The Persistence of Shame Following Sexual Abuse: A Longitudinal Look at Risk and Recovery

TLDR

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.

Abstract

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.