NCJ Number
116956
Journal
Child Abuse & Neglect Volume: 13 Issue: 1 Dated: (1989) Pages: 101-110
Date Published
1989
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This study reports on the construction and factor validation of the Responses to Childhood Incest Questionnaire (RCIQ), a self-report instrument that assesses a range of commonly reported symptoms experienced by adult survivors of incest.
Abstract
A clinical population of 104 adult women who had experienced childhood or adolescent incest completed the RCIQ. Incest victim ages ranged from 17 to 54 years, and the average age at which incest began was 7.21 years. The RCIQ measured stress response themes, post-traumatic stress symptoms, abuse dimensions, and demographic variables. Factor analysis of RCIQ items revealed seven factors corresponding to hypothesized stress response themes experienced by traumatic event survivors. These factors included vulnerability and isolation, fear and anxiety, anger and betrayal, reaction to the abuser, sadness and loss, and powerlessness. In addition, four factors corresponded to diagnostic criteria for post-traumatic stress disorders. These factors were intrusive thoughts, avoidance and intrusive emotions, detachment, and emotional control and numbness. In general, the RCIQ appeared to be a valid measure of symptoms presented by adult survivors of incest. Further study is recommended with similar samples of incest victims to replicate and validate the factor structure to a broader population and with other incest victim populations such as male and nontreated victims to determine if the present symptom factors are representative of all incest victim groups. 27 references, 4 tables. (Author abstract modified)