Effects of Sexual Abuse on Cognitive Function in College student
Abstract
Sexual abuse is a grave societal issue, both due to its prevalence and its long-lasting consequences. In the realm of education, victims of sexual abuse often face obstacles in achieving optimal academic performance. Recently, the effects of sexual abuse on victims have garnered increased attention, particularly concerning cognitive function. In adult sexual abuse victims, deficits in short-term verbal memory have been observed, along with impaired inhibitory capacity and difficulties in verbally mediated higher cognitive abilities. Additionally, distractibility and impaired sustained attention have been identified in abused adults. This article seeks to explore the existing literature and research findings pertaining to the impact of sexual abuse on cognitive function, specifically among college students. College students undergo significant career development tasks, which necessitate robust cognitive function. The review incorporates empirical studies relevant to the effects of sexual abuse on cognitive function, while also considering the implications of these findings for future research.
Keywords: sexual abuse, cognitive function, college student
References
[1] Arnett JJ. Emerging adulthood. A theory of development from the late teens through the twenties. American Psychologist. 2000 May;55(5):469–480.
[2] Baker MR, Frazier PA, Greer C, Paulsen JA, Howard K, Meredith LN, et al. Sexual victimization history predicts academic performance in college women. Journal of Counseling Psychology. 2016 Nov;63(6):685–692.
[3] Boyraz G, Horne SG, Owens AC, Armstrong AP. Academic achievement and college persistence of African American students with trauma exposure. Journal of Counseling Psychology. 2013 Oct;60(4):582–592.
[4] Bremner JD, Randall P, Scott TM, Capelli S, Delaney R, McCarthy G, et al. Deficits in short-term memory in adult survivors of childhood abuse. Psychiatry Research. 1995 Nov;59(1-2):97–107.
[5] Brown MT. Early-life characteristics, psychiatric history, and cognition trajectories in later life. Gerontologist. 2010 Oct;50(5):646–656.
[6] Carrion VG, Weems CF, Ray RD, Glaser B, Hessl D, Reiss AL. Diurnal salivary cortisol in pediatric posttraumatic stress disorder. Biological Psychiatry. 2002 Apr;51(7):575– 582.
[7] De Jong R, Alink L, Bijleveld C, Finkenauer C, Hendriks J. Transition to adulthood of child sexual abuse victims. Aggression and Violent Behavior. 2015;24:175–187.
[8] Erhamwilda E, Afrianti N, Nurtsani P, Hakim A. Effectiveness of Islamic sex education with mediated learning experience training for early childhood’s parents and teacher. 4th Social and Humanities Research Symposium (SoRes 2021). Atlantis Press. 2022 Apr:404-408.
[9] Feeney J, Kamiya Y, Robertson IH, Kenny RA. Cognitive function is preserved in older adults with a reported history of childhood sexual abuse. Journal of Traumatic Stress. 2013 Dec;26(6):735–743.
[10] Jordan CE, Combs JL, Smith GT. An exploration of sexual victimization and academic performance among college women. Trauma Violence Abuse. 2014 Jul;15(3):191– 200.
[11] Littleton H, Downs E, Rudolph K. The sexual victimization experiences of men attending college: A mixed methods investigation. Sex Roles. 2020;83(9-10):595– 608.
[12] Mitchell JM, Becker-Blease KA, Soicher RN. Child sexual abuse, academic functioning and educational outcomes in emerging adulthood. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse. 2021 Apr;30(3):278–297.
[13] Schiffer F, Teicher MH, Papanicolaou AC. Evoked potential evidence for right brain activity during the recall of traumatic memories. Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences. 1995;7(2):169–175.
[14] Suhardini AD, Afrianti N. Early childhood teachers cooperation with parents in implementing Islamic sex education for children. 9th International Conference for Science Educators and Teachers (ICSET 2017). Atlantis Press. 2017 Sep;493-501.
[15] Torpey E. Data on display: Education pays. Career Outlook. US Bureau of Labor Statistics; 2019.
[16] Trickett PK, Noll JG, Reiffman A, Putnam FW. Variants of intrafamilial sexual abuse experience: implications for short- and long-term development. Development and Psychopathology. 2001;13(4):1001–1019.