Research: Association or Causation - Revision history

Thorn: /* Correlation =/= Causation: The scientific approach */

2025-03-01T18:34:59Z

Correlation =/= Causation: The scientific approach

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:34, 1 March 2025
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	The '''9 criteria''' outlined by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin_Bradford_Hill Austin Bradford Hill] in ''[http://www.edwardtufte.com/tufte/hill The Environment and Disease: Association or Causation?]'' are used to determine whether causation can be assumed in medicine. This page will review the research on adult-minor sex to see if these criteria have been met. Unfortunately, much research fails to disentangle voluntary adult-minor/child sex from clearly abusive activity, so from this point onwards, our papers examine the construct of 'child sexual abuse' as arbitrarily defined, for instance by law:		The '''9 criteria''' outlined by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin_Bradford_Hill Austin Bradford Hill] in ''[http://www.edwardtufte.com/tufte/hill The Environment and Disease: Association or Causation?]'' are used to determine whether causation can be assumed in medicine. This page will review the research on adult-minor sex to see if these criteria have been met. Unfortunately, much research fails to disentangle voluntary adult-minor/child sex from clearly abusive activity, so from this point onwards, our papers examine the construct of 'child sexual abuse' as arbitrarily defined, for instance by law:

	*'''Biological gradient: the demonstration of a biological gradient, in which more of the causative agent leads to a poorer outcome.''' (''for more examples see [[Research:_Prevalence_of_Harm_and_Negative_Outcomes#Outcomes_and_%22severity%22]]'')		*'''Biological gradient: the demonstration of a biological gradient, in which more of the causative agent leads to a poorer outcome.''' (''for more examples see [[Research:_Prevalence_of_Harm_and_Negative_Outcomes#Outcomes_and_%22severity%22\| Outcomes and severity]]'')
	**Shen, F., Liu, Y. (2023). [https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10896-023-00568-w Perceived Parental Attachment and Psychological Distress Among Child Sexual Abuse Survivors: The Mediating Role of Coping Strategies.] ''J Fam Viol''. DOI:10.1007/s10896-023-00568-w		**Shen, F., Liu, Y. (2023). [https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10896-023-00568-w Perceived Parental Attachment and Psychological Distress Among Child Sexual Abuse Survivors: The Mediating Role of Coping Strategies.] ''J Fam Viol''. DOI:10.1007/s10896-023-00568-w
	**:“We found that parental attachment significantly predicted CSA survivors’ psychological distress. Additionally, both approach coping and avoidance coping mediated the effect of perceived parental attachment on psychological distress. CSA severity was found to be a nonsignificant predictor of psychological distress.”		**:“We found that parental attachment significantly predicted CSA survivors’ psychological distress. Additionally, both approach coping and avoidance coping mediated the effect of perceived parental attachment on psychological distress. CSA severity was found to be a nonsignificant predictor of psychological distress.”

Thorn: /* Correlation =/= Causation: The scientific approach */

2025-03-01T18:16:56Z

Correlation =/= Causation: The scientific approach

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:16, 1 March 2025
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	The '''9 criteria''' outlined by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin_Bradford_Hill Austin Bradford Hill] in ''[http://www.edwardtufte.com/tufte/hill The Environment and Disease: Association or Causation?]'' are used to determine whether causation can be assumed in medicine. This page will review the research on adult-minor sex to see if these criteria have been met. Unfortunately, much research fails to disentangle voluntary adult-minor/child sex from clearly abusive activity, so from this point onwards, our papers examine the construct of 'child sexual abuse' as arbitrarily defined, for instance by law:		The '''9 criteria''' outlined by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin_Bradford_Hill Austin Bradford Hill] in ''[http://www.edwardtufte.com/tufte/hill The Environment and Disease: Association or Causation?]'' are used to determine whether causation can be assumed in medicine. This page will review the research on adult-minor sex to see if these criteria have been met. Unfortunately, much research fails to disentangle voluntary adult-minor/child sex from clearly abusive activity, so from this point onwards, our papers examine the construct of 'child sexual abuse' as arbitrarily defined, for instance by law:

	*'''Biological gradient: the demonstration of a biological gradient, in which more of the causative agent leads to a poorer outcome.'''		*'''Biological gradient: the demonstration of a biological gradient, in which more of the causative agent leads to a poorer outcome.''' (''for more examples see [[Research:_Prevalence_of_Harm_and_Negative_Outcomes#Outcomes_and_%22severity%22]]'')
	**Shen, F., Liu, Y. (2023). [https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10896-023-00568-w Perceived Parental Attachment and Psychological Distress Among Child Sexual Abuse Survivors: The Mediating Role of Coping Strategies.] ''J Fam Viol''. DOI:10.1007/s10896-023-00568-w		**Shen, F., Liu, Y. (2023). [https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10896-023-00568-w Perceived Parental Attachment and Psychological Distress Among Child Sexual Abuse Survivors: The Mediating Role of Coping Strategies.] ''J Fam Viol''. DOI:10.1007/s10896-023-00568-w
	**:“We found that parental attachment significantly predicted CSA survivors’ psychological distress. Additionally, both approach coping and avoidance coping mediated the effect of perceived parental attachment on psychological distress. CSA severity was found to be a nonsignificant predictor of psychological distress.”		**:“We found that parental attachment significantly predicted CSA survivors’ psychological distress. Additionally, both approach coping and avoidance coping mediated the effect of perceived parental attachment on psychological distress. CSA severity was found to be a nonsignificant predictor of psychological distress.”

