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Stress Responses of Children to Sexual Abuse and Ritualistic Abuse in Day Care Centers

NCJ Number
121169
Journal
Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 4 Issue: 4 Dated: (December 1989) Pages: 502-514
Author(s)
S J Kelley
Date Published
1989
Length
13 pages
Annotation
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of sexual abuse and ritualistic abuse of children in day care settings.
Abstract
The sample was composed of 134 children; 67 children who were sexually abused and ritually abused in day care centers were compared on the Child Behavior Checklist with a carefully matched group of 67 nonabused children. Findings indicated that sexually abused children had significantly more behavior problems than did the nonabused children. Sexual abuse involving ritualistic abuse was associated with increased impact as well as increased severity in the extent of the sexual, physical, and psychological abuse the children experienced. (Author abstract)