Citation

Yehuda R, Friedman M, Rosenbaum TY, Labinsky E, Schmeidler J. Am. J. Psychiatry 2007; 164(11): 1700-1706.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA. rachel.yehuda@va.gov

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, American Psychiatric Association)

DOI

10.1176/appi.ajp.2007.06122030

PMID

17974935

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The authors examined instances of past sexual abuse and related demographic characteristics in the self-reports of a select group of married observant Jewish women. METHODS: Orthodox Jewish married women (N=380) ages 19 to 58 responded to advertisements asking them to complete an anonymous questionnaire about sexual experiences, including sexual abuse. RESULTS: Sexual abuse was reported by 26% of the respondents surveyed, with 16% reporting abuse occurring by the age of 13. More ultra-Orthodox Jews reported abuse than modern-Orthodox Jews. Women who were raised observant reported significantly less childhood sexual abuse than those who became observant later in life. Sexual abuse was associated with increased treatment-seeking for depression, marital counseling, or other emotional or psychological problems. CONCLUSION: While observant Jewish women live in a culture defined by a high degree of adherence to specific laws of conduct, including rules designed to regulate sexual contact, sexual abuse of various types still exists among them.

Language: en