Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42518788›Full record

ArticleThe Lancet regional health. Western Pacific2026

Perpetrator types, severity, and cumulative trauma: a population-based study of childhood sexual abuse characteristics and lifelong health.

Ben Mathews, Huyen P Do, David Finkelhor, David M Lawrence, James G Scott, Daryl J Higgins, Holly E Erskine, Tracie O Afifi, Jennie Noll

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in The Lancet regional health. Western Pacific, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Ben MathewsSchool of Law, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Huyen P DoSchool of Law, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
David FinkelhorCrimes against Children Research Center, Department of Sociology, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA.
David M LawrenceSchool of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia.
James G ScottQIMR Berghofer, Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Daryl J HigginsInstitute of Child Protection Studies, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Holly E ErskineQueensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Wacol, QLD, Australia.
Tracie O AfifiDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Jennie NollMt Hope Family Center, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: The influence of child sexual abuse (CSA) severity and perpetrator type on health problems in adulthood is poorly understood. We examined health outcomes associated with CSA according to severity, number of perpetrators, and perpetrator type. Methods: We analysed data from a nationally representative sample of 8503 participants. We assessed the influence of four levels of severity and eight types of perpetrators on mental disorders, health risk behaviours, and physical conditions, using multivariable models adjusted for confounders including other maltreatment. Findings: CSA was strongly associated with several mental disorders, health risk behaviours, and physical conditions. Forced intercourse presented highest odds of health problems compared to no CSA (e.g., cannabis dependence aOR 2.2, 95% CI 1.1-4.5; non-suicidal self-injury aOR 1.7, 1.2-2.5), and compared to other CSA types. CSA by multiple perpetrator types increased adverse outcomes, including non-suicidal self-injury (aOR 4.1, 3.0-5.5), and suicide attempt (aOR 3.8, 2.8-5.1). CSA by both adolescent and adult perpetrators was associated with the greatest risk for outcomes including non-suicidal self-injury (aOR 4.4, 3.0-6.4) and suicide attempt (aOR 3.4, 2.4-4.9) with equivalent adverse outcomes for individuals abused by adolescents only, and adults only. CSA by known adolescents, known adults, and unknown adults, elevated risk of health outcomes. Interpretation: Greater CSA severity and multiple perpetrator exposure elevates risk of health problems in adulthood. Both known and unknown perpetrators, and adult and adolescent perpetrators, increase risk. Results can inform clinical practice and policy in diverse sectors. Funding: National Health and Medical Research Council.

Indexed as

AdolescentAdultAustralia/epidemiologyChildChild AbuseChild protection and health policyChild sexual abuseChild welfareLong-term outcomesMental, behavioural and physical health outcomesOffenders or perpetrators - trends by perpetrator types

Identifiers

PMID42518788
PMCPMC13382344

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.