NCJ Number
159148
Journal
Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 10 Issue: 4 Dated: (December 1995) Pages: 533-542
Date Published
1995
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This study examined pretreatment to posttreatment changes on several outcome variables following a group treatment for sexually abused adolescent females living in a group home setting.
Abstract
Subjects for this study included 43 female adolescents who participated in one of six Sexually Abused Youth (SAY) Groups between September 1991 and March 1993. Subjects ranged in age from 12 to 18 years and were current residents of Boys Town, a group home facility that uses a behavioral treatment model that evolved from Achievement Place. SAY Group has an orientation toward posttraumatic stress syndrome in providing a safe environment for youths to process sexual abuse memories without becoming overwhelmed. The researchers assessed treatment outcomes for SAY Group; they used an assortment of measures in an attempt to capture the diversity of symptoms typically associated with sexual abuse. They also enlisted participants and their caregivers in completing portions of the assessment battery. They also examined whether youths' participation in individual therapy concurrent with SAY Group contributed to differences in treatment outcome. Almost 60 percent of the youths in the sample participated in individual therapy concurrent with SAY Group. Significant improvements were found on adolescent self-report measures of internalizing and externalizing problems, post- traumatic stress disorder symptoms, and self-worth. No significant improvement was noted for depression. Caregivers reported significant improvement in internalizing behavior problems and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, but not on externalizing problems. Preliminary findings show that SAY Group is effective in reducing symptoms commonly associated with sexual abuse. 1 table and 22 references