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This list shows a selection of books and other resources about the psychological effects of abuse that are held by the NSPCC Library and Information Service (December 2005).
Emotional abuse
American Humane
[Englewood, CO]: American Humane, 2004
Defines emotional abuse and considers why it happens, the effects of emotional abuse on children and the identification and prevention of emotional abuse.
**Online version only**
Out of the dark.
Caine, Linda and Royston, Robin
London: Corgi Adult, 2004
ISBN: 0552148695
An autobiographical account which traces the emotional and psychological development of a woman who was abused and raped as a child, and her efforts to come to terms with her past. Written through the eyes of the victim and her psychiatrist, this book raises issues of self-esteem, problems in family life, depression, and the psychological effect of abuse.
An invisible child.
Evans, Jo
Lewes, East Sussex: Book Guild, 2004
ISBN: 1857768930
A biographical account of child sexual abuse by Jo Evans, who was sexually abused by her headmaster and family friend. The book describes how the abuse affected her life, especially family and personal relationships in adulthood, and how she managed to bring her abuser to court.
The ultimate guide to overcoming sexual and childhood abuse.
Adamson, Liz
Leybourne, Kent: Diviniti Publishing, 2003
ISBN: 1901923525
Self-help book designed for adult survivors of sexual abuse, aiming to show them that they are not alone in their experiences and the extent to which past abuse still affects their lives. Part One looks at the patterns and issues associated with abuse e.g. self-harm, self esteem, shame and guilt; Part Two provides processes and exercises designed to rid abuse victims of negative aspects of the past, and are suitable for both individuals and groups.
Young men surviving child sexual abuse: research stories and lessons for therapeutic practice.
Durham, Andrew
Chichester, West Sussex: Wiley, 2003
ISBN: 0470844604
Presents a theoretical framework for understanding male sexual abuse, and describes research undertaken with young men using a life-story approach, allowing the subjects to theorise their own experiences and to understand how and why abuse has had a harmful and long-lasting impact on their day-to-day lives. Appendices contain a range of practice materials for practitioners working with young people recovering from abuse.
Child neglect: contemporary themes and issues.
Jowitt, Sharon
Glasbury-on-Wye: Bridge Publishing House, 2003
A review of contemporary literature and research focusing on knowledge of the causes and effects of child neglect and presenting ideas on intervention and support for neglected children and their families. Copies are available for NSPCC staff. Please contact the Library for more details.
Breaking the silence: working with adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
Community Health Sheffield
Brighton: Pavilion Publishing, 2002
ISBN: 1900600331
An introduction to issues surrounding childhood sexual abuse, aimed at staff working in mental health services. Looks at survivors' experiences, facts about childhood sexual abuse, long-term effects of childhood sexual abuse, issues for different client groups, good practice guidelines, dealing with disclosures, staff care, child protection issues and memory and traumatic memory. Includes resources section with contact details for relevant organisations and services, and recommended reading.
Understanding trauma: a psychoanalytical approach.
Garland, Caroline
London: Karnac Books, 2002
ISBN: 1855759772
Considers the short- and long-term effects of traumatic events, what the trauma means to the affected person and how treatment can restore meaning to a patient's life. Describes a range of therapeutic procedures, including a short series of individual and group consultations, and full analysis.
Bitter legacy: the emotional effects of domestic violence on children.
Webster, Alison, Coombe, Alan and Stacey, Lisa
Ilford, Essex: Barnardo's, 2002
ISBN: 0902046853
Features accounts from children and young people in the UK who have experienced violence in their families. Highlights the emotional impact of domestic violence and explains how a range of counselling and support services can help, using examples from Barnardo's projects.
Creating a safe place: helping children and families recover from child sexual abuse.
NCH Children and Families Project
London: Jessica Kingsley, 2001
ISBN: 1843100096
Highlights the importance of a 'safe place' as the foundation of the healing process for those affected by child sexual abuse.
Child abuse lasts a lifetime.
O'Grady, Michael
New York: Michael O'Grady, 2001
ISBN: 0971243808
A 59 year old American man recounts his experience of 12 years in an abusive foster home and the psychological aftermath of his abusive childhood.
Surviving paedophilia: traumatic stress after organised and network child sexual abuse.
Cairns, Kate
Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs.: Trentham Books, 1999
ISBN: 1858561361
Considers the 'waves of harm far beyond the immediate impact' generated by organised sexual abuse. Uses the life experiences of survivors, their families and child care workers to illustrate the long-term consequences of abuse.
Child abuse: implications for child development and psychopathology.
Wolfe, David A.
London: Sage, 1999
ISBN: 0803972288
Describes the different types of abuse and discusses the influence they have on the emotional, cognitive, academic, and social development of children. Looks at child rearing patterns, the causes of abuse, and prevention and treatment strategies.
