NCJ Number
164408
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 20 Issue: 2 Dated: (February 1996) Pages: 111-125
Date Published
1996
Length
15 pages
Annotation
Despite a dramatic increase in the empirical literature on child sexual abuse, very few investigations have examined the initial effects of extrafamilial sexual abuse; this study evaluated the emotional and behavioral adjustment of 41 children (mean age 10 years, range 5.4 to 15.5 years) within the first 3 months following the disclosure of extrafamilial sexual abuse.
Abstract
Children's functioning was compared to that of a nonclinical comparison group of 43 children, matched on child's age, gender, and family constellation. Child functioning was assessed by using a combination of child-report, primary caregiver-report (parent), and teacher-report measures. Results showed that sexually abused children, compared to nonabused children, suffered deleterious and clinically significant effects. Standard multiple regressions found that the children's perceptions of self-blame and guilt for the abuse and the extent of traumatization predicted their self- reported symptomatology of depression, social efficacy, and general and abuse-related fears. Child's gender also predicted the level of general fearfulness. None of the other demographic or abuse-related variables were related to children's functioning. These results underscore the need for multidimensional and multisource assessment of children who experience extrafamilial sexual abuse and point to the clinical importance of addressing the abuse-related attributions of these children. 4 tables, 1 figure, and 62 references