A quantitative research on sexual health status of women with a history of childhood sexual abuse

Abstract

Objectives: This study assessed sexual health status in terms of sexual self-concept (SSC) of women who reported a history of childhood sexual abuse (CSA).

Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted to collect data via convenience sampling. A questionnaire containing measures of SSC and other aspects of sexuality was designed for data collection. Sexual health status comprising both positive and negative aspects was measured by positive SSC (sexual esteem, sexual efficacy, and sexual satisfaction) and negative SSC (sexual anxiety, sexual depression, and sexual fear). In addition, situational SSC (sexual motivation and sexual consciousness) was also included for supplementary analysis.

Results: A total of 1025 respondents completed the questionnaire. Of the 746 participants responded to the CSA items of the questionnaire, 76 (10.2%) reported a history CSA, 56 (73.7%) were women survivors. Data analysis was performed to compare sexual health status of women with and without a history of CSA. No differences were found between the two groups in positive SSC, but CSA survivors were significantly poorer in negative SSC, i.e., they showed higher levels of sexual anxiety, sexual depression, and sexual fear. CSA survivors exhibited greater sexual desires and engaged in more frequent sexual activities. Relatedly, their situational SSC, i.e., sexual motivation and sexual consciousness were significantly higher.

Conclusion: Though women survivors of CSA exhibited greater sexual desires and engaged in greater frequency of sexual activities, they showed poorer sexual health status in terms of higher levels sexual anxiety, sexual depression, and sexual fear. Their poor sexual health status was likely to exert hazardous and pervasive effects on their quality of life.