NCJ Number
172426
Journal
Journal of Child Sexual Abuse Volume: 6 Issue: 4 Dated: (1997) Pages: 35-49
Date Published
1997
Length
15 pages
Annotation
Factors that influenced reports by 96 nonoffending mothers of their sexually abused children's symptomatology were studied using a sample of mothers recruited at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey's Center for Children's Support.
Abstract
Nonoffending mothers ranged in age from 19 to 52 years, and 77 percent were white and 14 percent were black. Children ranged in age from 2 to 15 years. Mothers were administered the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised and the Child Behavior Checklist and were also asked to participate in structured clinical interviews. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to identify variables that produced unique variance in maternal reports of children's symptomatology. Results indicated maternal belief in child abuse allegations and physical abuse perpetrated by the sex offender caused unique variance in the number of post-traumatic stress symptoms reported. Age of the child and physical abuse by the sex offender contributed unique variance in parental reports of internalizing behaviors, while sex of the child and maternal distress contributed unique variance in maternal reports of externalizing behaviors. The authors conclude children who are both physically and sexually abused exhibit more post-traumatic stress symptoms than children who are only sexually abused. 27 references and 1 table