NCJ Number
168014
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 21 Issue: 4 Dated: (April 1997) Pages: 399-410
Date Published
1997
Length
12 pages
Annotation
A program in the Netherlands to prevent child sexual abuse in sixth, seventh, and eighth graders ranging from ages 8-12 years was evaluated with respect to its positive and negative effects.
Abstract
The participants were 161 children who participated in the program and a control group of 131 children. They completed six questionnaires concerning feelings of control, choice of protection strategy, perceived feasibility of refusing to cooperate with the intruder, appreciation of touch, school relationships, and social anxiety. Results indicated short-term overall effects of the program with respect to the choice of safety strategies. Immediately after participation in the program the youngest and oldest children felt less in control of an abusive interaction. The youngest children thought that refusal was less feasible, but they appreciated physical touch more than before. However, these effects were only of a short duration. In the long run the children thought that refusing was more feasible, and the younger children displayed less social anxiety. An unwanted side effect of the program was that the oldest children developed feelings of discomfort about being touched. The intervention did not influence relationships with classmates and the teacher. Findings indicate that the program's behavioral and attitudinal effects could be improved by extending the number or duration of the lessons. Tables and 20 references (Author abstract modified)