“Too few researchers are interested in more subtle types of child maltreatment that are as damaging, if not more, than more overt types of child maltreatment,” said study author Noémie Bigras, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Montreal.
“Whether or not the types of violence leave physical marks, they all are relational experiences that are likely to be prompted or reactivated in adulthood once in an intimate relationship or perhaps during sexual activities. Gaining a better understanding of how any type of child maltreatment is at play in adults’ intimate lives is crucial to enhance therapeutic interventions and making a real difference in these survivors’ lives if they ever consult a professional.”
The researchers recruited 374 adults from Canada and Europe, and had them complete an anonymous online survey that assessed childhood neglect, childhood sexual abuse, identity impairment, and sexual disturbances. The survey also collected sociodemographic information such as sex, age, relationship status, sexual orientation, education, occupation, and annual income.
Bigras and her colleagues found that childhood neglect was positively associated with identity impairment, which in turn was positively associated with dysfunctional sexual behaviors.
In other words, participants who reported that one or both of their parents ignored them, seemed not to love them, or did not provide them with basic needs as a child were more likely to also report following the orders of others indiscriminately and having greater difficulty in maintaining a sense of self that was stable across different situations. Those who reported this type of identity impairment, meanwhile, were more likely to report engaging in indiscriminate or potentially harmful sexual behaviors, such as unprotected sex. TO READ ENTIRE ARTICLE, CLICK HERE...
