NCJ Number
145808
Journal
Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Volume: 32 Issue: 5 Dated: (September 1993) Pages: 920-924
Date Published
1993
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This study examined the role of developmental differences in the detection and disclosure of child sexual abuse by reviewing the medical records of children and adolescents seen for suspected sexual abuse in the emergency room of a large pediatric hospital.
Abstract
Three cases from each month between January 1985 and December 1987 were selected for review using a random numbers table. The cases were divided into two groups, preschool age children (23 months through 6 years) and school age children (7 through 17 years). Data gathered from psychiatric reports included demographic information, presenting sympatomatology, disclosure type (purposeful or accidental), and precipitant to disclosure. Findings demonstrated that a child's developmental level influenced the detection and disclosure of sexual abuse. Preschool age children were significantly more likely than school age children and adolescents to exhibit behavioral or physical symptoms that prompted caregiver suspicions of sexual abuse. Preschool age children made disclosures accidentally and typically with an immediate precipitating event unrelated to the abuse itself. In contrast, sexual abuse disclosures from school age children were purposeful and not associated with a precipitating event. The authors conclude that practitioners need to be aware of developmental differences in the detection of sexual abuse, including forces that inhibit disclosure by older children. 17 references and 1 table