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Professional help sought for emotional problems: coping with child sexual abuse in a Dunedin community sample of
E M Morris1, J L Martin, S E Romans
1Department of Psychological Medicine, Dunedin School of Medicine.
Aim:
To investigate how often women reporting child sexual abuse obtain professional help for emotional reasons compared with non-abused women and how useful they find it.
Method:
In a follow-up survey of a random community sample of women, information on formal help for emotional problems was analysed by demographic, health status and abuse information.
Results:
In the year prior to survey, 11.8% of women in this community sample sought professional help for emotional problems. Women in the child sexual abuse sub-sample were significantly more likely than the comparison sub-sample to have sought help (16.6% vs 7.3%) but marital status (separation) was a more significant predictor. Problematic relationships or depression were the reasons given most often for help-seeking. Therapists/counsellors and general practitioners were the health professionals most often approached. Most help-seekers thought the help useful but some child sexual abuse help-seekers did not. The child sexual abuse sub-sample were more likely to report cost as a barrier.
Conclusions:
Relationship difficulties and depression are the most common reasons for seeking professional help for emotional problems. Women giving a history of child sexual abuse have higher rates of formal help-seeking and are more likely than other women to report that help they receive is not useful.