NCJ Number
175071
Journal
Journal of Child Sexual Abuse Volume: 7 Issue: 2 Dated: 1998 Pages: 65-85
Date Published
1998
Length
21 pages
Annotation
The effectiveness of group treatment involving psychoeducational interventions for sexually abused children aged 5-8 years was examined in 10 male and 9 female children referred to a community mental health center for group treatment of sexual abuse.
Abstract
The treatment was based on 4 treatment groups and a 12-week curriculum consisting of 90 minutes weekly, led by a licensed social worker and a psychology trainee. The curriculum was repeated during the second 12 weeks. The psychoeducational strategies included the teaching of sexual information and abuse prevention strategies. Children were assessed using several instruments 1-3 weeks before treatment started, after 8-13 weeks of group treatment, and after 16-27 weeks of group treatment. The children improved significantly from pre-treatment to mid-treatment on measures of problematic behavior, sexual information, and abuse prevention. The children also made significant improvements from mid-treatment to post-treatment and from pre-treatment to post-treatment on all the outcome measures with the exception of mid-treatment to post-treatment changes on the maternal acceptance self-esteem subscale. Findings suggested that young children who have been sexually abused benefit from group treatment and that a longer treatment may be more beneficial than a shorter treatment. Tables and 30 references (Author abstract modified)