Psychopathology among adult survivors of child pornography
Date
2019
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Child Abuse & Neglect
Abstract
Background: The majority of studies investigating child pornography have focused on conceptualizing the problem and the harm of the crime, evaluating the risk for child pornography
offending, or discuss preventive measures. Little is known about survivors of this type of crime.
Objective: This research explores the relationship between child pornography victimization and
psychopathology in adulthood. Specifically, we examined the contribution of emotional reactions
at the time of the crime and shortly after (guilt, embarrassment and avoidance) on psychopathology among adult survivors of child pornography.
Participants and setting: The study was conducted among 107 child pornography adult survivors,
aged 18–63 (M = 39.48, SD = 12.31). All participants were sexually molested during the crime.
Methods: An online survey was completed by a convenience sample of adult survivors of child
pornography.
Results: Findings indicate survivor’s current age predicted current psychopathology symptoms.
Survivor’s emotional reactions of guilt and embarrassment at the time of the crime and shortly
after were significantly associated with elevated psychopathology, above and beyond demographic characteristics and features of the crime.
Conclusions: The present results suggest the way survivors of child pornography react to the
crime might shape their mental health in the long term.
Description
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Keywords
guilt, avoidance, child sexual abuse material, pornography, survivors, embarrassment, long term effects
Citation
Gewirtz-Meydan, A., Lahav, Y., Walsh, W., & Finkelhor, D. (2019). Psychopathology among adult survivors of child pornography. Child Abuse & Neglect, 98, 104189.