Wednesday's child: research into women's experience of neglect and abuse in childhood, and adult depression.
Bifulco, Antonia and Moran, Patricia
London: Routledge, 1998
ISBN: 041516527X
Summarises twenty years of research into the link between child abuse and adult depression. Covers sexual abuse, physical abuse, psychological abuse, hostile parenting and role-reversal.
Treating the aftermath of sexual abuse: a handbook for working with children in care.
Osmond, Margaret
Washington, D.C.: Child Welfare League of America, 1998
ISBN: 0878686932
Aimed at caregivers, this book addresses the developmental and psychological effects of child sexual abuse and suggests possible treatment programmes. Includes training suggestions.
Abuse and survival: a fact file.
Madge, Nicola
London: Prince's Trust - Action, 1997
ISBN: 1902243005
Looks at the nature, extent and effects of childhood abuse and tries to identify factors linked with survival.
Child sexual abuse and mental health in adolescents and adults.
Bagley, Christopher
Aldershot, Hants.: Avebury, 1995
ISBN: 1856289435
Reviews research findings from a number of studies conducted in Britain and Canada, particularly in respect to the long term psychological outcomes of childhood sexual abuse.
Development after physical abuse in early childhood: a follow-up study of children on protection registers.
Gibbons, Jane et al
London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office (HMSO), 1995
ISBN: 0113217900
The initial and long-term effects of child sexual abuse.
Young Minds
London: Young Minds, 1994
Report launched as part of the Young Minds campaign 'Violence and Young Minds'.
Single versus multi-type maltreatment: an examination of the long term effects of child abuse.
Arata, Catalina M., Langhinrichsen-Rohling, Jennifer, Bowers, David and O'Farrill-Swails, Laura
Journal of Aggression Maltreatment and Trauma 11(4), 2005: 29-52
This article looks at the long term effects of different types of abuse. Results showed that experiencing multiple types of abuse caused greater problems than experiencing a single type of abuse.
Child neglect and adolescent violence: examining the effects of self-control and peer rejection.
Chapple, Constance L., Tyler, Kimberley A. and Bersani, Bianca E.
Violence and Victims 20(1), February 2005: 39-53
This article looks at the long term effects of child neglect and its relationship with adolescent violence, self control and peer rejection. Results show that child neglect negatively affects peer rejection and violence, but not self control.
Long-term consequences of childhood sexual abuse by gender of victim.
Dube, Shanta R. et al.
American Journal of Preventive Medicine 28(5), 2005: 430-438
This article looks at the outcomes for adults who were sexually abused as children. The results showed that compared to adults who had not experienced childhood sexual abuse, men and women who had experienced childhood sexual abuse were 40% more likely to marry an alcoholic, and 40-50% more likely to have problems with their current marriage.
Sexual abuse in childhood and interpersonal violence in adulthood: a cumulative impact on depressive symptoms in women.
McGuigan, William M. and Middlemiss, Wendy
Journal of Interpersonal Violence 20(10), October 2005: 1271-1287
This article examines the cumulative effects of childhood sexual abuse and family violence on females through a study of the depressive symptoms of 265 primarily African American women. Those women who had experienced both forms of abuse displayed the highest frequency of depressive symptoms whereas those women who received greater family support displayed lower levels of depressive symptoms. Includes implications for practitioners.
The long-term effects of child sexual abuse by female perpetrators: a qualitative study of male and female victims.
Denov, Myriam S.
Journal of Interpersonal Violence 19(10), October 2004: 1137-1156
Outlines a Canadian qualitative study exploring the experience and long-term impact of sexual abuse by women. Data were derived from in-depth interviews with adult victims. Most respondents reported severe sexual abuse by their mothers, and that the experience was harmful and damaging. Long-term difficulties reported included substance abuse, depression, suicide, rage, self-injury, discomfort with sex, and strained relationships with women.
The impact of long term psychological maltreatment by one's maternal figure: a study of the victim's perspective.
DeRobertis, Eugene M.
Journal of Emotional Abuse 4(2), 2004: 27-51
This article looks at a qualitative study using phenomenological methods to investigate the effects of long term emotional abuse by maternal figures. Victims gave written and verbal descriptions of their abuse, which were then analysed to highlight certain common themes.
Long-term outcomes of verbal aggression: the role of protective factors.
Morimoto, Yuria and Sharma, Anupama
Journal of Emotional Abuse 4(2), 2004: 71-99
This article examines the long term effects of parental verbal aggression and the influence of protective factors. Participants completed measures of physical and emotional abuse, family cohesion, emotional bonding, coping strategies, depression, aggression, self-esteem and interpersonal sensitivity. Results showed a link between verbal aggression and negative outcomes, but that protective factors such as family cohesion were better predictors of psychological adjustment than verbal aggression alone. The results also showed verbal aggression was more likely to give negative outcomes in females.