Thorn: /* Correlation =/= Causation: The scientific approach */

2025-03-01T15:06:06Z

Correlation =/= Causation: The scientific approach

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:06, 1 March 2025
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	**Shen, F., Liu, Y. (2023). [https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10896-023-00568-w Perceived Parental Attachment and Psychological Distress Among Child Sexual Abuse Survivors: The Mediating Role of Coping Strategies.] ''J Fam Viol''. DOI:10.1007/s10896-023-00568-w		**Shen, F., Liu, Y. (2023). [https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10896-023-00568-w Perceived Parental Attachment and Psychological Distress Among Child Sexual Abuse Survivors: The Mediating Role of Coping Strategies.] ''J Fam Viol''. DOI:10.1007/s10896-023-00568-w
	**:“We found that parental attachment significantly predicted CSA survivors’ psychological distress. Additionally, both approach coping and avoidance coping mediated the effect of perceived parental attachment on psychological distress. CSA severity was found to be a nonsignificant predictor of psychological distress.”		**:“We found that parental attachment significantly predicted CSA survivors’ psychological distress. Additionally, both approach coping and avoidance coping mediated the effect of perceived parental attachment on psychological distress. CSA severity was found to be a nonsignificant predictor of psychological distress.”
			**:"[W]e did not find that either approach coping or avoidance coping mediated the effect of CSA severity on the psychological distress; CSA severity was not significantly associated with coping or psychological distress."
	**Forouzan, Elham, and Gijseghem, Hubert Van (2005). "Psychosocial Adjustment and Psychopathology of Men Sexually Abused During Childhood," ''International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology'', 49(6), 626-651		**Forouzan, Elham, and Gijseghem, Hubert Van (2005). "Psychosocial Adjustment and Psychopathology of Men Sexually Abused During Childhood," ''International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology'', 49(6), 626-651
	**:"Certain studies conducted with clinical participants have revealed that frequency and duration of sexual contacts had a significant effect on the development of the participant (Freeman-Longo, 1986; Friedrich, Urquiza, & Beilke, 1986; Gerber, 1990; Mendel, 1995), whereas studies carried out with nonclinical participants reported no clear link between frequency and duration of contacts and the development or later aggravation of disorders of whatever nature among participants (Finkelhor, 1979; O’Neill, 1990; Sarbo, 1984; Urquiza & Capra, 1990)."		**:"Certain studies conducted with clinical participants have revealed that frequency and duration of sexual contacts had a significant effect on the development of the participant (Freeman-Longo, 1986; Friedrich, Urquiza, & Beilke, 1986; Gerber, 1990; Mendel, 1995), whereas studies carried out with nonclinical participants reported no clear link between frequency and duration of contacts and the development or later aggravation of disorders of whatever nature among participants (Finkelhor, 1979; O’Neill, 1990; Sarbo, 1984; Urquiza & Capra, 1990)."

