Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The STEP trials

A round-up of the STEP phase 3 clinical trials evaluating semaglutide for weight loss in people with overweight or obesity.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
Journal of Family Violence
Published in: Journal of Family Violence 5/2006

01-07-2006 | Original Article

Correlates of Behavioral Outcomes in Sexually Abused Children

Authors: Martine Hébert, Caroline Tremblay, Nathalie Parent, Isabelle V. Daignault, Christiane Piché

Published in: Journal of Family Violence | Issue 5/2006

Login to get access

Abstract

The present study attempted to identify individual and contextual factors associated with outcomes in a group of 63 latency-aged children disclosing sexual abuse (SA). Children reporting SA were found to display greater internalizing and externalizing behavioral difficulties as well as more sexualized behaviors relative to same-age non-abused peers. Mothers also reported these children as less socially competent than their peers. Family contextual factors appeared to be associated with behavioral difficulties and made a unique contribution to the prediction of externalizing and sexualized behaviors. Of the personal variables, avoidance coping was found to be linked to poorer outcomes. In examining possible factors linked to ‘resilient’ outcomes in a 6-month time-frame, family conflict and avoidance coping were found to be associated to clinical status in children reporting SA.
Literature
Achenbach, T. M. (1991). Manual for the Child Behavior Checklist/4–18 and 1991 Profile. Burlington: University of Vermont, Department of Psychiatry.
Black, M., Dubowtz, H., & Harrington, D. (1994). Sexual abuse: Developmental differences in children's behavior and self-perception. Child Abuse & Neglect, 18, 85–95.CrossRef
Blishen, B. R., Carroll, W. K., & Moore, C. (1987). The 1981 socioeconomic index for occupations in Canada. Canadian Review of Sociology and Anthropology, 24, 465–488.CrossRef
Briere, J. (1997). Psychological assessment of adult posttraumatic states. Washington: American Psychological Association, (pp. 251).
Briere, J., & Elliott, D. M. (1994). Immediate and long-term impacts of child sexual abuse. The future of children, 4(2), 54–69.PubMedCrossRef
Brodzinsky, D. M., Elias, M. J., Steiger, C., & Simon, J. (1992). Coping Scale for Children and Youth: Scale development and validation. Journal of Applied Development Psychology, 12, 195–214.CrossRef
Browne, A., & Finkelhor, D. (1986). Initial and long-term effects: A review of the research. In Finkelhor, D (ed.), A sourcebook on child sexual abuse (pp. 143–179). Beverly Hills, California: Sage Publications.
Buhrmester, D., & Furman, W. (1985). Perceptions of sibling relationships during middle childhood and adolescence. Child Development, 61, 1387–1398.CrossRef
Caffaro-Rouget, A., Lang, R. A., & van Santen, V. (1989). The impact of child sexual abuse on victims' adjustment. Annals of sex research, 2, 29–47.CrossRef
Calam, R., Horne, L., Glasgow, D., & Cox, A. (1998). Psychological disturbance and child sexual abuse: A follow-up study. Child Abuse & Neglect, 22(9), 901–913.CrossRef
Causey, D. L., & et Dubow, E. F. (1992). Development of a Self-Report Coping Measure for elementary school children. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 21, 47–59.CrossRef
Caya, M. L., & Liem, J. H. (1998). The role of sibling support in high-conflict families. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 68(2), 327–333.
Centre des services sociaux du Montréal métropolitain (April 1990). L’abus sexuel … une définition. Adopté par la Table des directeurs et directrices de la protection de la jeunesse. Association des centres de services sociaux du Québec.
Chaffin, M., Wherry, J. N., & Dykman, R. (1997). School age children's coping with sexual abuse: Abuse stresses and symptoms associated with four coping strategies. Child Abuse & Neglect, 21, 227–240.CrossRef
Chalk, R., & King, P. (1998). Violence in Families: Assessing prevention and treatment programs. Committee on the Assessment of Family Violence Interventions. Washington, DC.: National Academy Press.
Chandy, J. M., Blum, R. W., & Resnick, M. D. (1996). Female adolescents with a history of sexual abuse---Risk outcome and protective factors. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 11(4), 503–518.
