SIMON Valerie A., FEIRING Candice, MCELROY Sarah Kobielski
Journal article citation:
Child Maltreatment, 15(3), August 2010, pp.229-241.
Publisher:
Sage
The need to make meaning of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is common and often persists long after the abuse ends. Processing their abuse experiences allows youth to elaborate trauma memories into organised accounts and better tolerate negative emotions associated with abuse events. This study identified individual differences in the ways youth process their CSA and examined associations with psychosocial adjustment. The participants were part of a prospective longitudinal study of the consequences of child abuse. A sample of 108 youth with confirmed abuse histories enrolled in the study within 8 weeks of abuse discovery, when they were between 8 and 15 years old. Six years later, they participated in interviews about their CSA experiences, reactions, and perceived effects. Using a coding system developed for this study, youths’ CSA narratives were reliably classified with one of three processing strategies: Constructive (13.9%), Absorbed (50%), or Avoidant (36.1%). Absorbed youth reported the highest levels of psychopathological symptoms, sexual problems, and abuse-specific stigmatisation, whereas Constructive youth tended to report the fewest problems. Avoidant youth showed significantly more problems than Constructive youth in some but not all areas. The article concludes that interventions that build healthy processing skills may promote positive recovery by providing tools for constructing adaptive meanings of the abuse, both in its immediate aftermath and over time.
The need to make meaning of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is common and often persists long after the abuse ends. Processing their abuse experiences allows youth to elaborate trauma memories into organised accounts and better tolerate negative emotions associated with abuse events. This study identified individual differences in the ways youth process their CSA and examined associations with psychosocial adjustment. The participants were part of a prospective longitudinal study of the consequences of child abuse. A sample of 108 youth with confirmed abuse histories enrolled in the study within 8 weeks of abuse discovery, when they were between 8 and 15 years old. Six years later, they participated in interviews about their CSA experiences, reactions, and perceived effects. Using a coding system developed for this study, youths’ CSA narratives were reliably classified with one of three processing strategies: Constructive (13.9%), Absorbed (50%), or Avoidant (36.1%). Absorbed youth reported the highest levels of psychopathological symptoms, sexual problems, and abuse-specific stigmatisation, whereas Constructive youth tended to report the fewest problems. Avoidant youth showed significantly more problems than Constructive youth in some but not all areas. The article concludes that interventions that build healthy processing skills may promote positive recovery by providing tools for constructing adaptive meanings of the abuse, both in its immediate aftermath and over time.
Subject terms:
life story work, longitudinal studies, outcomes, post traumatic stress disorder, child sexual abuse, coping behaviour, depression;
Child Abuse and Neglect, 27(6), June 2003, pp.641-661.
Publisher:
Elsevier
... with support from caregivers followed by friends whereas adolescents reported similar levels of support from friends and caregivers. Satisfaction with support was differentially related to adjustment. Youth who reported more satisfaction with caregiver support at T1, reported less depression, better self-esteem but more sexual anxiety 1 year later. More satisfaction with support from friends predicted lower
This study investigated age and gender differences in perceived emotional support in children and adolescents who experienced sexual abuse from the time of discovery to 1 year later. Also examined were the relations among sources of support and adjustment and whether support explained resilience, defined as better adjustment over a year's time. One hundred and forty-seven sexually abused youth were interviewed at the time of discovery (T1) and 1 year later (T2). Information gathered included severity of the sexual abuse, satisfaction with support from caregivers, same-sex and other-sex friends, feelings of shame about the abuse, and attributional style. Youth adjustment was measured using reports from the youth themselves, caregivers, and teachers. Children reported the most satisfaction with support from caregivers followed by friends whereas adolescents reported similar levels of support from friends and caregivers. Satisfaction with support was differentially related to adjustment. Youth who reported more satisfaction with caregiver support at T1, reported less depression, better self-esteem but more sexual anxiety 1 year later. More satisfaction with support from friends predicted lower self-esteem but less sexual anxiety. More satisfaction with initial caregiver support at T1 predicted better parent- and teacher-rated adjustment 1 year later, after controlling for initial adjustment. In general, initial caregiver emotional support at the time of abuse discovery predicted resilience in child and adolescent victims of sexual abuse. Findings suggested that treatment should include a focus on helping caregivers provide appropriate emotional support.
Child Abuse and Neglect, 23(2), February 1999, pp.115-128.
Publisher:
Elsevier
How children manifest psychological distress following the discovery of sexual abuse requires a better understanding of individual differences in developmental capacities and vulnerabilities. This American study examines how age at the time of the abuse discovery and gender of victim are related to psychological distress. The findings suggest the importance of considering individual differences in age and gender for understanding patterns of symptom expression. Treatment strategies need to reflect these individual differences in adjustment, such as targeting issues of sexual anxiety for girls and self-esteem for adolescents.
How children manifest psychological distress following the discovery of sexual abuse requires a better understanding of individual differences in developmental capacities and vulnerabilities. This American study examines how age at the time of the abuse discovery and gender of victim are related to psychological distress. The findings suggest the importance of considering individual differences in age and gender for understanding patterns of symptom expression. Treatment strategies need to reflect these individual differences in adjustment, such as targeting issues of sexual anxiety for girls and self-esteem for adolescents.
Subject terms:
psychology, self-esteem, traumas, young people, anxiety, child abuse, child development, child sexual abuse, children, conduct disorders, depression, gender;
Examines the role of shame and a self-blaming attributional style as factors that can help explain the level of psychological distress in child and adolescent victims of sexual abuse. Regression analyses were used to examine how age at discovery, gender, abuse characteristics, shame, and attribution were related to depression, self-esteem, and traumatic events sequelae. As expected, shame and self-blaming attributions were strongly related to depression, self-esteem, and traumatic sequelae and accounted for significant variance even after age, gender, and abuse characteristics had been controlled.
Examines the role of shame and a self-blaming attributional style as factors that can help explain the level of psychological distress in child and adolescent victims of sexual abuse. Regression analyses were used to examine how age at discovery, gender, abuse characteristics, shame, and attribution were related to depression, self-esteem, and traumatic events sequelae. As expected, shame and self-blaming attributions were strongly related to depression, self-esteem, and traumatic sequelae and accounted for significant variance even after age, gender, and abuse characteristics had been controlled.
Subject terms:
intervention, mental health, post traumatic stress disorder, self-esteem, treatment, therapy and treatment, young people, child sexual abuse, children, depression, gender;