NCJ Number
213159
Journal
Journal of Child Sexual Abuse Volume: 14 Issue: 4 Dated: 2005 Pages: 71-93
Date Published
2005
Length
23 pages
Annotation
This study evaluated the effectiveness of a group therapy program for teenage girls with a history of child sexual abuse (CSA).
Abstract
Overall, evaluation results indicated significant improvements in the adolescent girls who participated in the group therapy program, particularly in terms of posttraumatic stress symptoms, attributions, coping strategies, internalizing and externalizing behavioral problems, and feelings of empowerment. Moreover, the group therapy approach seemed to increase the use of positive coping strategies such as seeking social support and problem solving. Treatment benefits included improvements in client’s relationships with their mothers, but not with their fathers. The program, offered at a community agency in Quebec, is a closed-group treatment involving 20 weekly meetings lasting 2 hours each. Therapy is based on a psychoeducational approach that combines different therapeutic activities, such as group discussion, personal testimonies, and collective exercises. Evaluation methodology involved a pre-test/post-test design with a control group. The experimental group contained 27 teenage girls who participated in the therapy for 20 weeks. The control group included 15 teenage girls who requested services from the community center but did not participate, or did not complete, the group therapy. Participants were interviewed regarding their abuse history, their living situation, trauma symptoms, behavioral problems, coping strategies, empowerment issues, and attitudes toward parents. Statistical analysis techniques included ANOVA (analyses of variance) tests and repeated analyses of variance. Follow-up studies should explore the maintenance of positive therapy effects over time. Tables, note, references