Thorn: /* Correlation =/= Causation: The scientific approach */

2025-02-28T12:39:51Z

Correlation =/= Causation: The scientific approach

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:39, 28 February 2025
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	**Rind, B., Tromovitch, P. & Bauserman, R. (1998). "[http://www.ipce.info/library_3/rbt/ma_12.htm A meta-analytic examination of assumed properties of child sexual abuse (CSA) using college samples]," ''Psychological Bulletin'', 124(1), 22-53		**Rind, B., Tromovitch, P. & Bauserman, R. (1998). "[http://www.ipce.info/library_3/rbt/ma_12.htm A meta-analytic examination of assumed properties of child sexual abuse (CSA) using college samples]," ''Psychological Bulletin'', 124(1), 22-53
	**:"Multiple regression analyses showed that the intensity of the relationship between CSA and adjustment varied reliably as a function of gender, level of [[consent]], and the interaction of these two factors. It is noteworthy that neither the level of contact nor the interaction between gender and level of contact was related to intensity. These latter results failed to provide support for the common belief that contact sex is more harmful than noncontact sex or that contact sex for girls is especially harmful. These conclusions, however, should be viewed cautiously because of the overlapping nature of the two levels of the contact variable (i.e., contact only versus contact and noncontact sex). This same caveat applies to consent because its two levels (unwanted versus willing and unwanted) were overlapping as well. [...] In separate moderator analyses, we examined how aspects of the CSA experience moderated self-reported reactions and effects, as well as symptoms. Although these results should be viewed cautiously because they were usually based on a small number of samples, we found that only force and incest moderated outcomes. The largest relation occurred between force and self-reported reactions or effects, but force was unrelated to symptoms. Incest moderated both symptoms and self-reported reactions and effects. Penetration, duration, and frequency did not moderate outcomes. The near-zero correlation between penetration and outcome is consistent with the multiple regression analysis finding that contact sex did not moderate adjustment. [...] This finding is consistent with Laumann et al.'s (1994) failure to find an association between their composite variable (consisting of penetration, number of older partners-abusers, relatedness of partner-abuser, frequency of contacts, age when having contacts, duration of contacts) and adjustment for SA respondents in their study of a U.S. national sample. "		**:"Multiple regression analyses showed that the intensity of the relationship between CSA and adjustment varied reliably as a function of gender, level of [[consent]], and the interaction of these two factors. It is noteworthy that neither the level of contact nor the interaction between gender and level of contact was related to intensity. These latter results failed to provide support for the common belief that contact sex is more harmful than noncontact sex or that contact sex for girls is especially harmful. These conclusions, however, should be viewed cautiously because of the overlapping nature of the two levels of the contact variable (i.e., contact only versus contact and noncontact sex). This same caveat applies to consent because its two levels (unwanted versus willing and unwanted) were overlapping as well. [...] In separate moderator analyses, we examined how aspects of the CSA experience moderated self-reported reactions and effects, as well as symptoms. Although these results should be viewed cautiously because they were usually based on a small number of samples, we found that only force and incest moderated outcomes. The largest relation occurred between force and self-reported reactions or effects, but force was unrelated to symptoms. Incest moderated both symptoms and self-reported reactions and effects. Penetration, duration, and frequency did not moderate outcomes. The near-zero correlation between penetration and outcome is consistent with the multiple regression analysis finding that contact sex did not moderate adjustment. [...] This finding is consistent with Laumann et al.'s (1994) failure to find an association between their composite variable (consisting of penetration, number of older partners-abusers, relatedness of partner-abuser, frequency of contacts, age when having contacts, duration of contacts) and adjustment for SA respondents in their study of a U.S. national sample. "
	**Finkelhor, D. (1979). ''Sexually victimized children''. New York: Free Press.		**Finkelhor, D. (1979). ''[https://annas-archive.org/md5/e63ff4c13f55314c521b0a3ceb2de4c0 Sexually victimized children]''. New York: Free Press.
			**:"People ... still use the standard of intercourse to judge the seriousness of a child's sexual experience. In other words, they presume that experiences involving intercourse are the most traumatic. ... However, our data show the opposite; that is, the seriousness of sexual activity as it is usually understood does not seem related to greater trauma in children. ... It suggests that the actual sexual activity involved is less important than its context. (p. 103)"
	**:"Unlike force, sexual activity and duration both are ambiguous in their implications. A longer relationship and one involving intercourse indicate greater intensity. Intensity may be more harmful, but it could also be an indicator in some cases of a positive, or at least. an ambivalent, bond. In contrast, presence of force would almost always signal something negative about the relationship. It is a concise symptom of a whole negative context - the reluctance of the child, the pressure exerted by the partner, the difference in power and control. The primary recollection of the child is of the coercion. That there was sex involved is perhaps less important than the fact that there was aggression." (pp. 104-105; as cited in [http://www.ipce.info/library_3/files/rind/rtbval_3.htm Rind, 2001])		**:"Unlike force, sexual activity and duration both are ambiguous in their implications. A longer relationship and one involving intercourse indicate greater intensity. Intensity may be more harmful, but it could also be an indicator in some cases of a positive, or at least. an ambivalent, bond. In contrast, presence of force would almost always signal something negative about the relationship. It is a concise symptom of a whole negative context - the reluctance of the child, the pressure exerted by the partner, the difference in power and control. The primary recollection of the child is of the coercion. That there was sex involved is perhaps less important than the fact that there was aggression." (pp. 104-105; as cited in [http://www.ipce.info/library_3/files/rind/rtbval_3.htm Rind, 2001])


	*'''Consistency: consistency of the findings across research sites and methodologies.'''		*'''Consistency: consistency of the findings across research sites and methodologies.'''

The Admins: /* Correlation =/= Causation: The scientific approach */

2023-05-29T13:48:38Z

Correlation =/= Causation: The scientific approach

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:48, 29 May 2023
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	*'''Biological gradient: the demonstration of a biological gradient, in which more of the causative agent leads to a poorer outcome.'''		*'''Biological gradient: the demonstration of a biological gradient, in which more of the causative agent leads to a poorer outcome.'''
			**Shen, F., Liu, Y. (2023). [https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10896-023-00568-w Perceived Parental Attachment and Psychological Distress Among Child Sexual Abuse Survivors: The Mediating Role of Coping Strategies.] ''J Fam Viol''. DOI:10.1007/s10896-023-00568-w
			**:“We found that parental attachment significantly predicted CSA survivors’ psychological distress. Additionally, both approach coping and avoidance coping mediated the effect of perceived parental attachment on psychological distress. CSA severity was found to be a nonsignificant predictor of psychological distress.”
	**Forouzan, Elham, and Gijseghem, Hubert Van (2005). "Psychosocial Adjustment and Psychopathology of Men Sexually Abused During Childhood," ''International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology'', 49(6), 626-651		**Forouzan, Elham, and Gijseghem, Hubert Van (2005). "Psychosocial Adjustment and Psychopathology of Men Sexually Abused During Childhood," ''International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology'', 49(6), 626-651
	**:"Certain studies conducted with clinical participants have revealed that frequency and duration of sexual contacts had a significant effect on the development of the participant (Freeman-Longo, 1986; Friedrich, Urquiza, & Beilke, 1986; Gerber, 1990; Mendel, 1995), whereas studies carried out with nonclinical participants reported no clear link between frequency and duration of contacts and the development or later aggravation of disorders of whatever nature among participants (Finkelhor, 1979; O’Neill, 1990; Sarbo, 1984; Urquiza & Capra, 1990)."		**:"Certain studies conducted with clinical participants have revealed that frequency and duration of sexual contacts had a significant effect on the development of the participant (Freeman-Longo, 1986; Friedrich, Urquiza, & Beilke, 1986; Gerber, 1990; Mendel, 1995), whereas studies carried out with nonclinical participants reported no clear link between frequency and duration of contacts and the development or later aggravation of disorders of whatever nature among participants (Finkelhor, 1979; O’Neill, 1990; Sarbo, 1984; Urquiza & Capra, 1990)."

