Relationship of Abuse by Religious Authorities to Depression, Religiosity, and Child Physical Abuse History in a College Sample

Objective: Discussion of sexual abuse by religious authorities has been plagued by allegations of false memories and misreports, often attributed to media attention. An analysis of a historical archive with information on abuse by religious and other authority figures and coexisting psychopathology is extremely useful to the current debate on outcomes of sexual abuse. Method: The present study utilizes a database from the late 1970s that contains data on physical abuse and sexual abuse by various perpetrator types as well as on symptoms of depression, anxiety, and religiosity in a college population sample. Results: Students alleging sexual abuse by religious authorities were as symptomatic (depressed and anxious) as students abused by parents and were more symptomatic than controls. Further, those abused by religious authorities showed greater variance in religiosity and a greater likelihood of breaking ties with their religious communities. Students self-labeling as physically abused by parents were more at risk for sexual abuse by religious authorities. Conclusions: Religious authorities often play complex roles in social and family life. These complexities then may produce parallel complexities in the patterns of symptoms. The intensity of the trauma from abuse by religious authorities may make it more difficult to study, treat, and recover from sexual abuse. Additional research is needed. Clinical Impact Statement Abuse by religious authorities is often a misunderstood occurrence plagued with speculations of misreporting and false memory. This study analyzed archival data gathered in the late 1970s that contains findings on abuse by various perpetrators including religious authorities. Results from the study suggest that abuse by religious authorities is more akin to abuse by parental figures than other nonparent adults in a child's life and therefore may result in more complex trauma reactions. Additionally, those abused by religious authorities showed greater variance in religiosity suggesting that religious coping may not be an avenue of healing for these individuals.