Childhood and adult sexual abuse: relationships with 'addictive' or 'problem' behaviours and health

Abstract

Questions concerning sexual abuse before and after the age of 16 years were included in a general population survey of a representative sample of 1052 UK women and 975 UK men. In relation to women 12.5% reported experiencing some form of sexual abuse before the age of 16 years. The corresponding figures for men in this category were 11.7%. After the age of 16 the figure for women remained at this level. However the proportion of men reporting these traumatic experiences dropped to 3.2%. Sexual abuse both pre and post age 16 was associated with 'addictive' or 'problem' behaviours such as those associated with eating too much (for women), sexual activity and Internet use (for men).