The Admins at 14:21, 15 March 2023

2023-03-15T14:21:05Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:21, 15 March 2023
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	**:"Certain studies conducted with clinical participants have revealed that frequency and duration of sexual contacts had a significant effect on the development of the participant (Freeman-Longo, 1986; Friedrich, Urquiza, & Beilke, 1986; Gerber, 1990; Mendel, 1995), whereas studies carried out with nonclinical participants reported no clear link between frequency and duration of contacts and the development or later aggravation of disorders of whatever nature among participants (Finkelhor, 1979; O’Neill, 1990; Sarbo, 1984; Urquiza & Capra, 1990)."		**:"Certain studies conducted with clinical participants have revealed that frequency and duration of sexual contacts had a significant effect on the development of the participant (Freeman-Longo, 1986; Friedrich, Urquiza, & Beilke, 1986; Gerber, 1990; Mendel, 1995), whereas studies carried out with nonclinical participants reported no clear link between frequency and duration of contacts and the development or later aggravation of disorders of whatever nature among participants (Finkelhor, 1979; O’Neill, 1990; Sarbo, 1984; Urquiza & Capra, 1990)."
	**Rind, B., Tromovitch, P. & Bauserman, R. (1998). "[http://www.ipce.info/library_3/rbt/ma_12.htm A meta-analytic examination of assumed properties of child sexual abuse (CSA) using college samples]," ''Psychological Bulletin'', 124(1), 22-53		**Rind, B., Tromovitch, P. & Bauserman, R. (1998). "[http://www.ipce.info/library_3/rbt/ma_12.htm A meta-analytic examination of assumed properties of child sexual abuse (CSA) using college samples]," ''Psychological Bulletin'', 124(1), 22-53
	**:"Multiple regression analyses showed that the intensity of the relationship between CSA and adjustment varied reliably as a function of gender, level of consent, and the interaction of these two factors. It is noteworthy that neither the level of contact nor the interaction between gender and level of contact was related to intensity. These latter results failed to provide support for the common belief that contact sex is more harmful than noncontact sex or that contact sex for girls is especially harmful. These conclusions, however, should be viewed cautiously because of the overlapping nature of the two levels of the contact variable (i.e., contact only versus contact and noncontact sex). This same caveat applies to consent because its two levels (unwanted versus willing and unwanted) were overlapping as well. [...] In separate moderator analyses, we examined how aspects of the CSA experience moderated self-reported reactions and effects, as well as symptoms. Although these results should be viewed cautiously because they were usually based on a small number of samples, we found that only force and incest moderated outcomes. The largest relation occurred between force and self-reported reactions or effects, but force was unrelated to symptoms. Incest moderated both symptoms and self-reported reactions and effects. Penetration, duration, and frequency did not moderate outcomes. The near-zero correlation between penetration and outcome is consistent with the multiple regression analysis finding that contact sex did not moderate adjustment. [...] This finding is consistent with Laumann et al.'s (1994) failure to find an association between their composite variable (consisting of penetration, number of older partners-abusers, relatedness of partner-abuser, frequency of contacts, age when having contacts, duration of contacts) and adjustment for SA respondents in their study of a U.S. national sample. "		**:"Multiple regression analyses showed that the intensity of the relationship between CSA and adjustment varied reliably as a function of gender, level of [[consent]], and the interaction of these two factors. It is noteworthy that neither the level of contact nor the interaction between gender and level of contact was related to intensity. These latter results failed to provide support for the common belief that contact sex is more harmful than noncontact sex or that contact sex for girls is especially harmful. These conclusions, however, should be viewed cautiously because of the overlapping nature of the two levels of the contact variable (i.e., contact only versus contact and noncontact sex). This same caveat applies to consent because its two levels (unwanted versus willing and unwanted) were overlapping as well. [...] In separate moderator analyses, we examined how aspects of the CSA experience moderated self-reported reactions and effects, as well as symptoms. Although these results should be viewed cautiously because they were usually based on a small number of samples, we found that only force and incest moderated outcomes. The largest relation occurred between force and self-reported reactions or effects, but force was unrelated to symptoms. Incest moderated both symptoms and self-reported reactions and effects. Penetration, duration, and frequency did not moderate outcomes. The near-zero correlation between penetration and outcome is consistent with the multiple regression analysis finding that contact sex did not moderate adjustment. [...] This finding is consistent with Laumann et al.'s (1994) failure to find an association between their composite variable (consisting of penetration, number of older partners-abusers, relatedness of partner-abuser, frequency of contacts, age when having contacts, duration of contacts) and adjustment for SA respondents in their study of a U.S. national sample. "
	**Finkelhor, D. (1979). ''Sexually victimized children''. New York: Free Press.		**Finkelhor, D. (1979). ''Sexually victimized children''. New York: Free Press.
	**:"Unlike force, sexual activity and duration both are ambiguous in their implications. A longer relationship and one involving intercourse indicate greater intensity. Intensity may be more harmful, but it could also be an indicator in some cases of a positive, or at least. an ambivalent, bond. In contrast, presence of force would almost always signal something negative about the relationship. It is a concise symptom of a whole negative context - the reluctance of the child, the pressure exerted by the partner, the difference in power and control. The primary recollection of the child is of the coercion. That there was sex involved is perhaps less important than the fact that there was aggression." (pp. 104-105; as cited in [http://www.ipce.info/library_3/files/rind/rtbval_3.htm Rind, 2001])		**:"Unlike force, sexual activity and duration both are ambiguous in their implications. A longer relationship and one involving intercourse indicate greater intensity. Intensity may be more harmful, but it could also be an indicator in some cases of a positive, or at least. an ambivalent, bond. In contrast, presence of force would almost always signal something negative about the relationship. It is a concise symptom of a whole negative context - the reluctance of the child, the pressure exerted by the partner, the difference in power and control. The primary recollection of the child is of the coercion. That there was sex involved is perhaps less important than the fact that there was aggression." (pp. 104-105; as cited in [http://www.ipce.info/library_3/files/rind/rtbval_3.htm Rind, 2001])

