Psychological and Functional Outcomes of Child and Adolescent Sexual Abuse: A Clinical Analysis of Perpetrator Type, Abuse Characteristics, and Disclosure Patterns

This study examined the relationship between perpetrator type, abuse characteristics, and psychological and functional outcomes in sexually abused children and adolescents. The sample included 340 victims aged 6–18 evaluated in a tertiary forensic psychiatry clinic. Standardized instruments assessed depression, anxiety, trauma symptoms, attention–hyperactivity, and school refusal. Disclosure delay, depressive symptoms, and school refusal differed significantly by perpetrator type. Intrafamilial and relative-perpetrated abuse was associated with longer disclosure delays and higher depression levels. Anxiety, trauma severity, and attention–hyperactivity did not differ. Findings highlight the clinical and forensic importance of perpetrator identity and relational proximity in post-abuse psychological and functional outcomes.