Citation

Goodman GS, Bottoms BL, Redlich A, Shaver PR, Diviak KR. J. Aggression Maltreat. Trauma 1998; 2(1): 273-295.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1300/J146v02n01_15

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Abuse perpetrated under the guise of religion is a devastating form of child maltreatment that often involves multiple types of victimization. In a large-scale survey of clinicians, we investigated the nature and emotional sequelae of religion-related child sexual abuse cases. We predicted that there would be marked differences between cases involving multiple forms of abuse and those involving only sexual abuse. Our results indicate that as the number of abuses increases, so does the severity of the abusive experience and the seriousness of psychological consequences for the victim. Thus, religion-related abuse is best understood in light of the specific types and combinations of abuses suffered by victims.