Cohen, J. A., & Mannarino, A. P. (1988). Psychological symptoms in sexually abused girls. Child Abuse & Neglect, 12, 571–577.CrossRef
Compas, B. E., Malcarne, V. L., & Fondacaro, K. M. (1988). Coping with stressful events in older children and young adolescents. Journal of Consulting Clinical Psychology, 56, 405–411.CrossRef
Crowell, N. A., & Burgess, A. W. (1996). Understanding violence against women. Panel on Research on Violence Against Women, National Research Council. Washington, DC.: National Academy Press.
Ebata, A. T., & Moos, R. H. (1991). Coping and adjustment in distressed and healthy adolescents. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 12, 33–54.CrossRef
Ebata, A. T., & Moos, R. H. (1994). Personal, situational, and contextual correlates of coping in adolescence. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 4, 99–125.CrossRef
Edgardh, K., & Ormstad, K. (2000). Prevalence and characteristics of sexual abuse in a national sample of Swedish 17-year-old girls. Acta Paediatrica, 89, 310–319.PubMedCrossRef
Elliott, A. N., & Carnes, C. N. (2001). Reactions of nonoffending parents to the sexual abuse of their child: A review of the literature. Child Maltreatment, 6(4), 314–331.PubMed
Emery, R. E., & Forehand, R. (1996). Parental divorce and children's well-being: A focus on resilience. In Haggerty, R. J., Sherrod, L. R. et al. (Eds), Stress, risk, and resilience in children and adolescents: Processes, mechanisms, and interventions (pp. 64–69). New York: Cambridge University Press.
Esparza, D. (1993). Maternal support and stress response in sexually abused girls ages 6–12. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 14, 85–107.PubMed
Feiring, C., Taska, L., & Lewis, M. (1998). The role of shame and attributional style in children's and adolescents' adaptation to sexual abse. Child Maltreatment, 3(2), 129–142.
Finkelhor, D. (1990). Early and long-term effects of child sexual abuse: A update. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 21(5), 325–330.CrossRef
Finkelhor, D. (1997). The victimization of children – Developmental victimology. In Davis, R. D., Lurigio, A. J., & Skogan, W. G. (eds.), Victims of Crime, second edition.
Finkelhor, D., & Browne, A. (1986). Initial and long-term effects: A conceptual framework. In Finkelhor, D. (ED.), A sourcebook on child sexual abuse (pp. 180–198). Beverly Hills, California: Sage Publications.
Franco, N., & Levitt, M. J. (1998). The social ecology of early childhood: Preschool social support networks and social acceptance. Social development, 6, 292–306.CrossRef
Friedrich, W. N. (1988). Behavior problems in sexually abused children: An adaptational perspective. In Wyatt, G. E., & Powell, G. J. (Eds.), Lasting effects of child sexual abuse. London: Sage Publications.
Friedrich, W. N., Urquiza, A. J., & Beilke, R. L. (1986). Behavior problems in sexually abused young children. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 11, 47–57.PubMed
Garmezy, N. (1991). Resilience and vulnerability to adverse developmental outcomes associates with poverty. Amercian Behavioral Scientist, 34, 416–430.
Gidycz, C. A., Coble, C. N., Latham, L., & Layman, M. J. (1993). Sexual assault experience in adulthood and prior victimization experiences: A prospective analysis. Psychology of Women Quartely, 17, 151–168.CrossRef
Gomes-Schwartz, B., Horowitz, J. M., & Cardarelli, A. P. (1990). Child sexual abuse. The initial effects. Beverly Hills California: Sage Publications.
Health Canada (1997). Risque, vulnérabilité, résilience---Implications pour les systèmes de santé. MInistère des Approvisionnements et Services Canada: Direction générale de la promotion et des programmes de la santé.
Hébert, M., & Parent, N. (1998). Psychometric properties of the french version of the Sibling Relationships Questionnaire. Département d’Orientation, d’Administration et d’Évaluation, Université Laval.
Hébert, M., & Parent, N. (1998). Psychometric properties of the french version of the Family Environment Scale. Département d’Orientation, d’Administration et d’Évaluation, Université Laval.
Hébert, M., Parent, N., & Daignault, I. V. (submitted). Psychometric properties of the French Canadian version of the Self-Report Coping Scale and development of a short form.
