Childhood Sexual Abuse and Adult Sexual Risk Behavior: A Review and Critique

ABSTRACT

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a global problem with serious repercussions for survivors in various domains of adult interpersonal functioning, including sexual risk behavior. This review aimed to summarize findings from the recent literature on the connections between CSA and later adult sexual risk behaviors (e.g., unprotected intercourse, sexually transmitted infection [STSI] diagnosis). The sexual risk behaviors consistently associated with CSA were having sex under the influence of alcohol/substances and reports of concurrent sexual partners/infidelity. Notably, studies investigating the links between CSA and history of STI diagnosis and CSA and reports of unprotected sex (with the exception of samples comprised men who have sex with men) produced inconsistent findings. The methodological limitations of existing studies are considered and suggestions for future research are offered.

KEYWORDS:

• Child sexual abuse
• sexual risk behavior
• sexually transmitted infections
• HIV/AIDs
• review

Supplemental data

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed on the publisher’s website.

Disclosure of Interest

The authors disclose no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Amy Dana Ménard

Amy Dana Ménard is a clinical psychologist and assistant professor in the department of psychology at the University of Windsor. She is coauthor of “Magnificent sex: Lessons from extraordinary lovers” by Rutledge, winner of the 2021 consumer book award from the Society for Sex Therapy and Research.

Heather Beth MacIntosh

Heather Beth MacIntosh Ph.D.is a clinical psychologist and Associate Professor in the MScA Couple and Family Therapy Programme at McGill University where she is the recipient of the H. Noel Fieldhouse Award for Distinguished Teaching. She is the author of the recently released book: Developmental Couple Therapy for Complex Trauma a Manual for Therapists by Routledge Press.