NCJ Number
211488
Journal
Forensic Nursing Volume: 1 Issue: 2 Dated: Summer 2005 Pages: 73-77
Date Published
2005
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This study determined how a sample of parents perceived their children's adjustment 15 years after the children had been sexually abused in a daycare center.
Abstract
This paper reports on the fourth in a series of interviews with parents of 42 children who were sexually abused in 1 of 3 daycare centers. Parents were asked open-ended questions regarding their child's current functioning. Areas of inquiry included the child's conscious memory of the abuse, spontaneous talk, avoidance, carry-over symptoms, and drawings; the child's behavior in the home in terms of interaction with siblings, interests, and talk of future plans; performance in school and interactions with peers; physical problems, medications, injuries, and counseling; other life stressors; and any continuing court processes. Analysis of the findings indicated that 40 percent of the children had made a satisfactory adjustment, defined as academic achievement at grade level, positive behaviors at home, strong peer relationships, and active future orientation. Forty percent of the children had made a marginal adjustment, defined as performing in school at or below grade level, having some problematic issues at home, and some problems in keeping or making friends. Twenty percent of the children had made a problematic adjustment, defined as having many unresolved issues, mood swings, disturbing behavior toward self or others, and problems in school and in the development of age-appropriate behavior. Based on the findings, the authors conclude that context and content of the abuse, the child's developmental stage at the time of the abuse, and the affective status of the individual child are more significant for outcome behaviors than whether the child does or does not remember various aspects of the abuse. 3 references