NCJ Number
145811
Journal
Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Volume: 32 Issue: 5 Dated: (September 1993) Pages: 940-947
Date Published
1993
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This study contrasted 20 sexually abused girls between 6 and 12 years of age with two demographically comparable control groups, 20 nonabused girls from a child psychiatry outpatient department and 20 nonabused girls from a general pediatric clinic, to determine whether differences in gender role behavior and identity could be demonstrated.
Abstract
Criteria for inclusion in the sexually abused group were female children who had at least one sexually abusive experience involving oral, anal, or vaginal intercourse or genital fondling with a person who was at least 5 years older; had been referred for treatment within the past 48 months because of documented sexual abuse; and were between 6 and 12 years of age at the time of the study. Girls in all groups underwent an evaluation protocol that included a semistructured interview for children, the Gender Role Assessment Schedule-Child (GRAS-C). Mothers completed several questionnaires, including two parent report measures of gender-related behavior in their children, the Child Game Participation Questionnaire (CGPQ) and the Child Behavior and Attitude Questionnaire-Female (CBAQ-F). Sexually abused girls manifested significantly more cross-gender behavior on the GRAS-C in the areas of gender role preference, aggression, and gender identity than nonabused girls in both comparison groups. For the sexually abused and psychiatric control groups, parents reported greater involvement in traditionally masculine games on the CGPQ. On the CBAQ-F, however, no significant group differences were found. Findings suggest that sexual abuse in preadolescent girls is associated with cross-gender behavior and gender conflict. 36 references and 6 tables