Differences in Family Functioning of Sexually Abused vs. Nonabused Enuretics

• NCJ Number: 171116
• Journal: Journal of Family Violence Volume: 12 Issue: 4 Dated: (December 1997) Pages: 405-416
• Author(s): J Faust; M C Kenny; M K Runyon
• Date Published: 1997
• Length: 12 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Portions of paper presented at the 51st Annual Conference of the American Association for Marital and Family Therapy, 1993, San Francisco

Annotation

This study examined self-reported maternal depression, children's somatic complaints, and perceptions of family functioning in sexually abused and nonabused enuretics.

Abstract

The study sample included 40 children who ranged in age from 5 to 12 years. Half the subjects had documented histories of sexual abuse, while the other half did not report a history of victimization. Both groups were compared using the Children's Schedule of Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia and a demographic information sheet. Results showed children with a history of sexual abuse perceived and rated their families as significantly more conflictual and rigid than nonabused children. Variables such as abuse type (intrafamilial versus extrafamilial) and perpetrator did not affect the outcome. However, there were no significant differences in child somatic complaints or maternal depression between the two groups. The authors conclude primary nocturnal enuresis may manifest itself differently in families of sexually abused children versus nonabused children. Implications of the findings with respect to intervention are discussed. 48 references and 1 table