Children and Adolescents with Sexual Behavior Problems

• NCJ Number: 204159
• Journal: Child Maltreatment Volume: 9 Issue: 1 Dated: February 2004 Pages: 49-61
• Author(s): Elizabeth J. Letourneau; Sonja K. Schoenwald; Ashli J. Sheidow
• Date Published: February 2004
• Length: 13 pages
• Grant Number(s): 59138
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Mental Health; Annie E. Casey Foundation
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study identified the characteristics of a sample of youth, ages 5 to 19, with noncriminal sexual behavioral problems; treatment outcomes for this group were also assessed.

Abstract

A review of the research literature notes that the risk profile for children with sexual behavioral problem includes having been sexually abused and/or having witnessed family sexuality and having comorbid internalizing and externalizing behavior problems. The current study examined the nature of sexual behavioral problems in a group of youth (ages 5 to 19) referred to community clinics for treatment of serious antisocial and other externalizing behavioral problems. In this sample, sexual behavioral problems were defined largely by their frequency (e.g., masturbates too often) or inappropriateness (e.g., public masturbation) and did not include other relevant behaviors (e.g., aggressive sexual behavior toward others). Descriptive and immediate posttreatment outcome data on these youths were compared with data on youths from the same sample who did not have sexual behavioral problems. A total of 166 youths were assessed as having a high rating for sex behavioral problems, and 413 were found to have a low score on sexual behavioral problems. A total of 943 youth had no sexual behavioral problems. Relative to youth with no sexual behavioral problems, youths with significant sexual behavioral problems were more likely to have been sexually or physically abused, and they had higher rates of internalizing and externalizing behavioral problems. These youths were more likely to include girls, were younger, and had more social problems than youths with no sexual behavioral problems. Youths in all groups responded with clinically relevant and statistically significant reductions in problem behaviors at posttreatment. The treatment used was multisystemic therapy, which involved addressing the negative factors in the various interactive conditions of the youths' lives. 2 tables, 5 figures, and 51 references