Father–Daughter Incest: Data from an Anonymous Computerized Survey

Abstract

Retrospective data were entered anonymously by 1,521 adult women using computer-assisted self-interview. Nineteen were classified as victims of father–daughter incest, and 241 were classified as victims of sexual abuse by an adult other than their father before reaching 18 years of age. The remaining 1,261 served as controls. Incest victims were more likely than controls to endorse feeling damaged, psychologically injured, estranged from one or both parents, and shamed by others when they tried to open up about their experience. They had been eroticized early on by the incest experience, and it interfered with their adult sexuality. Incest victims experienced coitus earlier than controls and after reaching age 18 had more sex partners and were more likely to have casual sex outside their primary relationship and engage in sex for money than controls. They also had worse scores on scales measuring depression, sexual satisfaction, and communication about sex than controls.

Keywords:

• father–daughter incest
• child sexual abuse
• sexual satisfaction
• intimacy
• conflict
• divorce

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sandra S. Stroebel

Sandra S. Stroebel, PhD, Department of School Psychology, Marshall University, South Charleston, West Virginia.

Stephen L. O'Keefe

Stephen L. O'Keefe, PhD, Department of Psychology, Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia.

Keith W. Beard

Keith W. Beard, PsyD, Department of Psychology, Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia.

Shih-Ya Kuo

Shih-Ya Kuo, PhD, Department of Criminal Justice, West Virginia State University, Institute, West Virginia.

Samuel V. S. Swindell

Samuel V. S. Swindell, JD, Department of Criminal Justice, West Virginia State University, Institute, West Virginia.

Martin J. Kommor

Martin J. Kommor, MD, Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry, West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, Charleston Division, Charleston, West Virginia.