JohnHolt: /* Correlation =/= Causation: The scientific approach */

2023-03-01T23:02:36Z

Correlation =/= Causation: The scientific approach

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:02, 1 March 2023
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	==Correlation =/= Causation: The scientific approach==		==Correlation =/= Causation: The scientific approach==

	The '''9 criteria''' outlined by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin_Bradford_Hill Austin Bradford Hill] in ''[http://www.edwardtufte.com/tufte/hill The Environment and Disease: Association or Causation?]'' are used to determine whether causation can be assumed in medicine. This page will review the research on adult-minor sex to see if these criteria have been met. Unfortunately, much research fails to disentangle voluntary adult-minor/child sex from clearly abusive activity, so our papers examine the construct of 'child sexual abuse' as arbitrarily defined, for instance by law:		The '''9 criteria''' outlined by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin_Bradford_Hill Austin Bradford Hill] in ''[http://www.edwardtufte.com/tufte/hill The Environment and Disease: Association or Causation?]'' are used to determine whether causation can be assumed in medicine. This page will review the research on adult-minor sex to see if these criteria have been met. Unfortunately, much research fails to disentangle voluntary adult-minor/child sex from clearly abusive activity, so from this point onwards, our papers examine the construct of 'child sexual abuse' as arbitrarily defined, for instance by law:

	*'''Biological gradient: the demonstration of a biological gradient, in which more of the causative agent leads to a poorer outcome.'''		*'''Biological gradient: the demonstration of a biological gradient, in which more of the causative agent leads to a poorer outcome.'''

The Admins at 23:55, 12 February 2023

2023-02-12T23:55:05Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:55, 12 February 2023
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	[[Research: Family Environment\|Our page on family environment]] demonstrates that any relationship between adult-minor sex and harm is unlikely to be causative. Our section on [[Research: Prevalence of Harm and Negative Outcomes\|outcomes and poly-victimization]] shows that the purported relationship is unlikely to exist in the first place, when ''all'' legally-defined "abusive" interactions (rather than just forceful/unwanted) are accounted for.		[[Research: Family Environment\|Our page on family environment]] demonstrates that any relationship between adult-minor sex and harm is unlikely to be causative. Our section on [[Research: Prevalence of Harm and Negative Outcomes\|outcomes and poly-victimization]] shows that the purported relationship is unlikely to exist in the first place, when ''all'' legally-defined "abusive" interactions (rather than just forceful/unwanted) are accounted for.

	~~A mental exercise you can perform to better understand how lesser (clinical sample, coercive sample) studies associate CSA with later psychological sequelae:~~		==Mental exercize==

	*''Forceful or unwanted'' sexual contact with a minor is deemed highly unacceptable throughout the western world.		:''For more examples of the following deduction, see [[Research: Methodological flaws and syndrome construction\|Methodological flaws and syndrome construction]].
	*Forceful or unwanted sexual contact is therefore deemed an extraordinary and highly taboo behavior throughout the western world.		''
	*Extraordinary and highly taboo, coercive behaviors are generally only perpetrated against extraordinary individuals, under extraordinary circumstances...		A mental exercize you can perform to better understand how lesser (clinically sampled, criminally/coercively sampled) studies associate CSA with later psychological sequela:
	:*One such circumstance, is to ever be subjected to a forced sexual contact, the minor is far more likely to have been seen as vulnerable, or to come from a vulnerable background.
	::*Vulnerable individuals from backgrounds ~~that make them vulnerable~~ are ~~far~~ more likely to suffer from mental disturbances ~~and~~ drug dependency problems, ~~for example~~.		# ''Forceful or unwanted'' sexual contact with a minor is deemed highly unacceptable throughout the western world.
	:*Another such circumstance, is that the perpetrator of the assault is likely to be mentally disturbed, and may already be in an abusive relationship with the victim.		# Forceful or unwanted sexual contact is therefore deemed an '''extraordinary''' and '''highly taboo''' behavior throughout the western world.
	*Given the above, is it likely to be a single (or even multiple) "sexual" contact/s that caused the later impairment~~, or~~ instead, pre-existing characteristics, general life trajectory, abusive relationships and other factors such as self-perception?		# '''Extraordinary''' and '''highly taboo''', coercive behaviors are generally only perpetrated against ''extraordinary individuals'', under ''extraordinary circumstances'', lest they cause alarm or be discovered.
			# One such ''predicating circumstance'' is '''vulnerability'''. In other words, to ever be subjected to a forced sexual contact, the minor is far more likely to have been ''seen'' as vulnerable, or to come from a ''vulnerable background''.
			## Vulnerable individuals from vulnerable backgrounds are statistically more likely to suffer from mental disturbances, drug dependency problems, and any number of negative life trajectories.
			# Another such ''predicating circumstance'', is that the perpetrator of the assault is likely to be mentally disturbed. What respectable and responsible person would carry out such antisocial acts? They may therefore already be in an ''abusive relationship'' with the victim.
			# Given the above, is it really likely to be a single (or even multiple) "sexual" contact/s that caused the later impairment? Or instead, is the correlation with negative events in later life caused by pre-existing characteristics, general life trajectory, abusive relationships and other factors such as self-perception?

