Assessment-Intervention Interface Using the Theme Creation Test for Youths (From Handbook on Sexual Abuse of Children: Assessment and Treatment Issues, P 198-215, 1988, Lenore E A Walker, ed. -- See NCJ-113856)

• NCJ Number: 113862
• Author(s): B R Slater
• Date Published: 1988
• Length: 18 pages
• Sale Source: Springer Publishing Co
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Children who have been sexually abused show a response that differs significantly from other emotionally disturbed children when they are given the Theme Creation Test for Youths, the Experimental Edition (TCTY).

Abstract

The TCTY is a story-telling test allowing for multicultural expression. It permits flexibility and allows children to produce their individual fantasies better than several other structured story-telling tests. The TCTY was given to 18 emotionally disturbed children with histories of sexual abuse and 18 emotionally disturbed children with no history of sexual abuse. Sexually abused children selected more naked characters and used naked characters more inappropriately in their stories than did non-sexually abused children. In addition, the sexually abused children demonstrated more sex-toned behavior in the clothed figures they chose for their stories. They also showed hostility, anxiety, depression, and guilt more frequently than did the non-sexually abused children. The TCTY can be used not only to identify children who have been sexually abused, it can also be used as a tool of therapy. Examples of the TCTY as therapy are provided with the observation that additional ways to assist sexually-abused children through therapy should be developed. 49 references.