Childhood Sexual Abuse and Common Mental Health Problems: Do Sexual Trade and Exchange Mediate the Relationship?

IF 2.2 Q2 FAMILY STUDIES

Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma Pub Date : 2026-03-11 eCollection Date: 2026-09-01 DOI:10.1007/s40653-026-00846-x

Marianne Nilsen, Mari K Gaardholm, Tormod Rimehaug

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Abstract

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is likely to have significant implications for mental health outcomes across the lifespan. This study examines the relationship between CSA, sexual trade and exchange (STE), and common mental health problems (MHPs) among 335 adolescents (aged 12-20) as part of a larger study on adolescents in Norwegian residential youth care (RYC). We investigated the mediating role of STE in the relationship between CSA and MHPs, such as anxiety, depression, and substance abuse, using the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Assessment (CAPA). We found that STE mediated the relationship between CSA and substance abuse. CSA was directly associated with anxiety and depression, while STE was significantly associated with anxiety, but not with depression. This study highlights the significant role of STE in association with substance abuse among sexually abused adolescents and underscores the need for further research on the long-term impact of CSA and STE on mental health.

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儿童期性虐待与常见的心理健康问题：性交易和性交换是否调解了这种关系？

儿童期性虐待（CSA）可能对整个生命周期的心理健康结果产生重大影响。本研究调查了335名青少年（12-20岁）的CSA、性交易和性交换（STE）以及常见心理健康问题（MHPs）之间的关系，作为挪威寄宿青少年护理（RYC）青少年研究的一部分。我们使用儿童和青少年精神病学评估（CAPA）调查了STE在CSA和MHPs（如焦虑、抑郁和药物滥用）之间的关系中的中介作用。我们发现STE介导了CSA与药物滥用之间的关系。CSA与焦虑、抑郁直接相关，STE与焦虑显著相关，与抑郁无显著相关。本研究强调了性暴力青少年中STE与药物滥用相关的重要作用，并强调了进一步研究CSA和STE对心理健康的长期影响的必要性。

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来源期刊

Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma Multiple-

CiteScore

3.00

自引率

6.70%

发文量

期刊介绍： Underpinned by a biopsychosocial approach, the Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma presents original research and prevention and treatment strategies for understanding and dealing with symptoms and disorders related to the psychological effects of trauma experienced by children and adolescents during childhood and where the impact of these experiences continues into adulthood. The journal also examines intervention models directed toward the individual, family, and community, new theoretical models and approaches, and public policy proposals and innovations. In addition, the journal promotes rigorous investigation and debate on the human capacity for agency, resilience and longer-term healing in the face of child and adolescent trauma. With a multidisciplinary approach that draws input from the psychological, medical, social work, sociological, public health, legal and education fields, the journal features research, intervention approaches and evidence-based programs, theoretical articles, specific review articles, brief reports and case studies, and commentaries on current and/or controversial topics. The journal also encourages submissions from less heard voices, for example in terms of geography, minority status or service user perspectives. Among the topics examined in the Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma: The effects of childhood maltreatment Loss, natural disasters, and political conflict Exposure to or victimization from family or community violence Racial, ethnic, gender, sexual orientation or class discrimination Physical injury, diseases, and painful or debilitating medical treatments The impact of poverty, social deprivation and inequality Barriers and facilitators on pathways to recovery The Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma is an important resource for practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and academics whose work is centered on children exposed to traumatic events and adults exposed to traumatic events as children.