The association of childhood sexual abuse with depressive symptoms during pregnancy, and selected pregnancy outcomes

Mary I. Benedict · Lisa L. Paine · Lori A. Paine · Diane E. Brandt · Rebecca Stallings

123 citations0/0 files storedChild Abuse & Neglect

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Child Abuse and Trauma Intimate Partner and Family Violence Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The objectives were: (1) to investigate the association during pregnancy of sexual abuse before the age of 18 on depressive symptomatology in pregnancy, controlling for the presence of negative life events and challenges; and (2) to investigate the association of selected pregnancy outcomes (maternal labor and delivery factors, infant birth weight and gestational age) with sexual abuse before age 18. METHODS: Three hundred fifty-seven primiparous women aged 18 years and older were interviewed between 28-32 weeks gestation with reference to current functioning and past history (Objective 1). Medical record information was abstracted after delivery for pregnancy, labor and delivery factors, and pregnancy outcomes (Objective 2). RESULTS: Thirty-seven percent of the women reported past sexual abuse. Prevalence was not associated with ethnic background, educational level, or hospital payment source. Previously sexually-abused pregnant women reported significantly higher levels of depressive symptomatology, negative life events, and physical and verbal abuse before and during pregnancy. There were no significant associations found between past sexual abuse and labor or delivery variables or newborn outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Previously sexually-abused pregnant women reported a wider constellation of past and current functioning problems than nonabused women although past sexual abuse was not associated with pregnancy outcome. Prenatal care provides a unique opportunity to evaluate the impact of life history and current life events during pregnancy, and to develop a coordinated intervention plan.

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References

1977The CES-D Scale 1979Measuring Intrafamily Conflict and Violence: The Conflict Tactics (CT) Scales 1978Assessing the impact of life changes: Development of the Life Experiences Survey.1986Impact of child sexual abuse: A review of the research.1990Sexual abuse in a national survey of adult men and women: Prevalence, characteristics, and risk factors 1989Physical Violence in American Families, 1985 1983The incidence and prevalence of intrafamilial and extrafamilial sexual abuse of female children 1996The long-term impact of the physical, emotional, and sexual abuse of children: A community study

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