annotated bibliography of new zealand research into family violence

child sexual abuse. A review of the economic consequences and an analysis of the subsequentcosts of child sexual abuse have indicated the need to implement programmes that wouldlessen the burden for victims, offenders, their families and the broader society. Survivorscautiously suggested that restorative justice might be sufficiently flexible to encouragevictims of child sexual abuse to criminally report, thereby breaking the silence. A cost benefitanalysis of a restorative justice programme indicated that significant savings could be madeand highlighted that the prevention of child sexual abuse should be a priority. The findings ofthis research would have implications for policy makers and all those who provide services tovictims and offenders of child sexual abuse. Stockholm Syndrome has highlighted thecomplexity of the recovery process for victims of child sexual abuse. This syndrome,combined with the concerns of adult survivors of child sexual abuse, would have implicationsfor practitioners within the traditional criminal justice system and the restorative justicemovement. Finally, the costs of child sexual abuse in New Zealand would have implicationsfor justice agencies, health agencies, social welfare organisations and the AccidentCompensation Corporation of New Zealand.Source: Author’s abstractJury, A. F. (2002). Some mental and physical health outcomes associated with sexual abuse inchildhood: A community survey of New Zealand women. Unpublished master’s thesis, MasseyUniversity, Palmerston North, New Zealand.See: www.nzfvc.org.nz/13146.pubTopic Areas: Child abuse and neglect, Sexual abuse, Women, Health, Mental health,Demographics/statisticsAbstract: This study examined the long-term impact of childhood sexual abuse on mentaland physical functioning, as well as the potentially mediating effects of Post Traumatic StressDisorder (PTSD) symptomatology in a community sample of 964 New Zealand women. Intotal, 63% of women surveyed reported experiencing a traumatic event in their lifetime, ofwhich 16 experienced childhood sexual abuse only, and 114 experienced multiple types oftraumatic events, including childhood sexual abuse. Measures of physical health symptoms,chronic health, and health care use were used to assess current physical health functioning.Significantly higher levels of PTSD symptomatology and psychological distress were foundamong women with histories of childhood sexual abuse in comparison to nontraumatisedwomen. Findings indicate that the main effects of traumatic experiences involving childhoodsexual abuse on psychological distress and physical health symptoms were partially mediatedby PTSD symptomatology. In conclusion, traumatic experiences involving childhood sexualabuse can negatively impact on the current mental and physical health functioning of women.However, a higher risk of adverse outcomes is associated with several childhood sexual abusefactors. These findings indicate the importance of ensuring the development and provision ofservices aimed at preventing and ameliorating the impact of exposure; the need tocomprehensively assess survivors in both clinical and health care settings; and the utility offurther research examining factors which may influence individual variability in adaptation,as well as subsequent trauma exposure.Source: Author’s abstractJury, A. (2005). Mortification of the self: Goffman’s theory and abusive intimate relationships.Women’s Studies Journal, 19(2), 13-31.See: www.nzfvc.org.nz/12331.pubTopic Areas: Intimate partner abuse, Physical abuse, Psychological/emotional abuse, Sexual94