Posttraumatic stress and impairment indicators in trauma-exposed minors: A comparison by history of sexual abuse

Resumen

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is among the most devastating traumatic experiences, with an alarming global prevalence and long-term health consequences. In Puerto Rico, 8.5% of high school students reported experiencing sexual violence in the past year, highlighting the urgent need for research in this population. Comparative studies of trauma-exposed minors (TEM) with versus without CSA remain limited, particularly in underserved populations. Objective. We examined posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity and impairment indicators in TEM, comparing those with versus without a CSA history. Method. Participants were 140 minors (51.43% male) between 6–17 years (M = 11.76, SD = 3.25), assessed for eligibility in a trauma treatment project (IRB-approval #2122-014). Youth and one caregiver completed multiple measures. We used chi-square and Student’s t-tests to compare groups in sociodemographic and clinical variables (p ≤ .05), and Cohen’s d to estimate effect sizes. Results. Minors with a CSA history (n = 41) showed significantly higher PTSD symptom severity [t (136) = 2.25, p = .026, d = 0.42] and more traumatic events [t (136) = 4.41, p ≤ .001, d = 0.83]. They were also more likely to present ≥2 areas of impairment (66.7% vs. 48.0%), lifetime suicidal behavior (43.9% vs. 26.3%), and scores above the cutoff for probable PTSD (60.0% vs. 32.7%). Conclusions. CSA survivors exhibited greater symptom severity, multiple impairments, and suicidality compared to peers. These findings highlight the urgent need for differentiated assessments and targeted interventions to address the unique vulnerabilities of TEM with a CSA history.