NCJ Number
107539
Date Published
1984
Length
494 pages
Annotation
Extensive descriptive data were gathered on a sample of sexually abused children to refine current hypotheses concerning these children's characteristics, the types of abuse that occur, and the impact of sexual abuse on the victim and family.
Abstract
The research program began with the development of a clinical service to provide crisis intervention, the Family Crisis Program for Sexually Abused Children at the New England Medical Center in Boston, starting in 1980. The study's subjects were 156 victims referred to the service. The analysis considered the referral patterns, demographic characteristics, nature of the abuse, impacts of the treatment, the psychological effects of the abuse on the victims, and the mothers' characteristics. Also considered were offender characteristics, effects on victim at an 18-month followup, professionals' perceptions of agency management of child sexual abuse, families' perceptions of treatment services, and factors affecting reporting to law enforcement authorities. Clinical implications for victims and families are presented. Data tables and 159 references.