Child sexual abuse (CSA)
continues to be a significant problem with significant short and long term consequences.
However, extant literature is limited by the reliance on retrospective recall
of adult samples, single-time assessments, and lack of longitudinal data during
the childhood and adolescent years.
The purpose of this study was to compare
internalizing and externalizing behavior problems of those with a history of
sexual abuse to those with a history of maltreatment, but not sexual abuse. We
examined whether gender moderated problems over time. Data were drawn from the
Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect (LONGSCAN) at ages 4, 6, 8, 10,
12, 14, and 16 (N=977). The Child Behavior Checklist was used to assess
internalizing and externalizing problems. Maltreatment history and types were
obtained from official Child Protective Services (CPS) records. Generalized
Estimating Equations (GEE) were used to assess behavior problems over time by
maltreatment group.
Findings indicated significantly more problems in the CSA
group than the maltreated group without CSA over time. Internalizing problems
were higher for sexually abused boys compared to girls. For sexually abused
girls internalizing problems, but not externalizing problems increased with age
relative to boys. This pattern was similar among maltreated but not sexually
abused youth.
Further efforts are needed to examine the psychological effects
of maltreatment, particularly CSA longitudinally as well as better understand
possible gender differences in order to best guide treatment efforts.
Purchase full article at: http://goo.gl/S2scBk
- 1The Kempe Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect, University of Colorado, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, USA.
More at: https://twitter.com/hiv
insight
No comments:
Post a Comment