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Incest: what do we really know about it?

R Kosky1

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, Princess Margaret Hospital, Perth, WA.

The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry
|December 1, 1987
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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Incest literature reveals a weak scientific basis. While sexual intercourse occurs in under 1% of the population, intrafamilial sexual activity affects 10% of females by age 16, with adverse effects noted.

Area of Science:

  • Sociology
  • Psychology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Current understanding of incest is limited by small, selected clinical samples.
  • Epidemiological studies show inconsistent prevalence rates for incest.
  • Lack of robust data hinders clear understanding of incest's scope and impact.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the existing literature on incest.
  • To identify gaps in scientific knowledge regarding incest.
  • To summarize current findings on prevalence and effects of intrafamilial sexual activity.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of scientific publications on incest.
  • Analysis of epidemiological studies on general populations.
  • Synthesis of findings from clinical and court-derived samples.

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Main Results:

  • Incestuous sexual intercourse affects less than 1% of the population.
  • Intrafamilial sexual activity may impact up to 10% of females before age 16.
  • Long-term effects are unclear but generally adverse, particularly with violence and targeting young children.

Conclusions:

  • The scientific basis for incest knowledge is insecure.
  • Prevalence data is inconsistent, but intrafamilial sexual activity is a significant concern.
  • Incest experiences, especially violent ones, have markedly adverse effects on children.