Sexual trauma in patients with an eating disorder: The prevalence of sexual traumatic events in patients with an eating disorder
Translated title
Seksuelle traumer hos patienter med en spiseforstyrrelse: Prævalensen af seksuelle traumatiske hændelser hos patienter med en spiseforstyrrelse
Author
Nielsen, Kirstine Franciska
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2024
Submitted on
2024-05-31
Pages
40
Abstract
Research suggests that sexual traumatic events (STE) are more common among people with an eating disorder and may occur before the disorder begins. This study examined how widespread STE are in a clinical group of children, adolescents, and adults with an eating disorder. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 1,373 patients diagnosed in a specialized eating disorder unit. Patients were asked whether they had experienced STE, categorized as negative sexual experience, sexual assault, or extreme sexual assault. Overall, 19.2% reported at least one STE. Among those, 32.7% reported a negative sexual experience, 34.2% a sexual assault, and 33.1% an extreme sexual assault. There was a significant association between the severity of STE and age at the time of eating disorder assessment. The prevalence of sexual assault and extreme sexual assault was higher in the eating disorder group than in the background population. Taken together, these findings indicate that STE, including severe forms, are relatively common among patients receiving care for eating disorders, underscoring the importance of screening for such experiences and providing appropriate support. Because this was a cross-sectional study (a snapshot in time), it cannot establish cause-and-effect.
Forskning tyder på, at seksuelt traumatiske hændelser (STE) er hyppigere blandt personer med spiseforstyrrelse og ofte går forud for sygdommens debut. Dette studie undersøgte, hvor udbredte STE er i en klinisk gruppe af børn, unge og voksne med spiseforstyrrelse. Vi gennemførte et tværsnitsstudie af 1.373 patienter diagnosticeret i en specialiseret enhed for spiseforstyrrelser. Patienterne blev spurgt, om de havde oplevet STE, som blev inddelt i negativ seksuel oplevelse, seksuelt overgreb eller groft seksuelt overgreb. I alt rapporterede 19,2% mindst én STE. Blandt dem fordelte svarene sig med 32,7% negativ seksuel oplevelse, 34,2% seksuelt overgreb og 33,1% groft seksuelt overgreb. Der var en signifikant sammenhæng mellem alvoren af STE og patientens alder på tidspunktet for vurderingen af spiseforstyrrelsen. Forekomsten af seksuelt overgreb og grove seksuelle overgreb var højere i gruppen med spiseforstyrrelse end i baggrundsbefolkningen. Samlet set tyder resultaterne på, at STE, herunder alvorlige former, er relativt almindelige blandt patienter i behandling for spiseforstyrrelser, og at det er vigtigt at screene for sådanne erfaringer og tilbyde relevant støtte. Da der er tale om et tværsnitsstudie (et øjebliksbillede), kan vi ikke udlede sikre årsagssammenhænge.
[This apstract has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]
Keywords