Child sexual abuse disclosures: Does age make a difference?

Background: The literature is inconsistent as to the relationship between age at time of abuse and time to disclosure of child sexual abuse (CSA) and the factors that influence early disclosure.

Objective: This study sought to investigate the relationship between age of child at time of disclosure, taking account of age at time of abuse, delay in disclosure, and the relationship, if any, between factors influencing disclosure (feeling distressed, being believed, fear, contact with alleged perpetrator, difficulty saying it, and being asked) and age at time of disclosure.

Participants And Setting: The files of children (n=273) seen for evaluation in a child sexual abuse (CSA) centre were reviewed.