Heterogeneity in patterns of child sexual abuse, family functioning, and long-term adjustment

The present study examined the relationship between the family environment, childhood sexual abuse experiences, and long-term adjustment of women coll ege students. Cluster analysis was used to classify 124 abuse survivors int o eight groups based on aspects of their abusive experiences (3 intrafamili al and 5 extrafamilial clusters). Analysis of variance revealed a significa nt relationship between perceptions of family psychological health and seve rity of abuse for the most extreme patterns of abuse (i.e., most and least severe abuse), with more severe abuse associated with poor familial emotion al health. Current psychological distress appeared to be related to certain aspects of the abusive situation, such as the use of threat or force and d uration of abuse, rather than the overall severity of the abuse pattern. Th e diversity evident in these women's experiences of abuse and long-term adj ustment supports the heterogeneity of the phenomenon of child sexual abuse and its consequences.