NCJ Number
127394
Date Published
1991
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This case study highlights the need for critical assessment of family strengths, limitations, and pathology in evaluating and preventing child sexual abuse and the need for more consistent interagency work in assessing child allegations of sexual abuse.
Abstract
Although females are more commonly victimized, male children are also vulnerable to sexual abuse. The case study involves a 7-year-old white male who was referred to a psychiatric hospital for longstanding problems with impulsivity and aggressiveness. His father died when he was 3 years old, and his peer relations were poor. The mother reported hyperactivity, inattentiveness, aggressiveness, and intrusiveness. During one hospitalization, medical personnel determined that the mother's boyfriend initiated anal intercourse with the boy. Medical, legal, social, and family issues associated with the case are reviewed as well as treatment options. It is pointed out that critical assessment of family assets and limitations needs to occur before an adequate decision about intervention can be made. Child protection is a priority, but concern regarding acts of the perpetrator must be balanced with concern for maximizing a family's protective functions. The difficulty for legal and mental health practitioners is, in some cases, judging the relative benefit of removing a perpetrator from the home for an isolated event versus preserving the family constellation. Major treatment issues include trust, protection, divided loyalties, and limit setting. While protection of individual family members from subsequent abuse can never be assured, efforts can be taken to bolster the family's protective network as a means of greatly minimizing risk. 19 references