NCJ Number
155562
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 19 Issue: 6 Dated: (June 1995) Pages: 707- 714
Date Published
1995
Length
8 pages
Annotation
Fifty-six sexually abused females ages 8-13 and their nonoffending female caretakers from mainly low-income black families were comprehensively assessed to determine factors related to symptoms and self-blame.
Abstract
The study took place between 1991 and 1993 in a large southeastern public hospital. The participants who had generally negative relationships with their caretakers displayed more behavioral difficulties. Those with disruptions in their relationship with a primary caretaker and who felt powerless as a result of the abuse were rated as functioning less well overall by clinicians. The child's age, the general attributional style, and caretaker blame of the child were related to self-blame by the child. The clinical implications of these findings include the need to identify clients at high risk for negative consequences and the development of interventions targeted at specific clinical issues. 24 references (Author abstract modified)