NCJ Number
153806
Journal
American Journal of Family Therapy Volume: 22 Issue: 4 Dated: (1994) Pages: 304-314
Date Published
1994
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This study tested whether the Child History Expectations Questionnaire (CHEQ) successfully differentiated adults' perceptions of sexually abused children from perceptions of nonabused children and whether the CHEQ differentiated subjects whose own background involved acquaintance with sexual abuse from those whose background did not include such acquaintance.
Abstract
A sample of 279 female university undergraduates viewed a mildly aggressive vignette of a child stepping on a dog's tail and completed the CHEQ, which assessed their expectations for the stimulus child's behavior. The results of the study showed that adults viewed children with a family history of sexual abuse as having more internalizing behavior problems and less ability to achieve than children with other types of family history. Girls with a history of sexual abuse were expected to be less likely to be rude and in trouble than boys with the same family history. Abused children were seen by adults as less likely to be nice, help others, be liked, and have friends. The results also showed that adults with acquaintance of sexual abuse were less likely to stereotype the child's behavior negatively. 3 tables and 24 references