NCJ Number
122577
Date Published
1990
Length
205 pages
Annotation
Information from child sexual abuse victims and their families who were referred to the Family Crisis Program (FCP) for Sexually Abused Children in Boston, Mass. between January 1980 and January 1982 formed the basis of an analysis of the initial effects of the abuse on the child, as well as the effects on the children and their families 18 months after their entry into the program.
Abstract
Most of the study data came from 156 cases for which abuse was confirmed. Data were gathered by means of standardized measures and several questionnaires focusing on the child's and parents' developmental history and psychological functioning. Most of the children were females under age 13 when they entered treatment who had experienced repeated assaults over a period of months or years. In 68 percent of the cases, the offender coerced the child through threats or physical aggression. Only 3 percent were victimized by strangers. Their levels of psychological distress varied from absence of symptoms to extreme emotional problems with 27 percent showing clinically significant levels of symptoms. Findings indicated that a classic crisis intervention model applies to only a limited range of cases. In addition, collaboration between treatment and child protective services is essential, and treatment programs must recognize parents' needs for support. Tables, research recommendations, appended data analyses, index, and 153 references.