Assessments identified behavioral typology according to three groupings: "sexually inappropriate children," "sexually intrusive children," and "sexually aggressive children." Significant differences were found among the groups regarding age, gender, history of physical abuse, and levels of inappropriate and aggressive sexual behavior. Both of the treatment strategies, cognitive-behavioral therapy and dynamic-play therapy, were equally effective in reducing children's inappropriate or aggressive sexual behavior. At the 2-year follow up, approximately equal numbers of children in each treatment group (15-17 percent) continued to have sexual behavior problems. The project was conducted at two sites, the Center on Child Abuse and Neglect at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC) and the Sexual Assault Center at the University of Washington (UW). A total of 201 children and their caregivers were assessed for the development of the typology (158 children at the OUHSC site and 43 children at the UW site). A comparison group of children ages 6 to 12 (n=52) with no known sexual behavior problems was also recruited for the project's assessment phase, along with their parents/caregivers. A typology of children with sexual behavior problems was developed through a logical analysis of the referral behavior. Of the 147 children who were eligible for treatment, 110 (75 percent) agreed to participate in the treatment groups, and 69 (63 percent) of the participants completed the required 9 of 12 treatment sessions. Thirty-nine caregivers (56 percent) completed the follow up assessment after the 12th treatment session; 25 caregivers (36 percent) completed the 1-year telephone follow up assessments; and 20 caregivers (29 percent) completed the 2-year follow up assessment. 12 tables and 34 references
Children With Sexual Behavior Problems: Assessment and Treatment, Final Report
NCJ Number
213188
Date Published
2005
Length
54 pages
Annotation
This project assessed and treated children ages 6-12 who had sexual behavior problems, in order to develop a typology and compare the effectiveness of two treatment strategies.
Abstract