SEXUAL AND PHYSICAL ABUSE: THE ADOLESCENT SEXUAL CONCERN QUESTIONNAIRE (ASC) (FROM HANDBOOK FOR SCREENING ADOLESCENTS AT PSYCHOSOCIAL RISK, P 131-163, 1993, MARK I SINGER, LYNN T SINGER, ET AL., EDS - SEE NCJ 143322)

• NCJ Number: 143324
• Author(s): D Hussey; M I Singer
• Date Published: 1993
• Length: 23 pages
• Sale Source: Macmillan
• Publication Type: Training (Aid/Material)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This paper explains the nature, incidence, and causes of adolescent abuse and presents a structured interview format for use by mental health professionals and others in interviewing adolescents regarding issues of sexual and physical abuse.

Abstract

Child abuse is caused by a variety of factors that vary in individual cases. The three conceptual frameworks that aid understanding of child abuse are the psychiatric model, the sociological model, and the interactional model. The most common symptoms of abuse are direct communication or evidence, symptoms of cumulative stress, and acute trauma symptoms. Screening should be systematic, consistent, comprehensive, and documented. The authors developed the Adolescent Sexual Concern Questionnaire to help detect sexual and physical abuse. It is designed for use in a structured interview by a professional familiar with the dynamics of sexual abuse and comfortable with discussing sexuality issues. A variety of treatment approaches are available. The two kinds that might be particularly useful with adolescents are group therapy and the use of creative media such as art and music. Copies of screening instrument and 57 references