NCJ Number
155561
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 19 Issue: 6 Dated: (June 1995) Pages: 691- 706
Date Published
1995
Length
16 pages
Annotation
Psychological assessments were conducted for black and Hispanic sexually abused females ages 8-13, who were referred to the Child Abuse Clinic at the King/Drew Medical Center in Los Angeles from 1990 through 1992.
Abstract
The participants received medical evaluations and assessments by means of an extension of the Beck Depression Inventory, the Nowicki-Strickland Children's Locus of Control Scale, and additional instruments. Results revealed that the Latinos received significantly higher scores for depression than did the black girls. These differences in depression appeared to be related to the ethnic differences in the circumstances of the abuse. The Latinos were abused at younger ages, were more likely to be abused by a relative, and were more likely to have had a sibling abused than were the black females. The Latinos were also more likely to report high levels of family conflict and somewhat lower levels of maternal support. Ethnicity was also related to psychological functioning independently of the impact of other factors such as the circumstances of the abuse. Tables and 79 references (Author abstract modified)