			==Correlation =/= Causation: The scientific approach==

	The '''9 criteria''' outlined by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin_Bradford_Hill Austin Bradford Hill] in ''[http://www.edwardtufte.com/tufte/hill The Environment and Disease: Association or Causation?]'' are used to determine whether causation can be assumed in medicine. This page will review the research on adult-minor sex to see if these criteria have been met. Unfortunately, much research fails to disentangle voluntary adult-minor/child sex from clearly abusive activity, so our papers examine the construct of 'child sexual abuse' as arbitrarily defined, for instance by law:		The '''9 criteria''' outlined by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin_Bradford_Hill Austin Bradford Hill] in ''[http://www.edwardtufte.com/tufte/hill The Environment and Disease: Association or Causation?]'' are used to determine whether causation can be assumed in medicine. This page will review the research on adult-minor sex to see if these criteria have been met. Unfortunately, much research fails to disentangle voluntary adult-minor/child sex from clearly abusive activity, so our papers examine the construct of 'child sexual abuse' as arbitrarily defined, for instance by law:

The Admins at 13:45, 29 July 2022

2022-07-29T13:45:41Z

The Admins at 13:44, 29 July 2022

2022-07-29T13:44:26Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:44, 29 July 2022
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	{{research}}		{{research}}
	:''[https://web.archive.org/web/20211021023155/https://cchain2021.tiiny.site/ Web Archive (within series)]''		:''[https://web.archive.org/web/20211021023155/https://cchain2021.tiiny.site/ Web Archive (within series)]''
	[[Research: Family Environment\|Our page on family environment]] demonstrates that any relationship between adult-~~child~~ sex and harm is unlikely to be causative. Our section on [[Research: Prevalence of Harm and Negative Outcomes\|outcomes and poly-victimization]] shows that the purported relationship is unlikely to exist in the first place.		[[Research: Family Environment\|Our page on family environment]] demonstrates that any relationship between adult-minor sex and harm is unlikely to be causative. Our section on [[Research: Prevalence of Harm and Negative Outcomes\|outcomes and poly-victimization]] shows that the purported relationship is unlikely to exist in the first place, when ''all'' legally-defined "abusive" interactions (rather than just forceful/unwanted) are accounted for.

	The 9 criteria outlined by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin_Bradford_Hill Austin Bradford Hill] in ''[http://www.edwardtufte.com/tufte/hill The Environment and Disease: Association or Causation?]'' are used to determine whether causation can be assumed in medicine. This page will review the research on adult-~~child~~ sex to see if these criteria have been met. Unfortunately, much research fails to disentangle adult-child sex from clearly abusive activity, so ~~some quotations~~ examine the construct of 'child sexual abuse' as ~~a whole.~~		A mental exercise you can perform to better understand how lesser (clinical sample, coercive sample) studies associate CSA with later psychological sequelae:

			*''Forceful or unwanted'' sexual contact with a minor is deemed highly unacceptable throughout the western world.
			*Forceful or unwanted sexual contact is therefore deemed an extraordinary and highly taboo behavior throughout the western world.
			*Extraordinary and highly taboo, coercive behaviors are generally only perpetrated against extraordinary individuals, under extraordinary circumstances...
			:*One such circumstance, is to ever be subjected to a forced sexual contact, the minor is far more likely to have been seen as vulnerable, or to come from a vulnerable background.
			::*Vulnerable individuals from backgrounds that make them vulnerable are far more likely to suffer from mental disturbances and drug dependency problems, for example.
			:*Another such circumstance, is that the perpetrator of the assault is likely to be mentally disturbed, and may already be in an abusive relationship with the victim.
			*Given the above, is it likely to be a single (or even multiple) "sexual" contact/s that caused the later impairment, or instead, pre-existing characteristics, general life trajectory, abusive relationships and other factors such as self-perception?

			The '''9 criteria''' outlined by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin_Bradford_Hill Austin Bradford Hill] in ''[http://www.edwardtufte.com/tufte/hill The Environment and Disease: Association or Causation?]'' are used to determine whether causation can be assumed in medicine. This page will review the research on adult-minor sex to see if these criteria have been met. Unfortunately, much research fails to disentangle voluntary adult-minor/child sex from clearly abusive activity, so our papers examine the construct of 'child sexual abuse' as arbitrarily defined, for instance by law:

	*'''Biological gradient: the demonstration of a biological gradient, in which more of the causative agent leads to a poorer outcome'''		*'''Biological gradient: the demonstration of a biological gradient, in which more of the causative agent leads to a poorer outcome'''
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	*'''Analogy: evidence from analogous conditions'''		*'''Analogy: evidence from analogous conditions'''
	**~~Childhood~~ peer sexual activity is analogous to adult-~~child~~ sexual activity. See the studies on mental health at ''[[Research: Youth sexuality]]''		**Minor peer sexual activity is (when defined correctly) analogous to adult-minor sexual activity. The results are similar (impairment can be found, sometimes before elimination of confounds, sometimes when forceful contact is insisted upon), but only in a way that appears to demonstrate the absence of a relationship, let alone causation. See the studies on mental health at ''[[Research: Youth sexuality]]''.