Hébert, M., Robichaud, M., Tremblay, C., Saint-Denis, M., Damant, D., Lavoie, F., Perreaut, N., Dorais, M., Rinfret-Raynor, M. (2002). Des interventions préventives et des services d’aide directe en matière d’agression sexuelle: Description des pratiques québécoises. Rapport de recherche. Ste-Foy: Centre de recherche interdisciplinaire sur la violence familiale et la violence faite aux femems (CRIVIFF).
Holahan, C. J., & Moos, R. H. (1991). Life stressors, personal and social resources, and depression: A 4-year structural model. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 100, 31–38.PubMedCrossRef
Holahan, C. J., Moos, R. H., & Schaefer, J. A. (1996). Coping, stress resistance, and growth: Conceptualizing adaptive functioning. In Zeidner, M., Endler, N. S. et al. Handbook of coping: Theory, research, applications (pp. 22–43). New York: John Wiley & Sons.
Johnson, B. K., & Kenkel, M. B. (1991). Stress, coping and adjustment in female adolescent incest victims. Child Abuse & Neglect, 15, 293–305.CrossRef
Johnson, J. G., Cohen, J., Gould, M. S., Kasen, S., Brown, J., & Brook, J. S. (2002). Childhood adversities, interpersonal difficulties, and risk for suicide attempts during late adolescence and early adulthood. Archives of General Psychiatry, 59, 741–749.PubMedCrossRef
Jones, L. M., Finkelhor, D., & Kopiec, K. (2001). Why is sexual abuse declining? A survey of child protection administrators. Child Abuse & Neglect, 25, 1139–1158.CrossRef
Kendall-Tackett, K. A., Williams, L. M., & Finkelhor, D. (1993). Impact of sexual abuse on children: A review and syntesis of recent empirical studies. Psychological Bulletin, 113, 164–180.PubMedCrossRef
Kinard, E. M. (1998). Methodological issues in assessing resilience in maltreated children. Child Abuse & Neglect, 22(7), 669–680.CrossRef
Kliewer, W. (1991). Coping in middle childhood: Relations to competence. Type A behavior, monitoring, blunting, and locus of control. Developmental Psychology, 27, 689–697.CrossRef
Koverola, C., Pound, J., Heger, A., & Lytle, C. (1993). Relationship of child sexual abuse to depression. Child Abuse & Neglect, 17, 393–400.CrossRef
Leventhal, J. M. (1998). Epidemiology of sexual abuse of children: Old problems, new directions. Child Abuse & Neglect, 22(6), 481–491.CrossRef
Liem, J. H., James, J. B., O'Toole, J. G., & Boudewyn, A. C. (1997). Assessing resilience in adults with histories of childhood sexual abuse. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 67(4), 594–606.PubMed
Ligezinska, M., Firestone, P., Manion, I. G., McIntyre, J., Ensom, R., & Wells, G. (1996). Children's emotional and behavioral reactions following the disclosure of extrafamilial sexual abuse: Initial effects. Child Abuse & Neglect, 20, 111–125.CrossRef
Lynn, M., Jacob, N., & Pierce, L. (1988). Child sexual abuse: A follow-up study of reports to a protective service hotline. Children and Youth Services Review, 10, 151–165.CrossRef
Lynskey, M. T., & Fergusson, D. M. (1997). Factors protecting against the development of adjustment difficulties in young adults exposed to childhood sexual abuse. Child Abuse & Neglect, 21, 1177–1190.CrossRef
Margolin, G. (1998). Effects of domestic violence on children. In Trickett, P. K., Schellenbach, C. J. et al. (Eds.), Violence against children in the family and the community, (pp. 57–101). Washington: American Psychological Association.CrossRef
Masten, A. S., & Coatsworth, J. D. (1998). The development of competence in favorable and unfavorable environments: Lessons fron research of succesful children. American Psychologist, 53(2), 205–220.PubMedCrossRef
Masten, A. S., & Wright, M. (1998). Cumulative risk and protection models of child maltreatment. Journal of Aggression Maltreatment and Trauma, 2(1), 7–30.CrossRef
Mennen, F. E., & Meadow, D. (1995). The relationship of abuse characteristics to symptoms in sexually abused girls. Journal of interpersonal Violence, 10, 259–274.CrossRef
Moos, R. H. (1990). Conceptual and empirical approaches to developing family-based assessment procedures: Resolving the case of the Family Environment Scale. Family Process, 29(2), 199–208.PubMedCrossRef
Paolucci, E. O., Genuis, M. L., & Violato, C. (2001). A meta-analysis of the published research on the effects of child sexual abuse. The Journal of Psychology, 135(1), 17–36.PubMedCrossRef
