NCJ Number
168308
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 21 Issue: 9 Dated: (September 1997) Pages: 869-881
Date Published
1997
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This article reports on an evaluation of a sexual abuse prevention program for elementary school-aged children in Calgary (Canada).
Abstract
In the program evaluated, children from kindergarten to grade six are taught prevention concepts with the aid of discussion, pictures, short videos, and role-plays. Although the emphasis is on giving information and permission to say no to unwanted touch, the issue of whether this means that children should be suspicious of all touches or adults is also addressed. A total of 231 children were randomly assigned (matched by age) to participate in the program (n=117) or in a wait-list control condition (n=114). Knowledge of abuse prevention concepts were tested using the 33-item Children's Knowledge of Abuse Questionnaire-Revised, a standardized measure with strong psychometric properties with a new subscale on Appropriate Touch. An analysis of covariance showed that children who received the program increased their knowledge levels of both Inappropriate Touch and Appropriate Touch to a significantly greater degree than children in the control group. Age also significantly differentiated the knowledge levels regarding Inappropriate Touch, with younger children knowing fewer concepts at both pretest and posttest. Parallel results apply to the Appropriate Touch subscale. The results are consistent with other evaluations of child sexual abuse prevention programs; however, the statistically significant but small gains suggest that the programs must be presented in a more powerful manner. 6 tables and 51 references