NCJ Number
137648
Journal
Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 7 Issue: 2 Dated: (June 1992) Pages: 156-164
Date Published
1992
Length
9 pages
Annotation
So as to explain some of the variability in the degree of maladjustment exhibited by sexually abused children, behavioral problems, social competence, and cognitive functioning were assessed in 53 sexually abused, black girls aged 5 through 16 years.
Abstract
The sample was limited to subjects molested by persons well known to them, thus excluding children abused by strangers or acquaintances. The subjects' caretakers completed the Parent Report form of the Child Behavior Checklist to assess overall behavioral problems and social competence. Two brief parent-report measures of child behavior and emotions associated with sexual victimization were constructed. The combined score of the Vocabulary and Block Design subtests of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised was used to measure overall intellectual development. The Arithmetic and Reading subtests of the Wide Range Achievement Test-Revised measured each child's level of academic achievement. The data indicate that internalizing dysfunction was positively related to three cognition-related variables: intellectual functioning, academic achievement, and age. Anxiety about the abuse was positively related to age. Parent-reported self-blame for the abuse was associated with high scores on the intellectual, academic, and emotional distress measures. Thus, cognitively advanced victims apparently experienced more emotional distress. Externalizing dysfunction was associated with low social competence. Sexual acting out was associated with emotional distress, overt behavioral disturbance, and low social competence. The results indicate that internal subject variables affected the degree of dysfunction exhibited by sexually abused children. 4 tables and 17 references