NCJ Number
194934
Journal
Journal of Family Violence Volume: 17 Issue: 2 Dated: June 2002 Pages: 133-149
Date Published
June 2002
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This study examined whether type and characteristics of child physical and/or sexual abuse predicted individual differences in symptoms.
Abstract
Participants were 187 patients (96 males and 91 females; mean age 14.5 years) in day or residential treatment facilities. Abuse was assessed by using structured interviews with the adolescent victim, the therapist, and the caseworker. Depressive symptomatology was assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory, and anxiety was determined with the administration of the Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale. Posttraumatic symptoms were measured with the Impact of Events Scale, and externalizing was assessed with the Youth Self Report. Adolescents with histories of dual abuse (i.e., sexual and physical abuse) had elevated depression and anxiety compared with nonabused patients. Histories of any type of abuse were associated with elevated posttraumatic symptoms. Among physically abused patients, severity and duration of abuse predicted individual differences in depression and anxiety; whereas, severity and concomitant sexual abuse predicted elevated posttraumatic symptoms. Among sexually abused patients, the characteristics of sexual abuse did not predict individual differences in symptoms. Thus, child abuse, particularly dual abuse and severe physical abuse, predicted elevated internalizing symptoms, even when compared with other adolescent psychiatric patients. The need to replicate this study is discussed. 4 tables and 38 references