Manon J Smit1, Mia Scheffers2, Claudia Emck3, Jooske T van Busschbach4, Peter J Beek5. 1. Windesheim University of Applied Sciences, Campus 2-6, 8017 CA Zwolle, the Netherlands; VU Amsterdam, Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Van der Boechorstraat 7, 1081 BT Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Electronic address: mj.smit@windesheim.nl. 2. Windesheim University of Applied Sciences, Campus 2-6, 8017 CA Zwolle, the Netherlands. Electronic address: wj.scheffers@windesheim.nl. 3. VU Amsterdam, Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Van der Boechorstraat 7, 1081 BT Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Electronic address: c.emck@vu.nl. 4. Windesheim University of Applied Sciences, Campus 2-6, 8017 CA Zwolle, the Netherlands. Electronic address: jt.van.busschbach@windesheim.nl. 5. VU Amsterdam, Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Van der Boechorstraat 7, 1081 BT Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Electronic address: p.j.beek@vu.nl.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Sexual abuse in individuals with average IQ or above is associated with a wide range of behavioural, psychological and body-related characteristics. It is unknown whether individuals with intellectual disability (ID) and a history of sexual abuse suffer from similar clinical characteristics. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the review is to provide an overview of the literature on the clinical characteristics of individuals with ID who have experienced sexual abuse. METHOD: PubMed, Embase, PsycInfo, CINAHL, Cochrane Library and Web of Sciences were searched for relevant publications using terms related to concepts of "intellectual disability" and "sexual abuse". Two independent reviewers screened and selected articles for inclusion in the study, resulting in seven studies. RESULTS: The studies mostly reported behavioural and psychological characteristics such as aggression, self-injury, or posttraumatic stress, anxiety or depressive symptoms associated with sexual abuse in individuals with ID. None mentioned body-related characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Similar to individuals with average IQ or above, sexual abuse in individuals with ID is associated with a broad range of behavioural and psychological characteristics. Conduct disorders, self-injury, inappropriate sexualised talk and poor feelings of personal safety seem to be more indicative for the ID population. Anxiety, depression and PTSD are prevalent in individuals with and without ID who both have experienced sexual abuse. Whether individuals with ID experience body-related characteristics is unclear.
BACKGROUND:Sexual abuse in individuals with average IQ or above is associated with a wide range of behavioural, psychological and body-related characteristics. It is unknown whether individuals with intellectual disability (ID) and a history of sexual abuse suffer from similar clinical characteristics. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the review is to provide an overview of the literature on the clinical characteristics of individuals with ID who have experienced sexual abuse. METHOD: PubMed, Embase, PsycInfo, CINAHL, Cochrane Library and Web of Sciences were searched for relevant publications using terms related to concepts of "intellectual disability" and "sexual abuse". Two independent reviewers screened and selected articles for inclusion in the study, resulting in seven studies. RESULTS: The studies mostly reported behavioural and psychological characteristics such as aggression, self-injury, or posttraumatic stress, anxiety or depressive symptoms associated with sexual abuse in individuals with ID. None mentioned body-related characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Similar to individuals with average IQ or above, sexual abuse in individuals with ID is associated with a broad range of behavioural and psychological characteristics. Conduct disorders, self-injury, inappropriate sexualised talk and poor feelings of personal safety seem to be more indicative for the ID population. Anxiety, depression and PTSD are prevalent in individuals with and without ID who both have experienced sexual abuse. Whether individuals with ID experience body-related characteristics is unclear.
Authors: Raluca Tomsa; Smaranda Gutu; Daniel Cojocaru; Belén Gutiérrez-Bermejo; Noelia Flores; Cristina Jenaro Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-02-18 Impact factor: 3.390