The effects of child sexual abuse in later family life: mental health, parenting and adjustment of offspring.
Roberts, Ron, O'Connor, Tom, Dunn, Judy and Golding, Jean
Child Abuse and Neglect 28(5), May 2004: 525-545
Presents findings of research investigating the links between child sexual abuse (occurring before 13 years), later mental health, family organisation, parenting behaviours, and adjustment in offspring. A subsample from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children was examined. Findings indicate that child sexual abuse has long-term repercussions for adult mental health, parenting relationships and child adjustment in the succeeding generation.
Impact of child sexual abuse on mental health: prospective study in males and females.
Spataro, Josie et al.
British Journal of Psychiatry 184, 2004: 416-421
Outlines an Australian research study examining the association between child sexual abuse in both boys and girls and subsequent treatment for psychiatric disorders. Both male and female victims of abuse had significantly higher rates of psychiatric treatment during the study period than general population controls. Boys were significantly more likely to have had treatment than girls.
Psychological sequelae of childhood sexual abuse: abuse-related characteristics, coping strategies, and attributional style.
Steel, Jennifer et al.
Child Abuse and Neglect 28(7), July 2004: 785-801
Presents the findings of a US study designed to test a model predicting the contribution of abuse-related characteristics and mediating variables such as coping, in the development of psychological sequelae in adults reporting a history of child sexual abuse. Two abuse-related characteristics were found to be directly associated with psychological distress in adulthood: number of offenders and duration of abuse.
Is there a specific relationship between childhood sexual and physical abuse and repeated suicidal behaviour?
Ystgaard, Mette, Hestetun, Ingebjorg, Loeb, Mitchell and Mehlum, Lars
Child Abuse and Neglect 28(8), August 2004: 863-875
Presents Norwegian research examining the possible relationship between childhood abuse and suicide attempts. Subjects were mainly women admitted to hospital having made a suicide attempt. Concludes that physical and sexual abuse are significantly and independently associated with repeated suicidal behaviour.
Avoidant coping as a mediator between self-reported sexual abuse and stress-related symptoms in adolescents.
Bal, Sarah, Van Oost, Paulette, De Bourdeaudhuij, Ilse and Crombez, Geert
Child Abuse and Neglect 27(8), August 2003: 883-897
Investigates the extent to which the more severe consequences of sexual trauma in adolescents is mediated by coping strategies, and explores differences in symptoms, self-esteem and coping in a group that reported sexual abuse, a group that reported another stressful experience and a group that reported no stressful experiences.
Predictors of attributions of self-blame and internalizing behaviour problems in sexually abused children.
Quas, Jodi A., Goodman, Gail S. and Jones, David P. H.
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines 44(5), July 2003: 723-736
Reports on a study which aimed to identify predictors of two potential sequelae of child sexual abuse: self-blame attributions and internalising behaviour problems. The study identified that increased attributions of self-blame were predicted by the child having a close relationship with the perpetrator, experiencing severe sexual abuse, perceiving the abuse as disgusting and coping with the abuse by pretending it was not happening, but that similar factors did not emerge as predictors of internalising behaviour problems.
Childhood emotional abuse and neglect as predictors of psychological and physical symptoms in women presenting to a primary care practice.
Spertus, Ilyse L. et al.
Child Abuse and Neglect 27(11), November 2003: 1247-1258
Describes a US study examining whether emotional abuse and neglect are significant predictors of psychological and physical symptoms and lifetime trauma exposure in women, and the strengths of these relationships after controlling for the effects of other types of childhood trauma and abuse. Results indicated that a history of emotional abuse and neglect was associated with increased anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress and physical symptoms.
Nine years after child sexual abuse.
Swanston, Heather Y. et al.
Child Abuse and Neglect 27(8), August 2003: 967-984
Compares the psychological adjustment of 103 children nine years after they presented to the Child Protection Units at two children's hospitals in Sydney with that of non-abused young people of similar age and gender.
Effects of posttraumatic stress disorder and child sexual abuse on self-efficacy development.
Diehl, Amy S. and Prout, Maurice F.
American Journal of Orthopsychiatry 72(2), April 2002: 262-265
Discusses the impact of a child's self-efficacy on the course and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and the role of self-efficacy in mediating a child's ability to cope with trauma.
Developing a sensitive practitioner research methodology for studying the impact of child sexual abuse.
Durham, Andrew
British Journal of Social Work 32(4), June 2002: 429-442
Outlines the methodology of a research study which used unstructured life-story interviewing to explore the impact of childhood sexual abuse on the lives of a group of young men aged 15 to 24.
A 12-year prospective study of the long-term effects of early child physical maltreatment on psychological, behavioral and academic problems in adolescence.
Lansford, Jennifer E. et al.
Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine 156, August 2002: 824-830
Presents the findings of a longitudinal US study determining whether physical abuse in the early years has long-term effects on psychological, behavioural and academic problems independent of other characteristics associated with abuse. Findings revealed that adolescents abused in early life were absent from school more than 1.5 as many days and had much higher levels of aggression, depression and anxiety than those of their non-abused counterparts.
Further understanding the systemic effects of childhood sexual abuse: a comparison of two groups of clinical couples.
Nelson, Briana S. and Wampler, Karen Smith
Journal of Child Sexual Abuse 11(3), 2002: 85-106
Addresses the impact of traumatic experiences on dyadic relationships by comparing general stress and trauma symptoms and relationship impairment measures between female childhood sexual abuse survivors and their male partners, and a control group of couples who reported no childhood sexual abuse. Both the abuse survivors and their partners reported higher symptoms of stress.
Relationship of attributional style, depression and posttrauma distress among children who suffered physical or sexual abuse.
Runyon, Melissa K. and Kenny, Maureen C.
Child Maltreatment, Volume 7(3), August 2002: 254-264
Results of a U.S study of 97 physically and sexually abused children, using the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder-Reaction Index (PTSD-RI) and Children's Attributional Style Questionnaire (CASQ). Findings showed that sexually abused children scored higher on the PTSD-RI, physically abused children scored higher on the CASQ, and that attributional style predicted depression beyond the variance accounted for by abuse type.
Social and emotional outcomes of childhood sexual abuse: a review of recent research.
Tyler, Kimberly A.
Aggression and Violent Behaviour 7(6), Nov/Dec 2002: 567-589
Reviews recent research in to the short-term social and emotional effects of childhood sexual abuse. Finds outcomes include suicide, substance use, gang involvement, teenage pregnancy, running away, posttraumatic stress disorder, risky sexual behaviour and behavioural problems and also summarises outcomes by developmental period, noting that some studies found differences in outcome according to gender, race and age. Concludes that while abuse characteristics vary, severity of abuse, use of force and the victim's relationship to the perpetrator were particularly important.
Attributions and adjustment following child sexual and physical abuse.
Valle, Linda Anne and Silvosky, Jane F.
Child Maltreatment 7(1), February 2002: 9-25
Review of the literature on the relationships among childhood physical or sexual abuse, attributions and adjustment. Outlines implications for practice and for future research.
The impact of child sexual abuse on adult interpersonal functioning: a review and synthesis of the empirical literature.
Davis, Joanne L. and Petretic-Jackson, Patricia A.
Aggression and Violent Behavior 5(3), 2000: 291-328
Reviews the literature concerning the interpersonal distress of adults sexually abused as children as expressed in their intimate and sexual relationships.
The effects of child sexual abuse.
MacIntyre, Deirdre and Carr, Alan
Journal of Child Centred Practice 6(1), 1999: 87-126
A review of the empirical literature which considers the impact of sexual abuse on children and adults, and the implications for assessment and treatment.
A conceptual framework for the long-term psychological effects of traumatic abuse.
Carlson, Eve B. et al
Child Maltreatment 2(3), 1997: 272-295
Childhood attachment and abuse: long-term effects on adult attachment, depression, and conflict resolution.
Styron, Thomas and Janoff-Bulman, Ronnie
Child Abuse and Neglect 21(10), October 1997: 1015-1023
Multi-scale questionnaire-based study of college students.
Immediate and long-term impacts of child sexual abuse
Briere, John N. and Elliot, Diana M.
Future of Children 4(2), 1994: 54-69
A review of research about the psychological and interpersonal impacts of child sexual abuse.
A review of the long-term effects of child sexual abuse.
Beitchman, Joseph H. et al
Child Abuse and Neglect 16(1), 1992: 101-118
The effects of childhood sexual abuse on adult survivors.
Fromuth, Mary Ellen
Violence Update 2(2), 1991: 1, 7-8
Believe me.
Sisley, Joy
Leeds: Leeds Animation Workshop, 2002
Animated video (12 mins) of five young people describing their experiences of sexual abuse and the effects it has on them. Stresses the importance of telling a trusted adult and that help is available and young people can recover from the experience. Designed for use with 9-13 year-olds in schools or therapeutic environments, or as a training resource for professionals working with children.
These items do not necessarily reflect the views of the NSPCC. Anyone wishing to obtain any of the items on the list should contact their own public or academic library or bookshop. For information about publications produced by the NSPCC, please contact NSPCC Publications .
Although the websites listed here are checked regularly, the constantly changing nature of the internet means that some sites may alter after we have viewed them. The NSPCC is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, the content of these external websites. Please email library@nspcc.org.uk to report any broken links.
Copyright © 2006 NSPCC - All rights reserved. National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, Weston House, 42
Curtain Road, London EC2A 3NH. Incorporated by Royal Charter. Registered charity number 216401. NSPCC, charity registered in Scotland, charity number SC037717.