	*'''Coherence: coherence of the findings, such that the causation argument is in agreement with what we already know'''		*'''Coherence: coherence of the findings, such that the causation argument is in agreement with what we already know'''.

	*'''Experimental evidence '''		*'''Experimental evidence'''. As demonstrated throughout this project, as studies improve in quality and become more exacting, the purported association between CSA and later psychological impairment fades to insignificance.

	==Excerpt Graphic Library==		==Excerpt Graphic Library==

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:45, 29 July 2022
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	The '''9 criteria''' outlined by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin_Bradford_Hill Austin Bradford Hill] in ''[http://www.edwardtufte.com/tufte/hill The Environment and Disease: Association or Causation?]'' are used to determine whether causation can be assumed in medicine. This page will review the research on adult-minor sex to see if these criteria have been met. Unfortunately, much research fails to disentangle voluntary adult-minor/child sex from clearly abusive activity, so our papers examine the construct of 'child sexual abuse' as arbitrarily defined, for instance by law:		The '''9 criteria''' outlined by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin_Bradford_Hill Austin Bradford Hill] in ''[http://www.edwardtufte.com/tufte/hill The Environment and Disease: Association or Causation?]'' are used to determine whether causation can be assumed in medicine. This page will review the research on adult-minor sex to see if these criteria have been met. Unfortunately, much research fails to disentangle voluntary adult-minor/child sex from clearly abusive activity, so our papers examine the construct of 'child sexual abuse' as arbitrarily defined, for instance by law:

	*'''Biological gradient: the demonstration of a biological gradient, in which more of the causative agent leads to a poorer outcome'''		*'''Biological gradient: the demonstration of a biological gradient, in which more of the causative agent leads to a poorer outcome.'''
	**Forouzan, Elham, and Gijseghem, Hubert Van (2005). "Psychosocial Adjustment and Psychopathology of Men Sexually Abused During Childhood," ''International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology'', 49(6), 626-651		**Forouzan, Elham, and Gijseghem, Hubert Van (2005). "Psychosocial Adjustment and Psychopathology of Men Sexually Abused During Childhood," ''International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology'', 49(6), 626-651
	**:"Certain studies conducted with clinical participants have revealed that frequency and duration of sexual contacts had a significant effect on the development of the participant (Freeman-Longo, 1986; Friedrich, Urquiza, & Beilke, 1986; Gerber, 1990; Mendel, 1995), whereas studies carried out with nonclinical participants reported no clear link between frequency and duration of contacts and the development or later aggravation of disorders of whatever nature among participants (Finkelhor, 1979; O’Neill, 1990; Sarbo, 1984; Urquiza & Capra, 1990)."		**:"Certain studies conducted with clinical participants have revealed that frequency and duration of sexual contacts had a significant effect on the development of the participant (Freeman-Longo, 1986; Friedrich, Urquiza, & Beilke, 1986; Gerber, 1990; Mendel, 1995), whereas studies carried out with nonclinical participants reported no clear link between frequency and duration of contacts and the development or later aggravation of disorders of whatever nature among participants (Finkelhor, 1979; O’Neill, 1990; Sarbo, 1984; Urquiza & Capra, 1990)."
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	**:"Unlike force, sexual activity and duration both are ambiguous in their implications. A longer relationship and one involving intercourse indicate greater intensity. Intensity may be more harmful, but it could also be an indicator in some cases of a positive, or at least. an ambivalent, bond. In contrast, presence of force would almost always signal something negative about the relationship. It is a concise symptom of a whole negative context - the reluctance of the child, the pressure exerted by the partner, the difference in power and control. The primary recollection of the child is of the coercion. That there was sex involved is perhaps less important than the fact that there was aggression." (pp. 104-105; as cited in [http://www.ipce.info/library_3/files/rind/rtbval_3.htm Rind, 2001])		**:"Unlike force, sexual activity and duration both are ambiguous in their implications. A longer relationship and one involving intercourse indicate greater intensity. Intensity may be more harmful, but it could also be an indicator in some cases of a positive, or at least. an ambivalent, bond. In contrast, presence of force would almost always signal something negative about the relationship. It is a concise symptom of a whole negative context - the reluctance of the child, the pressure exerted by the partner, the difference in power and control. The primary recollection of the child is of the coercion. That there was sex involved is perhaps less important than the fact that there was aggression." (pp. 104-105; as cited in [http://www.ipce.info/library_3/files/rind/rtbval_3.htm Rind, 2001])

