Child Maltreatment · 2005 · 338 citations · 53 references
MedicinePsychiatryPsychologyAdolescent DevelopmentChild PsychiatryTrauma-related DisordersChild AbuseChild MaltreatmentChild Sexual AbuseChild VictimizationChildhood AbuseSexual AbuseChild Sexual Abuse TraumaChildhood Posttraumatic Stress DisorderChildhood Sexual VictimizationChildhood Shame DevelopmentDevelopmental Trajectories Of ShameEarly RecollectionsShame ExperienceShame In Children
This study investigated persistence in abuse‑related shame during a 6‑year period. One-hundred‑eighteen sexually abused youth were interviewed at the time of discovery, and again both 1 and 6 years later. High shame at 1 year predicts persistently high shame at 6 years, is associated with clinically significant intrusive recollections, and may explain ongoing PTSD symptoms, indicating that shame should be a focus of treatment.
This study investigated persistence in abuse-related shame during a 6-year period. One-hundred-eighteen sexually abused youth were interviewed at the time of discovery, and again both 1 and 6 years later. Individuals high in shame 1 year following discovery were especially at risk for persistently high levels of shame 6 years later. Youth with high shame for the abuse at 1 and 6 years were the most likely to report clinically significant levels of intrusive recollections at 6 years. Persistent shame may explain failure to process the abuse and the maintenance of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. The findings from this longitudinal study suggest that shame as a consequence of childhood sexual abuse should be a focus of treatment.
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