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Cited by 2,537Child Abuse and TraumaMilitary, Security, and Education StudiesSexual Assault and Victimization Studies

Impact of sexual abuse on children: A review and synthesis of recent empirical studies

Kendall-Tackett, Kathleen A., Williams, Linda M., Finkelhor, David·1993·Psychological Bulletin
DOI 10.1037/0033-2909.113.1.164
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Abstract

A review of 45 studies clearly demonstrated that sexually abused children had more symptoms than nonabused children, with abuse accounting for 15-45% of the variance. Fears, posttraumatic stress disorder, behavior problems, sexualized behaviors, and poor self-esteem occurred most frequently among a long list of symptoms noted, but no one symptom characterized a majority of sexually abused children. Some symptoms were specific to certain ages, and approximately one third of victims had no symptoms. Penetration, the duration and frequency of the abuse, force, the relationship of the perpetrator to the child, and maternal support affected the degree of symptomatology. About two thirds of the victimized children showed recovery during the first 12-18 months. The findings suggest the absence of any specific syndrome in children who have been sexually abused and no single traumatizing process.

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Crossref · 10.1037/0033-2909.113.1.164

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68 of 68 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • The consequences of sexual abuse range from minimal effects to more serious problems, with social, emotional and/or psychiatric repercussions.

    “the consequences of sexual abuse range from minimal effects to more serious problems, with social, emotional and/or psychiatric repercussions (Habigzang, Borges, Dell'Aglio, & Koller, 2010;Kendall-Tackett et al., 1993;Paolucci et al., 2001;Wherry, Baldwin, Junco, & Floyd, 2013).”

    From Psychological and Behavioral Indicators in the Forensic Assessment of Child Sexual Abuse (2018) · cites this paper as Kendall-Tackett et al., 1993

  • Two clusters of symptoms were identified as the most reliable to characterize child victims of sexual abuse: sexualized behaviors and symptoms related to PTSD.

    “In the study by Kendall-Tackett et al. (1993), two clusters of symptoms were identifi ed as the most reliable to characterize child victims of sexual abuse: sexualized behaviors and symptoms related to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).”

    From Psychological and Behavioral Indicators in the Forensic Assessment of Child Sexual Abuse (2018) · cites this paper as Kendall-Tackett et al., 1993

  • Approximately one-third of the children who have experienced sexual abuse do not present any symptoms.

    “there is no single symptom that exclusively characterizes victims, and approximately one-third of the children who have experienced sexual abuse do not present any symptoms (Kendall-Tackett, Williams, & Finkelhor, 1993).”

    From Psychological and Behavioral Indicators in the Forensic Assessment of Child Sexual Abuse (2018) · cites this paper as Kendall-Tackett, Williams, & Finkelhor, 1993

  • Sexualized behaviors inappropriate for the level of development are supposed to be typical manifestations of sexual abuse in children.

    “studies have indicated the importance of evaluating the presence of sexualized behaviors that are inappropriate for the level of development in sexually abused children, as these indicators are supposed to be typical manifestations of this type of violence (Friedrich et al., 2001;Friedrich et al., 1997;Kendall-Tackett et al., 1993).”

    From Psychological and Behavioral Indicators in the Forensic Assessment of Child Sexual Abuse (2018) · cites this paper as Kendall-Tackett et al., 1993

  • There is no single symptom that exclusively characterizes victims of sexual abuse.

    “there is no single symptom that exclusively characterizes victims, and approximately one-third of the children who have experienced sexual abuse do not present any symptoms (Kendall-Tackett, Williams, & Finkelhor, 1993).”

    From Psychological and Behavioral Indicators in the Forensic Assessment of Child Sexual Abuse (2018) · cites this paper as Kendall-Tackett, Williams, & Finkelhor, 1993

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Authors
Kendall-Tackett, K. A., Williams, L. M., & Finkelhor, D.
Affiliations
University of New Hampshire (US)
ORCID
Kendall-Tackett, Kathleen A.
Venue
Psychological Bulletin
Publisher
American Psychological Association (APA)
Published
1993
Volume
113
Issue
1
Pages
164-180
ISSN
  • 0033-2909 (ISSN-L)
  • 1939-1455
DOI
10.1037/0033-2909.113.1.164
OpenAlex
W2116300722
Cited by
2,537
References
71
Citations by year
2026: 36 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 23 · 2023: 40 · 2022: 42 · 2021: 62 · 2020: 63 · 2019: 51 · 2018: 61 · 2017: 60 · 2016: 94 · 2015: 98 · 2014: 105 · 2013: 102 · 2012: 96
FWCI
72.71
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Psychological Bulletin (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • University of New Hampshire Scholars Repository (University of New Hampshire at Manchester) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (5t32mh015161-30)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (T32 MH15161, MH 15161)
  • National Cancer Institute (90-CA-1406)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Military, Security, and Education Studies
  • Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Sexual Assault and Victimization Studies
Keywords
child sexual abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder, fear, behavioral problems, sexualized behavior, self-esteem, symptomatology, age differences, perpetrator relationship, maternal support, abuse severity, recovery
MeSH terms
Child, Child Abuse, Sexual, Child Behavior, Psychology, Child, Child, Preschool, Depressive Disorder, Female, Humans, Male, Sexual Behavior, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic

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