUSE - NATIONAL SURVEY FINDINGS

Objective: Clinical studies have found elevated rates of childhood sex ual abuse (CSA) in women seeking treatment for alcohol or drug abuse, and elevated rates of alcohol and drug disorders among female psychiat ric patients with histories of CSA. The present study examines the rel ationship of CSA to women's use of alcohol and other drugs in a large, nationally representative sample of U.S. women. Method: As part of a national survey of women's drinking, 1,099 women were asked about sexu al experiences occurring before age 18. Women who reported sexual expe riences classified as abusive were compared to women without histories of CSA on nine measures of substance use, self-perception of anxiousn ess, the occurrence of one or more lifetime depressive episodes, five measures of sexual dysfunction, and early onset of masturbation and co nsensual sexual intercourse. Results: Results of legit analyses, contr olling for age, ethnicity and parental education, indicated that women with histories of CSA were significantly more likely than women witho ut CSA histories to report recent alcohol use, intoxication, drinking- related problems and alcohol dependence symptoms lifetime use of presc ribed psychoactive drugs and illicit drugs; depression and anxiety; pa in that prevented intercourse; and consensual sexual intercourse befor e age 15. Conclusions. Findings from this U.S. national sample support those of previous clinical studies and suggest that women's experienc e of sexual abuse in childhood may be an important risk factor for lat er substance abuse, psychopathology and sexual dysfunction. Implicatio ns of these findings for future research, treatment and prevention are discussed.