NCJ Number
226675
Journal
Journal of Child Sexual Abuse Volume: 18 Issue: 1 Dated: January-February 2009 Pages: 40-60
Date Published
February 2009
Length
21 pages
Annotation
This study examined the influence of parental expectations on the functioning of sexually abused children.
Abstract
Results reveal that parental expectations are a strong predictor of parents’ ratings of children’s functioning, regardless of emotional and behavioral symptomatology reported by the child. Further research needs to examine additional constructs related to child sexual abuse (CSA) effects; for example, one potentially important variable is the non-offending parents’ own abuse history. Not only has research shown that others who endorse past sexual abuse are more likely to have children, daughters in particular, who experience CSA, these parents’ expectancies of their sexually abused children’s functioning may be based largely on their own personal abuse histories. Another variable that may influence parents’ expectations and attitudes, as well as children’s outcomes and functioning, is the perpetrator’s relationship to the child and non-offending parent. Findings highlight the need to implement interventions that provide psycho-education to children, parents, and professionals about the documented correlates associated with CSA; encompass a strengths-based approach by encouraging the child to engage in rewarding activities, or helping parents provide optimal support to their sexually abused child; and address adults’ negative expectancies by teaching adults to pay attention to their biases and behaviors on an ongoing basis. Data were collected from 67 sexually abused children and 63 non-offending parents or caregivers who participated in Project SAFE (Sexual Abuse Family Education). Tables and references