NCJ Number
115049
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect, the International Journal Volume: 12 Issue: 4 Dated: (1988) Pages: 529-541
Date Published
1988
Length
13 pages
Annotation
Several behavioral and emotional indicators of child sexual abuse were compared for both sexually (29) and physically abused (52) children from a sample of 103 hospitalized psychiatric patients.
Abstract
The measures included scores from a factor-analyzed sexual abuse symptom checklist covering home/community behavior that was rated by parents during a clinical interview and frequency counts of psychological symptoms exhibited by the children during a 3-week hospitalization. Results of a 2 (sexual abuse status) x 2 (physical abuse status) x 2 (gender) multivariate analysis of variance indicate that sexually abused children exhibited greater sexual behavior, fear/mistrust/anxiety, and withdrawal at home; and greater sexual behavior, fear/anxiety, and sadness in the hospital than nonabused children. In contrast, there were no significant differences between physically abused and nonabused children as well as no significant interactions. Few significant correlations were found between symptoms exhibited at home and in the hospital. The study infers some assessment and treatment considerations from the findings. 5 tables, 31 references. (Author abstract modified)