Parent, N., & Hébert, M. (1995). Questionnaire sur la victimisation de l'enfant. Adaptation française du “History of Victimization Form” by Wolfe, Gentile & Boudreau (1987). Ste-Foy: Département de mesure et évaluation, Université Laval.
Pierce, R. L., & Pierce, L. H. (1985). Analysis of sexual abuse hotline reports. Child Abuse & Neglect, 9, 37–45.CrossRef
Polusny, M. A., & Follette, V. M. (1995). Long-term correlates of child sexual abuse: Theory and review of the empirical litterature. Applied and Preventive Psychology, 4, 143–166.CrossRef
Putnam, F. W. (2003). Ten-year research update review: Child sexual abuse. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 42(3), 269–278.PubMedCrossRef
Rodriguez, N., Ryan, S. W., Rowan, An. B., & Foy, D. W. (1996). Posttraumatic stress disorder in a clinical sample of adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Child Abuse & Neglect, 20, 943–952.CrossRef
Roth, S., & Cohen, L. J. (1986). Approach, avoidance, and coping with stress. American Psychologist, 41, 813–819.PubMedCrossRef
Rutter, M. (1987). Psychosocial resilience and protective mechanisms. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 57, 316–331.PubMedCrossRef
Rutter, M. (1993). Resilience: Some conceptual considerations. Journal of Adolescent Health, 14, 626–631.PubMedCrossRef
Ryan-Wenger, N. M. (1992). A taxonomy of children's coping strategies: A step toward theory development. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 62, 256–263.PubMed
Sandler, I. N., Tein, J. Y., & West, S. G. (1994). Coping, stress, and the psychological symptoms of children of divorce: A cross-sectional and longitudinal study. Child Development, 65, 1744–1763.PubMedCrossRef
Spaccarelli, S., & Kim, S. (1995). Resilience criteria and factors associated with resilience in sexually abused girls. Child Abuse & Neglect, 19(9), 1171–1182.CrossRef
Trickett, P. K., & Putnam, F. W. (1998). Developmental consequences of child sexual abuse. In Trickett, P. K., & Schellenbach, C. J. (Eds.), Violence against children in the family and the community. Washington: Amercian Psychological Association.
Trocmé, N., MacLaurin, B., Fallon, B., Daciuk, J., Billingsley, D., Tourigny, M., et al. (2001). Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child 2Abuse & Neglect: Final Report. Ottawa, Ontario: Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada.
Wagner, W. G. (1991). Brief term psychological adjustment of sexually abused children. Child Study Journal, 21, 263–276.
Werner, E. E. (1990). Protective factors and individual resilience. In Meisels, S. J., & Skonkoff, J. P., (eds.), Handbook of early childhood intervention (pp. 97–116). Cambrige, UK: Cambridge University Press.
Wolfe, V. V., & Birt, J-A. (1995). The psychological sequelae of child sexual abuse. In Ollendick, T. H., & Prinz, R. J. (Eds.), Advances in Clinical Child Psychology, 17 (pp. 233–263). New York: Plenum Press.
Wolfe, V. V., & Birt, J. -A. (1997). Child sexual abuse. In Mash, E. J. & Terdal, L. G. (Eds.), Assessment of childhood disorders (3rd ed.). (pp. 569–623). New York: Guilford Press.
Wolfe, V. V., Gentile, C., & Bourdeau, P. (1987). History of Victimization Form. Ontario, Canada: Unpublished assessment instrument, London Health Science Centre, London.
Wolff, S. (1995). The concept of resilience. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 29, 565–574.PubMed
Metadata
Title
Correlates of Behavioral Outcomes in Sexually Abused Children
Authors
Martine Hébert
Caroline Tremblay
Nathalie Parent
Isabelle V. Daignault
Christiane Piché
Publication date
01-07-2006
Published in
Journal of Family Violence / Issue 5/2006
Print ISSN: 0885-7482
Electronic ISSN: 1573-2851
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-006-9026-2

Other articles of this Issue 5/2006

Journal of Family Violence 5/2006 Go to the issue

Original Article

Affect Regulation and the Cycle of Violence Against Women: New Directions for Understanding the Process

Original Article

The Influence of Supportive and Nonsupportive Persons in Helping Rural Women in Abusive Partner Relationships Become Free from Abuse

Original Article

Group Treatment for Aggressive Women: An Initial Evaluation

Original Article

Comparison of Factors Associated with Parricide in Adults and Adolescents

Original Article

A Participant Evaluation of the U.S. Navy Parent Support Program