Child Sexual Abuse among a Representative Sample of Quebec High School Students: Prevalence and Association with Mental Health Problems and Health-Risk Behaviors
Date
2019
Journal Title
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Volume Title
Publisher
The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry
Abstract
The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of child sexual abuse in a representative sample of
Quebec high school youths and document its associations with mental health problems and health-risk behaviors.
Method: Data were drawn from the Quebec Youths’ Romantic Relationships Survey, which involved a one-stage stratified cluster
sampling of 34 Quebec high schools from Grades 10 to 12. A total of 8,194 youths (mean age ¼ 15.35) were recruited. The survey
assessed child sexual abuse, mental health problems (psychological distress, post-traumatic stress symptoms, suicidality), health
services utilization, and health-risk behaviors (alcohol, drug, and cannabis use). Gender-stratified multivariate analyses were used to
assess associations between child sexual abuse and mental health problems and health-risk behaviors while controlling for confounding demographic variables and other forms of child maltreatment experienced in childhood.
Results: A total of 14.9% of girls and 3.9% of boys reported having experienced child sexual abuse. Child sexual abuse was
independently associated with an increased risk of psychological distress, greater health services utilization, and increased
health-risk behaviors, after controlling for other forms of childhood maltreatment experienced.
Conclusions: Child sexual abuse is prevalent among youths in Quebec and is associated with an increased risk of a host of
negative consequences. Continued efforts in the development of early detection strategies as well as prevention and intervention programs are warranted.
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Keywords
child sexual abuse, mental health, suicidal ideation, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), health-risk behaviors, health services utilization, Canada, International Resources
Citation
Hébert, M., Amédée, L. M., Blais, M., & Gauthier-Duchesne, A. (2019). Child sexual abuse among a representative sample of Quebec high school students: prevalence and association with mental health problems and health-risk behaviors. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 0706743719861387.