NCJ Number
191109
Journal
Child Maltreatment Volume: 6 Issue: 4 Dated: November 2001 Pages: 332-343
Date Published
November 2001
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This study examined the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral and supportive group psychotherapies for young children who experienced sexual abuse and their nonoffending mothers.
Abstract
The differential effectiveness of supportive and cognitive behavioral group therapy models designed for young children ages 2 to 8 who had experienced sexual abuse and their nonoffending mothers were compared. Forty-four mothers and their respective children participated in either supportive or cognitive behavioral therapy groups with the group format being randomly determined. Results indicated that compared to mothers who participated in the support groups, the mothers who participated in cognitive behavioral groups reported greater reductions at posttest in their intrusive thoughts and their negative parental emotional reactions regarding the sexual abuse. The children treated with cognitive behavioral therapy demonstrated greater improvement in their knowledge regarding body safety skills at posttest than did the children who received supportive therapy. These findings lend additional support to a growing body of evidence suggesting cognitive behavioral therapy as an effective means of addressing the specific concerns and distress exhibited by children and parents in the aftermath of child sexual abuse. The results also showed the importance of using role-plays and involving parents in the teaching of personal safety skills to children who had been abused. These results suggested important avenues for reducing the risk of revictimization among children who had been sexually abused. 1 table, 53 references