| Popis: |
Child sex abuse (CSA) has commonly been associated with a plethora of adverse mental health outcomes. A nascent body of literature has also examined associations between CSA and the development of physical health issues. This chapter examines the morbidity and mortality-related outcomes commonly associated with a history of CSA, including rates of mental health diagnoses, physical illnesses, rates of psychotropic medication usage and premature mortality. The mental health sequelae of CSA are relatively well documented in the research literature. However, gaps remain in our understanding of the relationship between CSA and the risk of developing physical health conditions, with limited understanding of the etiological factors that may lead to the development of physical health difficulties in adult CSA victims. Further, the relationship between CSA and premature mortality has also remained relatively unexplored. This chapter presents hypothetical explanatory pathways from CSA to these outcomes. In addition to reviewing the literature, this chapter provides a synopsis of a program of research the authors have undertaken with colleagues to investigate the impact of CSA on healthcare utilisation for physical and mental health disorders in adulthood, including use of psychotropic medication. This program of research also examines rates of mortality in CSA survivors, including rates of death by suicide, death by misadventure, and death caused by medical disorders. The results indicate that CSA victims access healthcare services at a disproportionately higher rate in adulthood in contrast to the comparison group, with females abused at all ages and males abused in the post-pubertal period demonstrating especially adverse outcomes. Further, CSA victims have a higher risk of mortality in adulthood than individuals from the general population. These findings are discussed in relation to clinical and policy implications. |