	*'''Consistency: consistency of the findings across research sites and methodologies'''		*'''Consistency: consistency of the findings across research sites and methodologies.'''
	**Bauserman, Robert, and Rind, Bruce (1997). "[http://www.ipce.info/library_3/files/rind/psycorr_disc.htm#Differ Psychological Correlates of Male Child and Adolescent Sexual Experiences with Adults: A Review of the Nonclinical Literature]," ''Archives of Sexual Behavior'', 26(2), 105-141.		**Bauserman, Robert, and Rind, Bruce (1997). "[http://www.ipce.info/library_3/files/rind/psycorr_disc.htm#Differ Psychological Correlates of Male Child and Adolescent Sexual Experiences with Adults: A Review of the Nonclinical Literature]," ''Archives of Sexual Behavior'', 26(2), 105-141.
	**:"Clearly, by whatever measures of effects are used, the nonclinical research findings reviewed here differ consistently from clinically based studies of the correlates of early sexual experiences."		**:"Clearly, by whatever measures of effects are used, the nonclinical research findings reviewed here differ consistently from clinically based studies of the correlates of early sexual experiences."
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	**:"Certain studies conducted with clinical participants have revealed that frequency and duration of sexual contacts had a significant effect on the development of the participant (Freeman-Longo, 1986; Friedrich, Urquiza, & Beilke, 1986; Gerber, 1990; Mendel, 1995), whereas studies carried out with nonclinical participants reported no clear link between frequency and duration of contacts and the development or later aggravation of disorders of whatever nature among participants (Finkelhor, 1979; O’Neill, 1990; Sarbo, 1984; Urquiza & Capra, 1990)."		**:"Certain studies conducted with clinical participants have revealed that frequency and duration of sexual contacts had a significant effect on the development of the participant (Freeman-Longo, 1986; Friedrich, Urquiza, & Beilke, 1986; Gerber, 1990; Mendel, 1995), whereas studies carried out with nonclinical participants reported no clear link between frequency and duration of contacts and the development or later aggravation of disorders of whatever nature among participants (Finkelhor, 1979; O’Neill, 1990; Sarbo, 1984; Urquiza & Capra, 1990)."

	*'''Temporality: the demonstration of the appropriate temporal sequence, so that the causative agent occurs prior to the outcome'''		*'''Temporality: the demonstration of the appropriate temporal sequence, so that the causative agent occurs prior to the outcome.'''
	**Rind, B., Tromovitch, P., & Bauserman, R. (2001). "[http://www.ipce.info/library_3/files/rind/rtbval_4.htm#Family The validity and appropriateness of methods, analyses, and conclusions in Rind et al. (1998): A rebuttal of victimological critique from Ondersma et al. (2001) and Dallam et al. (2001)]," ''Psychological Bulletin'', 127, 734-758.		**Rind, B., Tromovitch, P., & Bauserman, R. (2001). "[http://www.ipce.info/library_3/files/rind/rtbval_4.htm#Family The validity and appropriateness of methods, analyses, and conclusions in Rind et al. (1998): A rebuttal of victimological critique from Ondersma et al. (2001) and Dallam et al. (2001)]," ''Psychological Bulletin'', 127, 734-758.
	**:"Finkelhor et al.'s (1990) national sample findings are also relevant to this issue. They conducted a series of analyses that indicated that "unhappy family life is a true risk factor [for CSA] and not simply a distorted perception that a victim develops as a result of having been abused" (p. 24)."		**:"Finkelhor et al.'s (1990) national sample findings are also relevant to this issue. They conducted a series of analyses that indicated that "unhappy family life is a true risk factor [for CSA] and not simply a distorted perception that a victim develops as a result of having been abused" (p. 24)."

	*'''Strength: the demonstration of a strong association between the causative agent and the outcome'''		*'''Strength: the demonstration of a strong association between the causative agent and the outcome.'''
	**See ''[[Research: Prevalence of Harm and Negative Outcomes]]''		**See ''[[Research: Prevalence of Harm and Negative Outcomes]]''

	*'''Specificity: the demonstration of specificity of the causative agent in terms of the outcomes it produces'''		*'''Specificity: the demonstration of specificity of the causative agent in terms of the outcomes it produces.'''
	**See ''[[Research: Methodological flaws and syndrome construction]]''		**See ''[[Research: Methodological flaws and syndrome construction]]''

	*'''Plausibility: the demonstration of a biologic rationale, such that it makes sense that the causative agent causes the outcome'''		*'''Plausibility: the demonstration of a biologic rationale, such that it makes sense that the causative agent causes the outcome.'''
	**The most popular proposed mechanism for the relationship between adult-child sex and its supposed non-sexual symptoms cannot reasonably be applied to fully consensual activity in the context of an accepting society. See "The traumatic impact of child sexual abuse: A conceptualization" in [[Research: Secondary Harm]]		**The most popular proposed mechanism for the relationship between adult-child sex and its supposed non-sexual symptoms cannot reasonably be applied to fully consensual activity in the context of an accepting society. See "The traumatic impact of child sexual abuse: A conceptualization" in [[Research: Secondary Harm]]

	*'''Analogy: evidence from analogous conditions'''		*'''Analogy: evidence from analogous conditions.'''
	**Minor peer sexual activity is (when defined correctly) analogous to adult-minor sexual activity. The results are similar (impairment can be found, sometimes before elimination of confounds, sometimes when forceful contact is insisted upon), but only in a way that appears to demonstrate the absence of a relationship, let alone causation. See the studies on mental health at ''[[Research: Youth sexuality]]''.		**Minor peer sexual activity is (when defined correctly) analogous to adult-minor sexual activity. The results are similar (impairment can be found, sometimes before elimination of confounds, sometimes when forceful contact is insisted upon), but only in a way that appears to demonstrate the absence of a relationship, let alone causation. See the studies on mental health at ''[[Research: Youth sexuality]]''.

	*'''Coherence: coherence of the findings, such that the causation argument is in agreement with what we already know'''.		*'''Coherence: coherence of the findings, such that the causation argument is in agreement with what we already know.'''

	*'''Experimental evidence'''. As demonstrated throughout this project, as studies improve in quality and become more exacting, the purported association between CSA and later psychological impairment fades to insignificance.		*'''Experimental evidence.'''
			**As demonstrated throughout this project, as studies improve in quality and become more exacting, the purported association between CSA and later psychological impairment fades to insignificance.

	==Excerpt Graphic Library==		==Excerpt Graphic Library==